Dr. Bushra Ateeq wins Sun Pharma Science Foundation Research Award-2021

New Delhi: IIT Kanpur Professor Dr. Bushra Ateeq has been selected for the prestigious Sun Pharma Science Foundation Research Award-2021 in the Medical Sciences- Basic Research category. She is an Associate Professor in the Biological Sciences and Bioengineering (BSBE) Department and is the recipient of the highest Indian science award, the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize in Medical Sciences (2020). She is also an Elected Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, India (NASI) and the Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore (IASc).

The aim of the Sun Pharma Science Foundation is to promote scientific endeavors in the country by encouraging and rewarding excellence in medical and pharmaceutical sciences, and to give impetus to research activities in India. The award carries a Trophy, Citation and a Cash Prize.

Congratulating her on the announcement, Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Director, IIT Kanpur, said, “Dr. Bushra Ateeq has been at the forefront of research on cancer and has made some significant contributions in this field. IIT Kanpur is proud of the work she is doing and on behalf of the institute, I congratulate her for this achievement. This is another step towards keeping the flame of Research and Development burning high at IIT Kanpur.”

On the announcement, Dr. Bushra Ateeq said, “I am thankful to the Sun Pharma Science Foundation for the recognition. This is encouraging for the journey ahead in furthering my research. I am also grateful to the IIT Kanpur fraternity for offering such a vibrant environment for conducting research and forging collaborations without any hindrance or interferences, and with complete freedom.”

Dr. Bushra Ateeq joined the BSBE department at the IIT Kanpur in February 2013. She was trained as a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Arul Chinnaiyan’s group at Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, University of Michigan. She also served there as a Research Investigator (Junior Faculty) before joining IIT Kanpur. Prior to this, she was a postdoctoral trainee in Dr. Shafaat Rabbani’s group at McGill University, Montreal. She served a brief stint as a Research Associate at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, and National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi. She received her Ph.D. from Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh.

Dr. Ateeq’s research interest involves exploration of the genetic and epigenetic changes that initiate cancer and its progression. She is also focusing on understanding the molecular events that drive cancer metastases and resistance towards chemotherapeutic drugs. Dr. Ateeq and her team also have the distinction of undertaking a first-of-its-kind attempt in India of testing nearly 121 prostate cancer tissue samples and identifying several significant genetic alterations.