IISER Scientist Wins Prestigious Infosys Prize in Life Sciences

Pune: Dr Siddhesh Kamat, an Associate Professor at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, has been awarded the covetedInfosys Prize in the Life Sciences category for 2024.

The announcement was made by the Infosys Science Foundation on Thursday at an event in Bengaluru. Dr Kamat's research in lipid signalling pathways in the mammalian nervous and immune systems earned him this prestigious award. His work focuses on understanding the function of lipids, a key component of cells, and its implications for various cellular functions and human diseases.

This prize, instituted by the Infosys Science Foundation in 2009 in six categories, recognizes the outstanding contributions of individuals whose research significantly impacts India. The award commends each winner with a gold medal, citation, and a cash prize of USD 100,000 (or its equivalent in INR).

Dr Kamat's team has made significant breakthroughs in annotating enzymes and receptors that regulate lipid signalling pathways. His work aims to provide new insights and therapeutic paradigms for orphan and/or emerging human neurological and immunological diseases.

Dr Kamat completed his BTech from the year 2007 and a PhD from the Department of Chemistry at Texas A&M University in 2012. He was also a Postdoctoral fellow at the American Chemical Society before joining IISER, Pune in 2016.

The award is a testament to Dr Kamat's dedication and innovative research in the field of biology, and will undoubtedly inspire future generations of scientists.