International honour for PGI prof

Times News Network

Chandigarh: The

American Society for Microbiology

(ASM) has selected

Prof Arunaloke Chakrabarti

, head of the department of Medical Microbiology at

PGIMER

, to receive 2022

ASM Moselio Schaechter Award

.

The award recognises the best senior scientist of the world who has shown exemplary leadership and commitment towards the substantial furthering of the profession of microbiology in research, education or technology in the developing world.

Prof Chakrabarti has worked consistently in the field of fungal infections over three and half decades not only in India but also in other developing countries. He is now president of the world body on fungal infections – International Society for Human and Animal Mycology. Besides developing the Mycology division of his department as the best center in South-East Asia, he is mentoring in the development of mycology reference centers across India supported by the Indian Council of Medical Research.

Prof Chakrabarti’s center is the sole WHO Collaborating Centre with all portfolios in the field of fungal diseases in the world. Through this collaborating center, he mentors laboratory personnel for development of diagnostic mycology laboratories in 13 member countries under South-East Asian Regional Office of WHO. As president, ISHAM, he is instrumental in the development of two regional fungal working groups recently – Pan-African Mycology Working Group and Latin American Forum of Fungal Infections in Clinical Practice.

Recognising his commitment and work in the field of fungal diseases in developing countries, ASM has selected him for this award. He shall receive the award during ASM Microbe Conference to be held in Washington DC, US on June 9, 2022. He is also invited to deliver a lecture as the award recipient at the conference.