PU profs get top honours

Chandigarh: Two professors from Panjab University's zoology department received national honours in the field of parasitology during the 33rd National Congress of the Indian Society for Parasitology. The event was held at the Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, from Nov 26 to 28. It also marked the golden jubilee of the Society.Prof Sukhbir Kaur received the Dr BP Pandey Memorial Oration Award, which recognises significant contributions to teaching in parasitology. She delivered an oration on integrative strategies against leishmaniasis. Her research includes work on vaccine development and therapeutic agents for visceral leishmaniasis, including novel formulations using TLR7 8 and NOD2 agonists. She is currently working on an ICMR-funded project with NIPER Mohali.Prof Harpreet Kaur Bimbra was awarded the Dr Kona Hanumantha Rao Memorial Oration Award for her contribution to parasite taxonomy and biodiversity. Her research includes documentation of around 130 myxozoan parasite species in freshwater fish, along with discoveries of new species of tapeworms and acanthocephalan parasites. She is also working on amphistome parasites in livestock.Two students from Prof Sukhbir Kaur's research group — Sandeep Kaur and Shivani Thakur — received best oral and poster presentation awards at the conference.