JMI Professor awarded ICMR award for Research on Oxygen Regulation

Professor Mohammad Zahid Ashraf from the Department of Biotechnology at Jamia Millia Islamia was awarded the Basanti Devi Amir Chand Prize in recognition of his research of cellular reactions in response to low oxygen. The Basanti Devi Amir Chand Prize which is instituted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)was presented to professor Ashraf by the Health Minister, Harsh Vardhan on Wednesday.

The Basanti Devi Amir Chand Prize is one of the earliest awards instituted by the Indian Council of Medical Research in the year 1953. The award is presented to researchers for their contributions to the field of biomedical science.

Professor Ashraf’s lab has been instrumental in understanding the role of oxygen in high altitudes in the development of cardiovascular disorders including blood clotting at high altitudes. The importance of the research on cellular reactions in response to low oxygen can be seen from this year’s Nobel Prize Committee for Physiology or Medicine recognizing the potential of the discovery of how cells can sense and adapt according to oxygen availability. The Nobel Prize this year was awarded jointly to three scientists for their discoveries in this field.

According to the research, oxygen is required for the process of oxidation which produces energy in the body and shortage of oxygen supply will result in lung damage, brain dysfunction, heart problems, and many other complications.

Professor Mohammad Ashraf’s research provided an insight into the role of oxygen regulated mechanisms behind issues like blood clotting disorders and demonstrated the adverse effects of low oxygen availability at high altitudes on the human body.

Professor Mohammad Zahid Ashraf is also a Fellow of the National academy of Science and the Indian Academy of Sciences. He has also received the DBT Ramachandran – National Biosciences Award 2018 and is currently serving as the Director (Academics) at Jamia Millia Islamia.

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