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22 DEC 2022
Dr Sayera Banu, Senior Scientist and Head, Programme on Emerging Infections, Infectious Diseases Division, icddr,b has recently been awarded the TWAS Fayzah M Al-Kharafi Award for her groundbreaking research on tuberculosis and its effective translation into policies and practices.
Conferred by The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), this annual award, named after the TWAS Fellow Fayzah M Al-Kharafi, recognises female scientists from scientifically and technologically lagging countries. This year’s award was given in the field of Agricultural Sciences and Biology and Dr Banu shares the award with Dr Nadia Haider of the Syrian Arab Republic who was recognised for her contribution in the field of DNA barcoding of plants and the whole-genome sequencing of date palms. The award was announced at the TWAS 16th General Conference in Hangzhou, China on 21 November 2022.
Dr Banu has over 30 years of experience in tuberculosis research and was instrumental in setting up the tuberculosis laboratory in icddr,b. Her efforts have led to initiation of studies on most of fields of tuberculosis research including epidemiology, diagnostics, transmission, immunology and genomics and also studies on multi-drug resistant and extensively drug resistant tuberculosis, which have resulted in national and international collaboration.
Over the years, Dr Banu has established techniques of mycobacterial isolation as well as its antimicrobial resistance in her laboratory. Many of her research findings have been taken up by the Government of Bangladesh and incorporated in their policies and guidelines to aid in TB control and management.
Felicitations to Dr Banu for a well-deserved accolade!
