Kanpur, 8 January 2026: Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur’s Prof. Bushra Ateeq, Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering and Dean of International Relations, has been awarded the 35th G. D. Birla Award for Scientific Research (2025) for her outstanding contributions to the field of Biological Sciences.

Instituted in 1991 by the K. K. Birla Foundation, the G. D. Birla Award for Scientific Research is one of the most prestigious scientific honors in the country. It recognizes eminent Indian scientists below the age of 50 for their original and outstanding contributions to science and technology while working in India. The award carries a cash prize of ₹5.00 lakhs and is known for its rigorous and highly selective evaluation process.

The selection for this award is made by a distinguished Board, chaired by the President of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), New Delhi, currently Prof. Ashutosh Sharma, and including some of the country's most eminent scientists.

Prof. Bushra Ateeq is a Senior Fellow of the DBT–Wellcome Trust India Alliance and leads a highly translational biomedical research programme at IIT Kanpur, focused on developing next-generation diagnostics and therapeutic strategies for cancer patients. Her pioneering research has significantly advanced the understanding of prostate and colorectal cancers and has helped redefine treatment paradigms. Her work demonstrated the detrimental effects of commonly used anti-androgen drugs in advanced prostate cancer, identified Casein Kinase 1 inhibitors as effective adjuvant therapy, uncovered mechanisms underlying elevated SPINK1 levels in prostate cancer, and repurposed the WHO-approved anti-malarial drug artemisinin to restore drug sensitivity in castrate-resistant prostate cancer.

Beyond her research, Prof. Ateeq plays a key leadership role as Dean of International Relations at IIT Kanpur, where she spearheads global academic partnerships and fosters international collaborations with leading institutions worldwide.

Prof. Ateeq began her academic journey in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, and completed her graduation, post-graduation, and Ph.D. from Aligarh Muslim University. She subsequently held research positions at AIIMS and the National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, before pursuing postdoctoral research at McGill University, Montreal, and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She joined IIT Kanpur as an Assistant Professor in 2013.

Her exceptional contributions have been widely recognized with numerous national and international honours, including the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Prize, UNESCO–TWAS Award, J.C. Bose Fellowship, Sun Pharma Science Foundation Award, Ramachandran–National Bioscience Award, Tata Innovation Fellowship, and the AACR–Women in Cancer Research Scholar Award. Prof. Ateeq is also an Elected Fellow of all major national science academies in India, including INSA, IAS, NASI, and NAMS.

The conferment of the G. D. Birla Award further underscores Prof. Bushra Ateeq’s stature as a leading scientist and academic leader and highlights IIT Kanpur’s continued excellence in cutting-edge scientific research.

About IIT Kanpur

The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, established in 1959, is recognized as an Institute of National Importance by the Government of India. Renowned for excellence in science, engineering, and interdisciplinary education, IIT Kanpur spans a 1,050-acre lush green campus and comprises 20 departments, 27 centres, three interdisciplinary programmes, and three specialized schools. With over 570 faculty members and more than 9,500 students, the institute continues to lead in innovation, research, and holistic development.

For more information, please visit: www.iitk.ac.in