This award was instituted in 1988 in accordance with the will of Major General Saheb Singh Sokhey and is granted to a scientist for his outstanding contributions in the field of communicable diseases, significantly adding to the existing knowledge in the field. The award for 2013 is being presented to Dr Anupkumar Anvikar, ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research, New Delhi for the research work on 'Improving malaria diagnosis and treatment- A step towards malaria elimination'. Dr. Anvikar's work has revolved around improving malaria diagnosis and treatment. He heads WHO recognized 'malaria diagnostics lot testing laboratory' and also looks after quality assurance of malaria diagnostics in national programme. He reported Plasmodium falciparum histidin rich protein-2 (PfHRP2) deletions from India, which has impact on malaria diagnosis. Clinical trials conducted by him helped in improving malaria treatment, while pharmaco-vigilance studies generated data on safety of antimalarials.

The ICMR Prize for Biomedical Research for Scientists belonging to Underprivileged Communities was instituted by the ICMR in 1983 for scientists who belong to under privileged communities and have contributed significantly to any field of biomedical sciences. The prize for 2013 is being presented to Dr. Prabhakar S. Kedar, ICMR-National Institute of Immunohaematology, Mumbai for the research work on 'Studies on hereditary hemolytic anemia due to red cell enzymopathies'. Dr. Kedar has reported novel mutations in the human PKLR (pyruvate kinase,liver and RBC) gene in Indian patients. He studied structural and functional aspects of mutated protein in the RBCs to evaluate deleterious effect. Prenatal diagnosis of pyruvate kinase deficiency in the severe transfusion dependent patients was done in the country. He has developed a new test for diagnosis of red cell membrane protein defects using eosin-5-maleimide (EMA), a specific dye, by flow cytometer and diagnosed over 300 cases of hereditary spherocytosis in Indian population.

The Professor B. K. Aikat Oration Award was instituted by Dr Meera Aikat in 1984 in memory of her husband Prof. B.K. Aikat, a biomedical scientist. This award is conferred upon a scientist for the research work carried out in the field of tropical diseases. The Award for the year 2012 is being jointly presented to Dr Gajanan Nagoji Sapkal, Scientist-D, Encephalitis Group, Microbial Containment complex, ICMRNational Institute of Virology, Pune for the research work on 'Viral encephalitis in India and factors associated with flavivirus pathogenesis'. Dr Sapkal and his group have investigated various viral etiologies associated with viral encephalitis. Presence of West Nile virus (WNV) in Assam was reported as also Bagaza virus isolation and its exposure to human population in India. The research work on WNV has helped in identifying viral factors contributing towards differential pathogencity among Indian strains. Animal as well as in vitro models were developed for this study which will facilitate in evaluation of vaccine efficacy and antiviral testing. Furthermore the utility of blood clot for isolation of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) was also established. This technique is useful for patients of paediatric group in the field where the expertise to drain cerebrospinal fluid may not be available. Dr Sapkal has also standardized and established the protocols for in vitro monoclonal antibody up scaling which is useful for anti JEV IgM diagnostic ELlSA kit supply. During this tenure he was also involved in evaluation of immunogenicity of live attenuated Chinese vaccine (SA14-14-2) against JEV. This assay was instrumental in phase II-III clinical trial of indigenously developed inactivated JEV vaccine in collaboration with Bharat Biotech International Ltd. Dr Sapkal has published over 25 research papers in national and international journals.

The Professor B.C. Srivastava Foundation Award was Instituted in 1987 by the students and colleagues of late Prof. B.C. Srivastava, Head of the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, K.G. Medical College, Lucknow. This prize is awarded to a scientist for work in the field of community medicine carried out in medical colleges-recognized institutions. The Award for the year 2012 is being presented to Dr Chandrakant Lahariya, Public Health Specialist and Routine Immunization & New Vaccines Focal Person, World Health Organization, India, New Delhi for the research work on 'Translating community based research and program evaluations into public health practice'. Dr Lahariya has contributed to the advancement of community medicine in India by founding and sustaining a nation-wide learning community of students to promote and encourage young medical graduates to join and practice community medicine at the field level. Through his operational research, he has contributed to the operationalization of India's flagship National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), with special attention on the field level implementation, monitoring and evaluation of national health programmes such as Universal Immunization Programme, Intensified Pulse Polio Immunization Programme, Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme, Reproductive & Child Health Programme; Integrated Disease Surveillance Project and National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme, etc. Dr Lahariya has assisted in setting up immunization clinics, rural health facilities and urban health centres and in ensuring their functioning over period of time. His policy work includes analyses (of the implementation aspects) of health components in India's Five Year Plans and that of India's National Health Policy 1983 and 2002. Dr Lahariya has worked as Assistant Professor, Community Medicine, GR Medical College, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh and provided consultancy services to a number of international agencies including UNICEF, UNFPA and The INCLEN Trust International. He has published nearly 30 scientific articles in national and international journals and written a text book of Preventive and Social Medicine.