The ICMR Prize for biomedical research for scientists belonging to underprivileged communities was instituted by ICMR in 1983 for scientists belonging to Scheduled Caste-Scheduled Tribe-Backward Classes and who have contributed significantly to the field of biomedical sciences. This prize is offered to a research scientist for his-her outstanding and sustained contributions in any field of Biomedical Sciences. The award for the year 2010 is being jointly presented to Dr Surender Singh, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi for his research work on 'Scientific validation of traditional drugs used for rheumatoid arthritis'. Dr Singh has established a new technique to study the molecular mode of action of various pharmacopeial herbal drugs especially in terms of estimation of various cytokines like IL-6, TNF-alpha, TNF-R1 using dot blot analysis, CFA induced stimulation of peritoneal macrophages and SDS-PAGE and western blotting techniques. He has made significant contributions in the field of pharmacotherapy of inflammatory disorders using cytokine profiling and respective characterization for establishing the disease modifying agent in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Dr Singh is a Member of National Academy of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. He has published over 60 scientific papers in national and international journals.

The ICMR Kshanika Oration Award was instituted in 1977 by Dr K. N. Sen, former Professor of Medicine, School of Tropical Medicine, Kolkata. This prize is awarded to a woman scientist for her meritorious work carried out in any of the branches of Biomedical Sciences. The award for the year 2010 is being jointly presented to Dr Annie John, Scientist-E, Division of Laboratory Animal Science, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram for her research work on 'Cell-ceramic constructs for repair of large segmental defects in orthopaedic reconstructive surgery'. Dr Annie John has made significant contributions in understanding the preliminary material testing under in vitro and in vivo conditions. Tapping into the massive potential in stem cell technology, Dr Annie has explored the possibilities of sourcing mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow and adipose tissue for bone tissue engineering applications to address long bone defects, porous ceramic cylinders combined with bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells proved successful in goat segmental bone defect model, indicating mature technological levels. Research work has been carried out in interface cartilage tissue engineering in rabbit and goat models to address this issue using a single ceramic unit with two cell types - bone and cartilage to build the osteochondral defect. Dr Annie has been instrumental in the introduction of osteoporotic models that mimic post-menopausal bone loss and help address related bone fragility. A model of diabetic bone healing in the calvarial bone of rat has also been established. Related to lifestyle disorders, an intervertebral disc (IVD) damage model has taken off, to understand posture and trauma related tissue damage to the IVD and its therapy using hydrogel-cell combination.

The Basanti Devi Amir Chand Prize is the earliest instituted award of ICMR, founded in 1953 by late Major General Amir Chand for the significant research contributions made by scientists in the field of biomedical sciences. This prize is awarded to a research scientist engaged in any area of Biomedical Sciences. The award for the year 2010 is being jointly presented to Dr P. Satishchandra, Director-Vice Chancellor, Professor of Neurology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore for his research work on 'Research in epilepsy'. An international expert in the field of 'Epileptology', Dr Satishchandra has contributed immensely to the characterization of different unique disease entities like 'hot water epilepsy' and 'myoclonic epilepsies', their genetic basis and evolving management strategies. He established 'Neurobiology Research Centre' (NRC) at NIMHANS housing 15 research laboratories with stress on multidisciplinary translational research. He is recognized as one of the experts in the field of neuroinfections with special reference to HIV and AIDS in India. He has been championing the cause of National Mental Health Programme as an advisor to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. To protect the human rights and promote welfare of neurologically and mentally challenged, he is instrumental in establishing a free legal AID centre at NIMHANS perhaps for the first time in the country, as also the Magneto Encephalography (MEG) Laboratory for both research in Neuropsychiatry and for 'comprehensive epilepsy programme'. Prof. Satishchandra and the team he lead will be remembered for taking NIMHANS to greater heights to be recognized as an 'Institute of National Importance', a trend setting medical and scientific institute.

The Amrut Mody Unichem Prize was instituted by Unichem Laboratories in 1985. This prize is awarded to a scientist for the research work carried out in the field of Maternal and Child Health. The award for the year 2010 is being jointly presented to Dr Shally Awasthi, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, King George's Medical University, Lucknow for her research work on 'Effect of behaviour change communication on qualified medical care seeking for sick neonates among urban poor in Lucknow, northern India - a before and after intervention study'. In the field of neonatal health, her work expanded the knowledge about communities perception about neonatal illness and subsequent care seeking. Her research led to the development of a behaviour change communication (BCC) intervention, which included a pictorial 'Neonatal Well-Being Card', for qualified medical care-seeking for sick newborns. In the area of childhood pneumonia, her work has focused on the duration of antibiotic therapy as well as choice of antibiotics for the treatment of community acquired pneumonia. Evidence provided by her research work along with others has resulted in WHO recommending 3 - days treatment with antibiotics in children with nonsevere pneumonia in Integrated Management of Childhood Illness Guidelines. She has received the ICMR's Dr H.B. Dingley Memorial Award for Pediatrics Research in 1996 and is a Fellow of National Academy of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore, National Academy of Sciences, India, Allahabad, and Indian Academy of Pediatrics. She has published over 150 research papers in national and international journals.