‘Dr Kusum Sharma to receive NAMS Women in Medicine Award 2026’

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PGIMER professor recognised for pioneering work in tuberculosis diagnostics and research.

Chandigarh , September 11

Dr Kusum Sharma, Professor in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Nodal Officer for Extra-Pulmonary Tuberculosis (EPTB) at PGIMER, Chandigarh, has been selected for the National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS) Women in Medicine Award 2026, said the PGIMER in an official statement.

She will be honoured with a Scroll of Honor during the NAMSCON 2026 convocation on October 10 at SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Center in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu.

The award recognizes her more than two decades of work in molecular diagnostics, clinical microbiology and translational research, particularly in extrapulmonary and drug-resistant tuberculosis.

Dr Sharma’s research has focused on improving diagnosis and management of complex forms of tuberculosis, including tuberculous meningitis, ocular tuberculosis and gastrointestinal tuberculosis. Her work has also contributed to the diagnosis and identification of Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM).

Among her major contributions is a patented multiplex PCR assay, Indian Patent No. 340788, aimed at improving diagnostic sensitivity in paucibacillary forms of tuberculosis. She has also worked on decentralized diagnostic technologies, including magnetic bead-based and multi-targeted LAMP assays designed for resource-limited settings.

Dr Sharma has led research on drug resistance in ocular tuberculosis and served as Lead Microbiologist for India’s national INDEX-TB guidelines, developed by the Central TB Division in collaboration with WHO and AIIMS, New Delhi.

Her research has also involved genomic surveillance and advanced diagnostic technologies, including Whole-Genome Sequencing, Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing, Nanopore sequencing, HRM analysis, and CRISPR-Cas12a platforms.

She has also contributed to standardizing molecular and sequencing-based methods, as well as MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, for species-level identification of NTM. Her work has strengthened PGIMER’s role as a referral center for complex NTM cases.

Dr Sharma’s selection for the NAMS Women in Medicine Award 2026 recognizes her contributions to medical research, diagnostic innovation, and the management of complex mycobacterial infections.