Articles CÚRAM researcher awarded prize from European Society for Biomaterials

CÚRAM PhD student Vaishali Chugh was recently awarded a Best Student Oral Presentation for Designing and Optimization of KHYG-1 Cell Membrane Coated Spheres to Develop an Artificial Natural Killer (NK) Cell Mimics at 30th Annual Conference of the European Society for Biomaterials (ESB 2019), together with the 26th Annual Conference of the German Society for Biomaterials (DGBM), which was held from September 9–13, 2019 in Dresden, Germany.

She reports on the experience here: "Over 930 participants attended the conference from more than 45 countries and covered all the aspects of biomaterial research including researchers from both life sciences and engineering, clinicians and company representatives. The result was an effective environment for stimulating exchange and discussions. There were numerous oral and poster presentations given by both established scientists and early-career researchers." 


Vaishali is currently working with Prof. Abhay Pandit on a potentialtherapy to treat cancer by developing NK cell membrane coated spheres with intact surface functionality that can deliver the chemotherapy drug at right place and right time. She presented her research work with all the optimization, confirmation and visualization of cell membrane coating on a gelatin spheres with its evasion studies using macrophages and efficacy studies using cancer cells.

On accpeting her award, Chugh had the following to share: "This quote has always inspired me, 'Science is a beautiful gift to humanity; we should not distort it. If four things are followed - having a great aim, acquiring knowledge, hard work, and perseverance - then anything can be achieved. You have to dream before your dreams can come true'-written by APJ Abdul Kalam."