KARACHI: Two female Ph.D. Scholars from the Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD) at the University of Karachi, Ms. Sidrah Asghar and Ms. Rabia Ilyas, have been honored with the prestigious Young Investigator Travel Award.

They attended the 33rd International Congress of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (ICC) held in Istanbul, Turkey, from November 3 to 6, 2024. The International Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (ISAC) awarded travel grants of 1,000 Euros each to the two Pakistani scholars. They were among nine awardees globally. A spokesperson for the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, highlighted that the Young Investigator Travel Award recognizes outstanding young researchers who exhibit exceptional promise and innovation in their fields. Upon their return from Turkey, Prof. Dr. Farzana Shaheen, Director of ICCBS, congratulated Ms. Sidrah Asghar, Ms. Rabia Ilyas, and their research supervisor, Dr. Ayaz Ahmed. She praised their hard work and dedication, stating:

This is an outstanding achievement. Winning this prestigious award not only recognizes the high quality of your research but also offers an incredible opportunity to present your findings to an international audience, learn from leading experts, and broaden your academic and professional horizons.”  Vice-Chancellor of the University of Karachi, Prof. Dr. Khalid Iraqi, and Prof. Dr. Atta-ur Rahman, Professor Emeritus and former Federal Minister for Science and Technology, also congratulated the scholars on their remarkable accomplishments.