Prof. Shobhona Sharma is the recipient of the 2003 award. She is a biochemist and molecular biologist. The major impact of Shobhona Sharma’s work has been in the insight into immune-evasive repeat regions of the malarial antigens. Her understanding of the host-pathogen Interactions pertaining to the immune response to malaria is of much importance. This work together with her more recent work on novel proteins has direct potential in immunoprophylactic and immunotherapeutic application in malaria and is of great relevance in social and public health. Prof. Shobhona Sharma has been regularly involved in the review of manuscripts for Indian and International journals. She has also been the convener and organizer of many national and international work-shops on parasitic diseases and has been invited to give several talks over the years in India and abroad . Many prestigious awards have honored Prof. Sharma over the years. She is presently an Associate Professor in the Department of the Biological sciences at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Mumbai
