Prof M. Ashraf Ganie conferred with prestigious RAE Award

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25 Apr 2026

SKIMS Director honoured for combatting India's PCOS-NCD epidemic

Srinagar, Apr 23: Prof M. Ashraf Ganie, Director of SKIMS and Ex-Officio Secretary to the Government, has been conferred with the prestigious "Recognition of Academic Excellence (RAE)" award by the National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS). This distinguished honour is reserved for eminent medical and biomedical scientists who have distinguished themselves through high-quality research and significant contributions to academia.

Prof Ganie was awarded the Achanta Lakshmipathi RAE for the year 2026 in the field of Maternal and Child Health, Women's Health, and Community Nutrition, recognising his pioneering work in endocrinology and metabolic disorders, specifically focusing on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and associated non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

As part of this recognition, Prof Ganie delivered the National Recognition & Foundation Day Oration during the 66th Foundation Day of NAMS in New Delhi on April 21, 2026. His oration, titled "PCOS as a Central Driver of NCDs Epidemic in India," directly aligns with the Prime Minister's initiative, the Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan, emphasising the empowerment of women through health. The award, which includes a Citation Plaque and a Gold Medal, was presented by Dr P. K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister of India.

Beyond his clinical leadership at SKIMS, Prof Ganie served as the National Chief Coordinator for the ICMR PCOS Task Force Study, funded by the ICMR Division of Reproductive Biology, Maternal and Child Health (RBMCH). This landmark study spanned 18 centres across India and generated the nation's first large-scale composite data on PCOS.

Published in JAMA Network Open, the study highlights a staggering link between PCOS and increased risks for diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular diseases. Critically, the research highlights that PCOS in mothers has a direct impact on their babies, acting as a fuel for the early onset of NCDs such as Type 2 Diabetes, Coronary Artery Disease, Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH), and Hypertension in offspring. The data also provides a critical foundation for personalised AI-powered risk prediction and enhanced clinical diagnostics across India, establishing essential biological reference intervals tailored to reproductive-aged Indian women.

In his capacity as the President of the M.P.-PCOS Society, Prof Ganie is integrating metabolic data from private organisations to ensure a comprehensive national database that bridges the gap between research and clinical practice. His national recognition comes at a time when SKIMS, under his leadership, successfully concluded the 6th Annual International Conference of the M.P-PCOS Society (MOOD-2026) in Srinagar.

A prolific academician, Prof Ganie has previously received over 25 national and international awards and has authored more than 255 publications in high-impact journals of international repute. Under his able leadership, SKIMS continues to augment its position as a premier centre for advanced clinical care, translational research, and academic excellence. The honour recognises individual excellence and reinforces the institution's commitment to advancing healthcare and innovation at the national level.