The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) has awarded its prestigious Chemistry Biology Interface Horizon Prize 2026 to the Global Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD) Network, an international consortium of researchers from seven countries. The Pakistani team of the network was led by Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General of OIC-COMSTECH. The award recognizes the consortium’s groundbreaking work on the “Development of new tools for the identification, and chemical and genetic validation, of multiple new drug targets for leishmaniasis and Chagas disease.”
Significance for Pakistani Science
The achievement represents a significant milestone for Pakistani science and highlights the country’s contribution to cutting-edge global health research. The team from the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, includes Prof. Dr. Sammer Yousuf and Dr. Saba Farooq, representing the HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry and the Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research, respectively.
Global Collaboration
The Global NTD Network brings together researchers from seven countries, fostering international collaboration to combat neglected tropical diseases. The Horizon Prize is one of the RSC's most prestigious awards, celebrating innovative research at the interface of chemistry and biology.
Impact on Drug Development
According to Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, the award underscores the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in addressing global health challenges. The new tools developed by the consortium are expected to accelerate the identification and validation of drug targets for leishmaniasis and Chagas disease, which affect millions worldwide.
