In India, a nurse from the UK receives a $250,000 award for work with donors
In Kochi, India, King’s College Hospital senior transplant coordinator Agimol Pradeep received the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award 2026 and a cash prize of $250,000. As The National reports, she was recognized for her work finding compatible donors.
Pradeep is also an honorary senior lecturer at the University of Salford near Manchester, England. She co-founded the Upahaar initiative, which is intended to help overcome the shortage of donors for South Asian patients. Since the project began, more than 10,000 stem cell donors have registered.
Supporting donation
According to Pradeep, a lack of donors who are ethnically compatible with patients can force minorities to wait longer for life-saving transplants. She also drew attention to systemic barriers that prevent highly qualified nurses from returning to the profession.
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The winner said she would direct half of the prize toward supporting Upahaar’s goals. The funds are planned to be used to expand organ and stem cell donation, including in communities and countries where such work is needed most. The other part of the award is intended for nurses’ education and empowerment.
International recognition
Aster DM Healthcare established the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award in 2021 to recognize nurses who do more than their work with patients requires. This year’s award shortlist included 10 finalists from different countries.
Aster DM Healthcare founder and chairman Azad Moopen called Pradeep’s achievements an example of the professional excellence, courage, compassion and dedication characteristic of exceptional nursing work. Last year, the award was won by Naomi Oyoe Ohene Oti of Ghana; she received the prize in Dubai.
