Veena Kumari HB | Medical Microbiology | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Veena Kumari HB | Medical Microbiology | Best Researcher Award

Professor | National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences | India

Dr. Veena Kumari HB is a distinguished Professor in the Department of Neuromicrobiology at NIMHANS, Bangalore, with extensive expertise in the diagnosis, management, and research of central nervous system (CNS) infections. She completed her Doctorate in Microbiology and has since established herself as a leading clinician-scientist, combining rigorous laboratory research with translational clinical studies. Her key research areas encompass bacterial and fungal brain infections, ventriculitis, meningitis, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Cryptococcus species, and COVID-19-associated neurological complications, with a strong focus on molecular characterization, epidemiology, and infection control strategies. Dr. Veena Kumari has an impressive publication record, including high-impact contributions such as her multivariate biomarker study in ventriculitis (Scientific Reports, 2025), investigations into device-associated meningitis and linezolid-resistant pathogens, and extensive analyses of CNS cryptococcosis across pre- and post-HIV eras. She has also led and contributed to several major research projects funded by ICMR, SERB, and institutional grants, exploring diagnostic innovations, antifungal susceptibility, and microbial population dynamics. In recognition of her scientific excellence, she has received numerous honors for her contributions to medical microbiology and neurology, and she actively serves as a reviewer and editorial board member for prominent journals in infectious diseases and microbiology. Dr. Veena Kumari HB’s career reflects a rare integration of clinical acumen, research rigor, and mentorship, positioning her as a transformative leader in the field of neuromicrobiology and infectious disease research in India and globally.

Publications

1. Kumari, H. B. V., Nagarathna, S., & Chandramuki, A. (2007). Antimicrobial resistance pattern among aerobic gram-negative bacilli of lower respiratory tract specimens of intensive care unit patients in a neurocentre.

2. Srinivas, D., HB, V. K., Somanna, S., Bhagavatula, I., & Anandappa, C. B. (2011). The incidence of postoperative meningitis in neurosurgery: An institutional experience. Neurology India.

3. Chandramuki, A., Lyashchenko, K., Kumari, H. B. V., Khanna, N., Brusasca, P. N., … (2002). Detection of antibody to Mycobacterium tuberculosis protein antigens in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with tuberculous meningitis.

4. Kulkarni, G. B., Pal, P. K., Kumari, H. B. V., Goyal, M., Kovoor, J. M. E., Nadig, S., … (2009). Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus pyomyositis with myelitis: A rare occurrence with diverse presentation.

5. Dhandapani, S., Rajshekar, D., Priyadarshi, K., Krishnamoorthi, S., … (2023). Comparison of hand hygiene compliance among healthcare workers in intensive care units and wards of COVID-19: A large-scale multicentric study in India.

Suresh Arumugam | Infectious Diseases | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Suresh Arumugam | Infectious Diseases | Best Researcher Award

Scientist | Meenakshi Medical College Hospital and Research Institute | India

Dr. A. Suresh is a distinguished microbiologist and currently serves as Scientist cum Research Coordinator at the Central Research Laboratory, Meenakshi Medical College Hospital & Research Institute, Kanchipuram, with over 17 years of academic experience and 9 years of corporate expertise. He holds a Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Madras, an M.Phil. in Biotechnology from Bharathidasan University, and an M.Sc. in Applied Microbiology from Sri Sankara Arts and Science College under the University of Madras. His primary research areas span infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, natural product-based drug discovery, and genome annotation, where he has significantly contributed through genomic data submissions, innovative patents, and translational studies. Dr. Suresh has authored and co-authored more than 70 peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals including the Journal of Medical Virology, Molecular Biology Reports, Drug Delivery Science and Technology, and Luminescence, highlighting his multidisciplinary expertise across microbiology, biotechnology, and clinical research. His scientific contributions have been recognized through several awards, including distinctions for innovation in natural product drug discovery and his leadership in antimicrobial stewardship. Beyond his research, Dr. Suresh has played a pivotal role as Ph.D. supervisor, doctoral committee member, and academic coordinator, mentoring young researchers and advancing scientific education. He also contributes to the wider scientific community as an editorial board member and peer reviewer for reputed international journals, ensuring the dissemination of high-quality research. Dr. Suresh’s career embodies a balance of scientific discovery, innovation, and academic mentorship, positioning him as a thought leader in microbiology and drug discovery research. He has 360 citations from 68 documents with an h-index of 8.

Profiles: Google Scholar | Scopus | ORCID

Publications

1. Mohan, K., Srinivasan, S., Selvaraj, S., Suresh, A., & Krishnamoorthy, A. (2025). A study on dengue infection, seroprevalence and its seasonal distribution among patients attending a tertiary care hospital, Kanchipuram, India. Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science.

2. Kaliaperumal, K., Aboobacker, J., Dhanapal, V., Gayathri, A., Subramanian, K., Suresh, A., Elumalai, S., Sampath, S., Devanesan, S., AlSalhi, M. S., et al. (2025). Bioremediation of malachite green dye using Sargassum wightii seaweed and its biological and physicochemical characterization. Open Chemistry.

3. Kamalanathan, J., Suresh, M. S., Rajendran, V., AlSalhi, M., Devanesan, S., Suresh, A., Joseph, J., & Sampath, S. (2025). Nuclear staining and fluorogenic probe–based evaluation of ROS-cytotoxic potential using AgNPs synthesized from Cajanus trinervius against A431 cell line. Luminescence.

4. Suresh, A., Muninathan, N., Sampath, S., Devanesan, S., AlSalhi, M. S., & Manoj, D. (2025). Role of traditional and new biomarkers in the assessment of chronic kidney diseases: A comprehensive analysis of the biochemical, molecular and clinical dimensions. Molecular Biology Reports.

5. Rajeswari, M. V., Suresh, A., Thirumalaikumar, E., Subramanian, K., Kaliaperumal, K., Sampath, S., Devanesan, S., & AlSalhi, M. S. (2025). Efficacy of chitosan conjugated bivalent vaccine on immune response and disease resistance against Aeromonas hydrophila and Aeromonas caviae in goldfish (Carassius auratus). Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology.

6. Christina, B., Poongkuzhali, S., Muninathan, N., Bhaskaran, K., & Suresh, A. (2025). The mechanisms and therapeutic potential of the microbiome-immune interface in cancer. Discover Biotechnology.