Indian Doctor Wins Wiley Research Heroes Prize 2025

India’s contribution to global health research has received international recognition with a prestigious award in 2025. An Indian doctor and public health expert has been honored for ensuring that research goes beyond academic boundaries and directly influences public policy and healthcare outcomes. The recognition highlights India’s growing role in evidence-based global health governance.

Why in News?

Dr. Chandrakant Lahariya has won the Wiley Research Heroes Prize 2025, becoming the first Indian to receive this global honour for impactful research beyond academia.

About the Wiley Research Heroes Prize

• The Wiley Research Heroes Prize recognizes researchers worldwide who ensure that research is inclusive, innovative, and impactful.
• The 2025 edition received over 2,000 nominations globally, from which only five researchers were selected.
• The awards focus on research that bridges the gap between academic knowledge and real-world policy implementation, ensuring societal benefit rather than remaining limited to scholarly publications.

Why Dr. Chandrakant Lahariya Was Selected

• Dr. Lahariya won the award in the ‘Impact Beyond Academia’ category for his sustained contribution to public health policy and implementation.
• A former staff member of the World Health Organization, he has consistently worked at the intersection of research and governance.
• His work has helped governments and institutions translate scientific evidence into practical health interventions.

Key Areas of Research Contribution

• Dr. Lahariya is a health policy researcher, academician, and medical practitioner.
• His primary research spans crucial public health domains such as vaccination programmes, conditional cash transfers for maternal and child health, and strengthening primary healthcare systems.
• These areas directly influence national health outcomes, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, making his research highly policy-relevant.

Global and National Significance

• Being the first and only Indian to win this prize so far, Dr. Lahariya’s achievement places India on the global research impact map.
• It also highlights the importance of policy-oriented health research, especially in achieving universal health coverage, improving immunisation outcomes, and strengthening primary healthcare delivery.
• The recognition reinforces India’s soft power in global health diplomacy.

Key Summary at a Glance

Question

Q. Who is the first Indian to win the Wiley Research Heroes Prize?

A. Dr. Soumya Swaminathan
B. Dr. Chandrakant Lahariya
C. Dr. Randeep Guleria
D. Dr. Devi Shetty