Panjab University-SAIF/CIL Researcher Dr. Bunty Sharma Awarded Prestigious Marie Curie Fellowship Worth more than Rs 3 Crore in the UK

Chandigarh, July 9, 2025: In a significant academic achievement, Dr. Bunty Sharma, a researcher from Department of SAIF/CIL Panjab University, has been honored with the prestigious Marie Curie Fellowship, a renowned European Union award aimed at supporting advanced scientific research and training.
This esteemed post-doctoral fellowship, valued at more than Rs 3 crore, will facilitate Dr. Sharma's pioneering work at School of Pharmacy (19th QS world ranking) Queen’s University Belfast in the United Kingdom on Microneedle Array patches for skin cancer treatment through combinatorial therapy.
Dr. Sharma's research project will focus on the innovative diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer, using cutting-edge microneedle technology. Dr. Bunty Sharma joined at School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, UK, under the mentorship of world-renowned scientist Professor Ryan Donnelly and Dr. Lalit Vora. This research promises to make significant strides in improving the methods of delivering cancer therapies, offering hope for more effective treatments.
Dr. Sharma's academic journey has been marked by several accolades. He completed his B.Sc. degree from BBN College Chakmoh, Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh and his M.Sc. in Chemistry from MLSM College Sundernagar, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, both under the DST INSPIRE Scholarship, a Government of India initiative to encourage bright students to pursue degree in basic sciences. His commitment to scientific excellence continued during his Ph.D. at the Department of Chemistry, Panjab University, Chandigarh, where he was awarded the prestigious DST INSPIRE Fellowship. During his PhD he worked under the guidance of Prof. Ganga Ram Chaudhary and Dr. Gurpreet Kauron metallocatanionic formulations for Photodynamic Therapy.
During his doctoral studies, Dr. Sharma was awarded the prestigious Commonwealth Scholarship by the UK Government, which enabled him to conduct research at the School of Pharmacy (12th QS world ranking), University of Nottingham, UK. At Panjab University he is working as a Project Scientist I at the Department of SAIF/CIL, where he continues to contribute to cutting-edge scientific advancements.
Dr. Sharma's remarkable academic and professional achievements are made even more impressive by his humble roots. He belongs to Village Dohak in District Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh. Dr. Sharma’s accomplishment reflects not only his personal dedication and commitment to advancing scientific knowledge but also highlights the growing prominence of PU as a center of research excellence.