Indian nurse Agimol Pradeep, who has spent years promoting organ and stem-cell donation, has won the 2026 Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award, which carries a prize of $250,000
Pradeep, a senior transplant coordinator at King’s College Hospital and honorary senior lecturer at the University of Salford, received the award at a ceremony in Kochi, India. She was selected from more than 134,000 registrations spanning 214 countries and economies.
Her work has focused on improving awareness of organ donation and addressing the shortage of donors from South Asian communities. She has highlighted how patients with organ failure can face long waits for transplants, particularly where healthcare systems lack established donation and transplant services.
Pradeep co-founded Upahaar, an initiative aimed at increasing organ and stem-cell donation. The programme has registered more than 10,000 stem-cell donors, helping expand access to potential matches.
Speaking to Gulf News, she said the recognition was not just a personal achievement but a reflection of the nursing profession. She expressed hope that the award would help her take organ donation initiatives to developing countries, where patients with organ failure may have fewer treatment options.
Pradeep plans to use the prize money to support organ and stem-cell donation programmes, as well as nursing education and training
She said greater public awareness was needed to address misunderstandings surrounding organ donation and encourage more people to consider becoming donors.
The award, launched in 2021, recognises nurses who demonstrate leadership, innovation and a meaningful impact on healthcare. Finalists are assessed on their professional achievements and contributions to the profession.
Pradeep’s career has also included work in education and efforts to support internationally trained nurses returning to the UK workforce. Her contributions to healthcare and patient access have earned her recognition, including the British Empire Medal.
She said nursing was a profession of continuous learning, with opportunities extending beyond bedside care to research, education, advocacy and specialist practice.
