WEHI’s Professor Sant-Rayn Pasricha has been honoured by the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences for his pioneering contributions to preventing and treating anaemia around the world.

Professor Pasricha received the Academy’s Jian Zhou Medal for his work leading the largest program of international trials for iron interventions in children and pregnant women in Bangladesh and Malawi.

The World Health Organization has translated Dr Pasricha’s research into health policies in more than 50 countries, in its efforts to halve the global prevalence of anaemia by 2025.

Anaemia affects two billion people worldwide, mainly in low and middle-income countries, where the condition remains one of the most avoidable causes of illness and death.

“I’m very grateful for this recognition of the public health, translational and discovery work of my team, which is working hard to improve health outcomes for the billions of people worldwide impacted by or at risk of anaemia,” he said