A significant philanthropic gift has paved the way for the establishment of the Amba Subba Rao Fellowship, a groundbreaking initiative designed to support women researchers at the Centre for Brain Research (CBR), an integral part of the esteemed Indian Institute of Science (IISc).
This new fellowship, generously funded by the family of the late Amba Subba Rao, is dedicated to advancing the careers of early-stage women scientists who are committed to studying brain aging. Its core mission is to promote greater gender equity within the vital field of brain research, addressing longstanding disparities.
The CBR highlighted the ongoing challenge of underrepresentation for women across science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. Women frequently encounter numerous obstacles throughout their educational journeys and professional careers, preventing them from fully realizing their potential. This often leads to what is known as a ‘leaky pipeline,’ where highly capable women exit STEM fields prematurely due to pervasive systemic biases and insufficient institutional support. This fellowship is a direct response to this issue, providing crucial opportunities and support to help women researchers achieve their professional aspirations.
Since its inception in 2014, with the steadfast backing of the Pratiksha Trust, the CBR at IISc has been at the forefront of interdisciplinary research. Its focus lies in both basic and clinical neuroscience, striving to deepen our understanding of brain aging and related neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, through advanced genetic, biochemical, neuroimaging, and neurocognitive studies.
A family representative of the late Ms. Rao expressed hope that “this fellowship will be instrumental in combating the inequalities that hinder women’s progress in academic research, thereby inspiring and creating powerful role models for future generations.”
Kris Gopalakrishnan, Founder-Trustee of the Pratiksha Trust, further emphasized that the fellowship will significantly enhance CBR’s influence by strengthening research capabilities and fostering collaborative efforts in this critical area.