Alumni award demonstrates ‘why international education matters’

Professor Abhishek D. Garg has been shortlisted for a prestigious international award celebrating the contributions of Indian students who have studied in the UK.

Professor Garg has been named as an Indian Achiever in the Education, Science and Innovation category at the NISAU India UK Achievers Awards 2026. The category celebrates those individuals who have demonstrated considerable impact through pioneering research, scientific discovery, or innovation that advances knowledge and improves lives.

The NISAU awards are delivered in partnership with the British Council, the UK Government, and the UK Higher Education sector.

Garg graduated from Leeds in 2008, with an MSc in Biosciences with Human Genetics. He was a recipient of the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme, which provides financial support for talented international students to study in the UK, helping to support global excellence in UK higher education.

Speaking about his time at Leeds, he said:

Leeds was, and is, a world-class university, highly ranked from a research and innovation perspective, with a high-impact track record of research and development in biosciences and human genetics.

“The structure and curriculum of the MSc gave students hands-on experience in real-world research skills and how biological research worked in practice, an approach Garg describes as “radical for that time” and that directly helped to pave the way for him to pursue his PhD.

Improving cancer treatments and outcomes

Professor Garg is currently Research Associate Professor and Group Leader of the Laboratory for Cell Stress and Immunity at KU Leuven, Belgium, where he is dedicated to improving outcomes for cancer patients through cancer immunology and immunotherapy.

His research has produced several significant breakthroughs, leading to the development of innovative anticancer vaccines, a first-in-class blood-screening assay and AI-driven immune biomarkers.

He is now working on the launch of an innovation platform called RETROFIT, which uses AI to create next-generation immunotherapies for hard-to-treat cancers.

Professor Garg has received numerous awards including the AstraZeneca Foundation Award (2025), the 41st Prix Galien Award (2023), and the European Society of Photobiology Young Investigator Award (2013). He is also the Editor-in-Chief of Genes & Immunity journal, part of the Springer-Nature portfolio, and is amongst the top 1-2% most cited researchers in the world.

World-class research

On being shortlisted, Professor Garg said:

"This award affirms the impact of our patient-oriented cancer immunotherapy research and the importance of exposure to world-class research, innovation and education."

Reflecting on Leeds as a destination for prospective students, he said:

Leeds is a perfect city and University for exposure to world-class research, innovation and education. Culturally and financially, it caters to everyone irrespective of where you come from.

Part of the global Leeds community

Ian Wood, Pro-Dean International, Faculty of Biological Sciences said:

Professor Abhishek D. Garg’s achievements are a brilliant example of the global impact Leeds alumni are making across the world.

“His dedication to turning ground-breaking cancer research into life-changing treatments for patients is inspiring, and a reminder of why international education matters. We are very proud of his achievements and look forward to watching his journey unfold."