Professor Basnyat, Chairperson of OUCRU Nepal, has dedicated his life’s work to advancing the understanding of infectious diseases and high-altitude medicine. A distinguished physician and clinical researcher based in Kathmandu, his contributions have shaped clinical practice and public health policy in Nepal and across other resource-limited and mountainous regions worldwide.
In 2003, following a visit to Nepal by Prof Sir Jeremy Farrar at Prof Basnyat’s invitation, the two co-founded OUCRU Nepal. Prof Basnyat was the Director of OUCRU Nepal until 2022 —building on his longstanding research on infectious diseases in the country. He also serves as Medical Director of both the Travel and Mountain Medicine Centre and the Himalayan Rescue Association, where he has addressed complex medical challenges related to altitude illness, including acute mountain sickness and high-altitude oedemas, while championing rigorous, evidence-based clinical research.
His landmark randomised controlled trials on typhoid vaccines and treatments have significantly influenced public health strategies in South Asia—reducing mortality and informing World Health Organization recommendations. He also identified scrub typhus as a major cause of febrile illness in Nepal, previously misdiagnosed as typhoid, leading to nationwide changes in diagnostic and treatment protocols. In the field of antimicrobial resistance, his research has contributed directly to Nepal’s National Antibiotic Guidelines, promoting evidence-based, rational drug use in low-resource settings.
As a world authority on high-altitude medicine, Prof Basnyat’s work with the Himalayan Rescue Association and Everest ER has helped refine prevention and treatment strategies for climbers and high-altitude communities in Nepal.
Beyond his scientific achievements, Prof Basnyat is a committed mentor who has played a pivotal role in developing the next generation of Nepalese clinician-scientists and fostering a vibrant, sustainable research community within the country. He also serves as the Honorary Consul of Canada to Nepal, reflecting his deep commitment to international collaboration and diplomacy.
This Lifetime Achievement Award not only celebrates Prof Basnyat’s extraordinary career, but also highlights Nepal’s growing role in global health research. His tireless dedication to science, mentorship, and local capacity building has cemented his legacy as a leading figure in Nepal’s health sector and a lasting inspiration for future generations of medical researchers.