Dr Parth Lal, a DM trainee in Paediatric Neurology at PGIMER in Chandigarh, has become the first Indian to win the Paediatric Neurology Trainee Award. The award for 2025 recognises an outstanding original research article by a trainee.
The award was presented at the 2026 Child Neurology Society meeting in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Dr Lal received it for his work on the NitRIS trial.
What Is the NitRIS Trial That Won the Award?
The NitRIS trial was published in the journal Pediatric Neurology. It provided proof-of-concept evidence for the potential effectiveness of nitrazepam in children with infantile epileptic spasms syndrome (IESS).
IESS is a form of epilepsy in infancy that can be difficult to treat. The journal also carried an accompanying editorial by members of its editorial board.
How Was the Winner Selected?
The award selection is based on several factors:
- Scientific significance of the research
- Methodological rigour
- Quality of the work
- Innovation shown in the study
These criteria make the award a strong recognition of both the research and the researcher behind it.
Why This Award Matters for Indian Medical Research
This is the first time an Indian has won this award. That makes it a notable moment for paediatric neurology research in India.
The fact that the winning work was a trainee-led trial adds to its importance. It shows that young researchers in India are producing work that meets international standards.
Our Take: A Win That Should Open More Doors
In our view, this award is more than a personal achievement for Dr Parth Lal. It is proof that Indian medical trainees can compete at the highest level globally.
To put it plainly, research from Indian institutions like PGIMER is now getting the international attention it deserves. The NitRIS trial studied a condition — infantile epileptic spasms syndrome — that is genuinely hard to treat. Any new evidence on treatment options matters for families dealing with this condition.
What readers should take away is simple: recognition like this can encourage more young Indian doctors to pursue research. It also puts a spotlight on paediatric neurology, a field that does not always get the attention it needs.
The hope now is that this win leads to more support for trainee-led research in India — funding, mentorship, and platforms to publish. One award will not change everything, but it is a strong signal that the talent is already here.
