UK nurse Agimol Pradeep wins 2026 Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award
Her contributions to patient access, community engagement and healthcare capacity have earned her recognition including the British Empire Medal.
INDIA—Nurse Agimol Pradeep from the United Kingdom has won the 2026 Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award after emerging from more than 134,000 registrations spanning 214 countries and economies.
Pradeep, a senior transplant coordinator at King’s College Hospital and honorary senior lecturer at the University of Salford, received the US$250,000 prize at a ceremony in Kochi, India.
The award was presented by Kerala’s Chief Minister Shri V. D. Satheesan, along with Dr. Azad Moopen, Founder Chairman of Aster DM Healthcare; Alisha Moopen, Managing Director and Group CEO of Aster DM Healthcare GCC; T. J. Wilson, Executive Director and Group Head of Aster DM Healthcare; and Varun Khanna, Managing Director and Group CEO of Aster DM Quality Care Ltd.
Global recognition for nursing
Launched in 2021, the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award recognises nurses who are advancing healthcare and creating meaningful change in their communities.
This year’s applications highlighted the breadth of nursing practice across healthcare settings, disciplines and communities worldwide.
The ceremony also featured a message from Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization, who congratulated the finalists and recognised the contribution of nurses to healthcare globally.
Commenting on her achievement, Pradeep said the award would allow her to expand work she has pursued throughout her career.
She highlighted the challenges faced by minority communities because of shortages of ethnically matched organ and stem cell donors, as well as barriers that prevent internationally trained nurses from returning to the profession.
She said half of the prize money would support Upahaar, an initiative focused on expanding organ and stem cell donation and improving access to transplantation for patients with organ failure and blood cancers.
She also plans to invest in nursing education and training to help more nurses become advocates and leaders.
Tackling healthcare inequalities
Pradeep co-founded Upahaar after identifying the disproportionate impact of donor shortages on South Asian patients awaiting transplants.
The initiative has since registered more than 10,000 stem cell donors.
Her work has also contributed to regulatory changes that have helped internationally trained nurses re-enter the UK workforce, supporting efforts to address nursing shortages.
Her contributions to patient access, community engagement and healthcare capacity have earned her recognition including the British Empire Medal.
Dr Azad Moopen said Pradeep’s achievement reflected the expertise, courage, compassion and commitment that define exceptional nursing.
He congratulated her and the other finalists for their leadership, innovation and service.
Alisha Moopen said Pradeep’s work demonstrated how individual nurses can drive change, particularly through her efforts to improve organ donation among the UK’s South Asian community.
Nine other finalists
The other finalists were Dr Aidah Alkaissi of Sweden, Dinah Sevilla of Saudi Arabia, Dr Hammoda Abu-Odah of Hong Kong SAR, China, Hindumbi K of India, Johana Patricia Galvan Barrios of Colombia, Josephine Nelago Angula of Namibia, Oluchi Angel Okoi of Nigeria, Peter Fore of Papua New Guinea, and Ronald Mario Cañas Rojas of Colombia.
The 10 finalists advanced through a selection process involving Ernst & Young LLP, a Screening Jury and a Grand Jury.
The process assessed professional achievements, leadership, innovation, impact and contributions to nursing.
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