Agimol Pradeep, an Indian-origin nurse based in the United Kingdom, has been named the recipient of the Aster Guardians Global Nursing Award 2026. The award comes with a $250,000 prize and recognizes her work in transplant nursing, organ donation and stem cell donor awareness.
Originally from Kottayam, Kerala, Pradeep decided at an early age that she wanted to pursue nursing. She completed her nursing diploma at CSI Hospital in Bengaluru before undertaking additional training in dialysis and gaining experience at Manipal Hospital. She moved to the UK and began working as a transplant nurse at a Manchester hospital in 2001.
Over the following years, Pradeep continued expanding her professional qualifications while balancing family responsibilities. She began a degree program at the University of Manchester in 2005 and later completed a fully funded master’s degree. Her career eventually developed into a specialization in transplant care, making her one of the early Asian nurses to work in the field.
Her professional experience also led her to investigate disparities in transplant matching. After an Asian patient questioned why he appeared to be waiting longer for a transplant, Pradeep researched the issue as part of her academic work. Her research found that tissue-type compatibility plays a significant role, and patients can have a greater chance of finding suitable donors within their own ethnic communities.
She subsequently focused on the shortage of organ and stem cell donors among Asian communities in the UK. Pradeep completed her part-time PhD in three years and began working more closely with patients, families, healthcare professionals and religious leaders to improve awareness.
This work eventually led to the creation of Upahaar in 2014, an initiative promoting deceased organ donation and stem cell donation. A key part of its outreach has been addressing misconceptions surrounding stem cell donation and explaining that modern donation procedures can differ significantly from traditional perceptions of bone marrow extraction.
Pradeep and her volunteers have used religious and community gatherings to create opportunities for people to ask questions about donation. Faith leaders from Christian, Hindu and Muslim communities have participated in these discussions, helping address questions linked to religious beliefs.
Upahaar has since developed into a UK-wide network with about 100 volunteers and, according to Pradeep, approximately 10,000 potential donors registered through its efforts.
Today, Pradeep serves as a Senior Transplant Coordinator at King’s College Hospital and an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Salford. She views nursing as a profession that has expanded beyond bedside care into advocacy, education, research, leadership and specialized practice.
After 25 years in nursing, she continues to emphasize the profession’s role in improving lives and addressing healthcare challenges. Her work combines clinical expertise with community engagement, particularly in areas where greater awareness of donation can potentially help patients awaiting life-saving transplants.
