By Arun Kumar
Washington, Dec 24 (IANS): President Barack Obama has named 102 researchers, including two Indian-Americans, as recipients of the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers, the highest US honour for young professionals in these fields.

The winners including, Dr. Karunesh Ganguly of San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Centre and Dr. Hardeep Singh of Houston Veterans Affairs Medical Centre, will receive their awards at a Washington, DC, ceremony in the coming year.

"The impressive achievements of these early-stage scientists and engineers are promising indicators of even greater successes ahead," Obama said in a White House announcement.

"We are grateful for their commitment to generating the scientific and technical advancements that will ensure America's global leadership for many years to come."

Ganguly's research is aimed towards the development of novel therapies for patients with chronic neurological deficits following stroke or other forms of brain injury.

Much of Hardeep Singh's research has involved detecting, understanding and reducing missed and delayed diagnosis in the outpatient setting, as well as in using health information technology to achieve safe and effective health care.

Established by President Bill Clinton in 1996, the awards "embody the high priority the Obama Administration places on producing outstanding scientists and engineers to advance the Nation's goals, tackle grand challenges, and contribute to the American economy," the White House said.

Various US departments "join together annually to nominate the most meritorious scientists and engineers whose early accomplishments show the greatest promise for assuring America's pre-eminence in science and engineering and contributing to the awarding agencies' missions."