Dr. Kamalesh Sarkar, while working as Director, Indian Council of Medical Research - National Institute of Occupational Health, India, carried out lot of research works on silicosis & silico-tuberculosis as evidenced by his publications. Dr. Sarkar has more than 33 year’s of professional experience and expertise in the control of all sorts of locally prevalent communicable as well as non-communicable diseases including occupational diseases. He has published more than 80 original articles in various reputed national & international journals. He also had received the prestigious ICMR Award – ‘Dr. M. K. Seshadri Prize’ for his significant contribution in the field of HIV/AIDS. He had also been elected as member of National Academy of Medical Sciences (India) based on his professional achievements. He is the discoverer of a novel biomarker of lung damage/disease (CC16) for early detection of silicosis/subradiological silicosis using CC16 as a proxy screening tool among silica dust exposed workers. He along with his colleagues from ICMR-NIV also developed a semi-quantitative serum CC16 detection kit, which is approved by the Ministry of Health, Govt. of India. The concept of sub-radiological silicosis and its importance for better control of silicosis as well as elimination of TB was highlighted by him for the first time in India as an eye opener.