The Johns Hopkins Gupta-Klinsky India Institute (GKII) One Hop Mentorship Group is a new community to engage JHU students and alumni from India and the India diaspora in individual and group mentorship experiences.

Through this interactive platform, students and alumni can find meaningful connections for JHU India mentorship experiences to support academic and professional development through mentorship resources, education, and networking opportunities. 

Breakthrough Grant Deadline Coming Up

The April 9, 2024 deadline for our Breakthrough Grants Program with Koita Center for Digital Health (KCDH), at IIT-Bombay is coming up soon! Hear more about it in this video from GKII co-chair Amita Gupta!

This funding opportunity supports pilot projects led by faculty members from IIT-Bombay and Johns Hopkins University that involve interdisciplinary collaborations.

The current grant opportunity focuses on seven areas of Digital Health – Large Language Models, Healthcare Applications, Data Management, AI/ML Analytics, Consumer Health & Telemedicine, Computational Biology & Bioinformatics and Population Health & Public Health Policy. 

SPOTLIGHTS

Anirudh Ojha (Carey School of Business '17)

"Advancing health and nutrition, particularly in developing regions, is a cause that deeply resonates with me. I have undertaken professional assignments dedicated to this cause, such as establishing and managing Anganwadis aimed at enhancing maternal and child health in rural areas. Additionally, I served as a United Nations Volunteer, contributing to the development of a mobile app for UNICEF for the mental health needs of youth in South Asia."

Learn more about Anirudh's experiences working at the intersection of data science and development practice and what motivates him to support current and prospective Hopkins students from India.

Akshaya Annapragada (Whiting School of Engineering, School of Medicine, '28)

Degree/School: MD/PhD program (MD at School of Medicine, PhD in Biomedical Engineering at School of Engineering)

Clubs and Organizations: Co-founder and Director - The Community Health Literacy Project, Writer – JHU Biomedical Odyssey Blog

How did you get involved with Biomedical Odyssey and what do you do there? 

I have been a writer for the JHU Biomedical Odyssey Blog since 2022. I have always enjoyed writing, especially on policy topics - which I gained experience with in college as a writer for and Managing Editor of the Harvard Political Review – and wanted to continue to do so as an MD/PhD student. I write primarily about healthcare policy, with a focus on artificial intelligence in medicine, and about life in Baltimore. (Of note, any student, post-doc, or clinical trainee at the school of medicine can apply to write for the blog, so if you are interested please check it out.)

Which professor has been the most influential to your studies—and why? 

My PhD mentors, Victor Velculescu and Rob Scharpf, have had the largest influence on my studies as they have helped me define a research focus in genomics, machine learning, and non-invasive early detection of cancer. Working in their lab has helped me learn how to do impactful research with public health and clinical relevance, and has been a super fun and intellectually engaging experience.

What have you learned about the intersection of medicine and AI/Technology since starting at JHU? 

I’m fortunate to be training in a time where there is a growing recognition of the potential for AI to deliver real benefits when used responsibly in the clinic. My training at JHU has highlighted for me that truly revolutionary technology is informed by a deep technical background in the fundamentals of machine learning, an equally strong understanding of clinical medicine, and a commitment to bridging the two. I hope to continue to build this expertise during my training.



What advice would you have for incoming students?

There are many ways to be a successful physician-scientist, and we are fortunate that at JHU there are people who have excelled in all of them and are committed to mentorship and teaching. There are also lots of resources available to students that are not conventionally publicized as part of training programs but can be great learning opportunities. Therefore, it is helpful to really take initiative to seek out advice, resources and experience beyond your program or required classes, as you will get a lot more out of your time here. I have had this experience many times in science and medicine, but I imagine this advice is broadly applicable to any field.

WORLD TB DAY

March 24th marked World TB Day, a day to educate the public about the impact of TB around the world, and an especially poignant occasion in India where the World Health Organization estimates two people die every three minutes from tuberculosis.

In observance of the day, the BJGMC-JHU Clinical Research Site (CRS) in Pune hosted panel discussions, interactive outreach programs, and awareness campaigns at the Aundh Chest Hospital, the PHOENIx study site, as well as in the community.

Maunank Shah and Yukari Manabe named TB Elimination Champions from Johns Hopkins University 

Congratulations to Drs. Maunank Shah and Yukari Manabe on being named TB Elimination Champions by the CDC as they work to eliminate tuberculosis across the globe.

The CDC U.S. TB Elimination Champions Project provides an opportunity to recognize accomplishments and learn best practices from individuals who are making significant contributions to eliminating TB.

CONGRATULATIONS

Katie Zook, CIDI Managing Director, Recognized for Excellent Leadership

Katie Zook, the managing director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Infectious Diseases in India, was recognized with the inaugural Staff Recognition Award for Leadership by the Johns Hopkins Division of Infectious Diseases!

Drizzle Health Awarded $50,000 by MassChallenge

Drizzle Health, co-founded by Johns Hopkins Center for Bioengineering Innovation & Design (CBID) alumni Digvijay Singh and Bonolo Mathekga, has been awarded the $50,000 MassChallenge HealthTech award in Boston!

Their pioneering work in bacterial diagnostics is making bacterial diagnostics for Tuberculosis (TB) in humans and E.coli in food and water systems more affordable and accessible—a mission directly impacting India's healthcare landscape. The MagnaSlide, their flagship product, promises performance comparable to nucleic acid amplification tests, all at a fraction of the cost!

EVENTS

Global India Conference

April 12-13, 2024

This pan-USA multidisciplinary academic conference will bring together multiple themes related to India’s future and will feature frontier research topics across key themes of Economy & Politics, Inclusion, Sustainability, Innovation, Arts, and US-India Partnerships. The goal is to showcase breakthrough advances, share diverse viewpoints and stimulate high-impact collaborations in a plenary and panel session format.

IN THE NEWS

AI Regulation Necessary to Address Potential Risks, Key Senators Say 

The Hub, Feb. 29, 2024

U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.), who have strong track records in bipartisan technology legislation, discussed AI policy during a wide-ranging conversation at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C.

Two leading AI experts from Johns Hopkins University—Rama Chellappa and K.T. Ramesh, interim co-directors of the university's new Data Science and AI Institute and professors in the Whiting School of Engineering—shared their thoughts, advocating for legislative oversight that strikes the right balance by protecting citizens and our democracy without stymying AI growth and innovation.

Johns Hopkins Top Producer of Fulbright Grants for 14th Consecutive Year 

The Hub, Feb. 13, 2024

One notable JHU Fulbright recipient is Baldeep Dhaliwal, a BSPH third year PhD candidate in the Department of International Health from Chandigarh, India.

"For me, the most rewarding experience was spending so much time with the ASHAs—visiting their homes for birthdays and holidays, laughing and enjoying their hospitality and company. This really gave me the chance to integrate and fully participate in their society. I also really enjoyed getting to make stronger connections with researchers in India—I am so grateful that I was able to work closely with Dr. Anuradha and Dr. Madhu. They were amazing mentors to me, and it is incredibly special to continue those relationships."

At US universities, record numbers of Indian students seek brighter prospects — and overseas jobs 

AP News, March 11, 2024

Historic numbers of students from India are studying at foreign universities as a fast-growing, aspirational generation of young people looks for opportunities they can’t find at home. India estimates 1.5 million students are studying at universities elsewhere — an eightfold increase since 2012 — with no country attracting more than the U.S.

For Pranay Karkale, a JHU student, staying in India never felt like an option. As an undergraduate in India, he became interested in engineering management, which merges engineering and leadership skills. It’s a growing industry in the U.S. and Europe, but Karkale, who is from the western Indian state of Maharashtra, couldn’t find any master’s programs in India.

Small And Overlooked: Amount Of Repetitive DNA In Blood Hints at Cancer Early 

Hopkins Medicine, March 4, 2024

People with cancer have different amounts of a type of repetitive DNA — called Alu elements — than people without cancer. Now, machine learning can measure that from a blood draw. Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center have used this finding to improve a test that detects cancer early, validating and reproducing the results by starting with a sample size tenfold larger than typical of such types of studies. Chetan Bettegowda is a study co-author.

Ever More Undocumented Indian Migrants Follow ‘Donkey’ Route to America 

Washington Post, March 3, 2024

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Indians have come to make up the third-largest group of undocumented immigrants in the United States, according to the Pew Research Center's 2021 estimates, which put the number of such Indians at 725,000. India is the only country in the top five outside Latin America, and since 2011, the number of undocumented Indians in the United States has grown by 70 percent, the fastest growth of all nationalities. Figures from U.S. Customs and Border Protection show that the number of undocumented Indian immigrants increased the fastest between 2020 and 2023. Devesh Kapur is quoted.

India’s Thirst for Improved Water Security 

East Asia Forum, Feb. 27, 2024

India is facing a severe water crisis, leading to almost 200,000 deaths annually. It is crucial for the government to reassess power and water subsidies, implement targeted programs addressing groundwater depletion, shift crop patterns towards less water-intensive options and adopt efficient technologies to tackle the crisis. The government must act now to prevent millions from experiencing water stress by 2025.

Bhopal: A Tale of Two Tragedies

Global Health Now, Feb. 28, 2024

Bhopal, the historic city of begums (Muslim empresses or royal consorts) and lakes, is located in the heart of central India. The metropolis, the capital of the state of Madhya Pradesh, retains its charm from a bygone era. Centuries-old buildings seamlessly blend in with modern high-rises. Despite its historic significance, however, Bhopal is most known for tragic disasters: a poisonous methyl isocyanate gas leak in 1984 and decades later, when another disaster loomed in March 2020, as COVID-19 began surging in India.

OPEN FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

CFAR HIV/AIDS Training Fellowship Awards

Deadline: July 31, 2024

The CFAR Training Fellowship Awards is a training opportunity for Indian early-stage investigators to expand capacity in HIV/AIDS research through short-term research. CFAR sites are invited to apply for funding focused on priority areas of HIV/AIDS research aligned with NIH NOT-OD-20-018. Two to three fellowship awards, each up to $300,000 USD total cost ($150,000/year), will be granted.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR JOHNS HOPKINS AFFILIATES

Digital Education and Learning Technology Acceleration Initiative

Deadline: May 31, 2024

The Johns Hopkins University Provost's Digital Education and Learning Technology Acceleration (DELTA) initiative is offering grants of up to $75,000 for students, faculty, and staff seeking funding to develop digital education initiatives with the potential to demonstrably enhance the online and on-campus teaching and learning experience at Johns Hopkins. Up to five proposals are expected to be funded in 2024.

Accelerated Translational Incubator Pilot Program 

Deadline: April 1, 2024

The Accelerated Translational Incubator Pilot (ATIP) Program is providing awards ranging in size from $25,000 to $50,000 in direct costs for faculty conducting translational research projects exploring innovative new directions for established investigators or stimulating investigators from other areas to lend their expertise in research. Morgan State University, University of Maryland, and Johns Hopkins University faculty members are eligible to apply.

Seed Grants for Research on Sex and Gender Differences

Deadline: April 8, 2024

The Johns Hopkins Specialized Center for Research Excellence (SCORE) in Sex and Age Differences in Immunity to Influenza (SADII), in collaboration with the Foundation for Gender-Specific Medicine, plans to fund a seed grant of $50,000 to enable junior faculty to conduct research using a variety of methods related to sex and gender differences and the intersection of sex and gender.

2024 TRAC Development Awards

Deadline: April 22, 2024

The Johns Hopkins Tuberculosis Research Advancement Center (TRAC) provides pilot grants to faculty and senior postdoctoral fellows in the Schools of Public Health, Medicine, and Nursing to enable and support TB related research projects. Junior faculty in other JHU schools are eligible to apply if the proposal meets all other criteria. The budget for faculty grants is a maximum of $50,000 in direct costs. The budget for grants awarded to senior postdoctoral fellows is a maximum of $25,000.

PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Senior Research Manager

Housed in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, the Center for Infectious Diseases in India (CIDI) is seeking a Sr. Research Program Manager to be part of a team with a base in Baltimore and locations across India. This person will manage the research portfolios of Dr. Amita Gupta and CIDI faculty. 

Marketing & Communications Manager

Indiaspora, a global network of Indian-origin leaders dedicated to catalyzing social change, is hiring for a full-time Marketing and Communications Manager. Check out the position!

NEWS OF NOTE

Happy Birthday, Johns Hopkins University

As the nation’s first research institution, Johns Hopkins recently celebrated it's 148th birthday and reflected on the momentous impact students, faculty, staff, and alumni have had and will continue to make.

How Indian Students are Creating a Boom at US Universities 

India Today, March 11, 2024

Indian students are increasingly choosing to study at US universities, creating a boom for American Universities. The number of Indian students in the US has skyrocketed, with a staggering 35% increase in just one year. Currently, there are over 250,000 students from India at US universities. A yearning for better career prospects drives this trend. Indian students believe that a US degree unlocks doors to higher-paying jobs and opportunities not readily available at home.

India is among the countries with the most extensive AI adoption: IBM Research 

INDIAai, Feb. 27, 2024

Around 59% of Indian enterprises have actively adopted technologies like Artificial Intelligence, making India among the countries with the most extensive AI adoption, a survey by IBM revealed. According to the ‘IBM Global AI Adoption Index 2023’ conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of IBM, early adopters are leading the way. They have increased their investments in AI in the past 24 months in areas like R&D and workforce reskilling.

The U.S. Must Invest in its People to Lead Discoveries and Innovations 

National Science Board, March 13, 2024

The National Science Board published The State of U.S. Science and Engineering 2024, which shows that although the United States performs more research and development than any other country, the nation’s global position is slipping, as countries in East and Southeast Asia, particularly China, increase their activities. 

India’s Impact on Global Health 

Fogarty International Center, Feb. 13, 2024

India plays a major global role in vaccine and pharmaceutical manufacturing. The nation supplies 60% of the world’s vaccines and exports vaccines to more than 170 countries globally, earning India the title, “the world’s pharmacy.” Having these capabilities allowed India's Serum Institute to manufacture the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine in the country during the COVID-19 pandemic through the COVAX program, widely expanding vaccine access to lower-income economies.

Is Climate Change Making Menopause Symptoms More Severe in India? 

Global Health Now, Feb. 16, 2024

Data on women in low- and middle-income countries, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and South/Southeast Asia, have revealed an increasing prevalence of early and premature menopause, according to a 2023 BMJ Global Health article. In India, the country’s 2019–2021 National Family Health Survey found that nearly 7% of Indian women between the ages of 35 and 39 reported experiencing menopause.

IITMadras receives endowment of Rs 110 Crore from Mr. Sunil Wadhwani to establish Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI

PR Newswire, Jan. 30, 2024

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) has announced an endowment of Rs. 110 Crore by Mr. Sunil Wadhwani towards setting up the Wadhwani School of Data Science and AI. The school aims to rise to the top 20 AI-focused schools worldwide, focusing on Responsible AI and advising the Government on policy-making and societal impact.

IIT-Hyderabad cluster receives Rs 60 crore grant from DST for establishing centre for in-Situ and correlative microscopy 

Times of India, March 11, 2024

The IIT Hyderabad Cluster has been awarded a Rs. 60 crore grant by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) under the Sophisticated Analytical & Technical Help Institutes (SATHI) scheme. It's noteworthy that only 3 clusters have been selected under this SATHI scheme call.

NEW IN RESEARCH

Estimates of hospitalisations and deaths in patients with COVID-19 associated with undiagnosed diabetes during the first phase of the pandemic in eight low-income and middle-income countries: a modelling study 

eClinicalMedicine, March 5, 2024

Patients with COVID-19 that had diagnosed chronic diseases - including diabetes - may experience higher rates of hospitalisation and mortality relative to the general population. However, the burden of undiagnosed co-morbidities during the pandemic has not been adequately studied. Our findings suggest that undiagnosed diabetes contributed substantially to COVID-19 hospitalisations and deaths in many LMICs. 

Summan A, Nandi A, Wahl B, Carmona S, Ongarello S, Vetter B, Laxminarayan R.

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