GKII Director Melody McCoy recently traveled to India for a six-day visit, meeting with the parents of Johns Hopkins University students and alumni, GKII affiliates, regional health organizations, and local philanthropists and businesspeople who share the same mission and goals of collaboration. Check out her open letter for more details on each event.

"Reflecting on our journey, we are reminded of the power of shared goals and the impact of collective action. The insights gained and the partnerships forged or strengthened during this trip are vital steps towards our shared vision of fostering innovation, improving health, and enhancing education. GKII will spend the next year continuing our work to strengthen the ties that unite JHU and India through communication, collaboration, creating community, and convening towards catalyzing progress on important issues like education, health and technology."

JHU faculty and India-based project teams gathered in Delhi on January 18th and 19th, for the annual PHC Symposium, featuring engaging panel discussions and a series of interactive sessions on emerging issues in primary health care in India and potential research and collaboration opportunities to address them. This year’s themes included finance and governance, meeting the needs of vulnerable populations, community engagement, integrated primary and secondary healthcare models in LMICs and leadership training initiatives, and health information systems.

Breakthrough Grant Deadline Extended

The deadline for our Breakthrough Grants Program with Koita Center for Digital Health (KCDH), at IIT-Bombay. has been extended to April 9, 2024.

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

The current research grant is focused 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

Benjamin Zaitchik, PhD

Professor, Krieger School of Arts and Sciences

“One thing that has struck me traveling and working in India is the public recognition of the importance and value of infrastructure for natural resources.”

Benjamin Zaitchik, a professor in the department of earth and planetary sciences at Johns Hopkins University, focuses mostly on regional climate in his research, trying to understand the atmosphere, the climate system, and what factors drive and extreme weather events.

Alumnus Damini Agarwal (WSE, '17)

How did your journey at Hopkins shape your career in biomedical technology? Any specific experiences or lessons that stand out?

My biggest learning from my Hopkins journey, was to not be afraid of the unknown. As a young researcher, one naturally gravitates towards trying to solve problems that we already know answers to. However, my Hopkins education challenged me to have confidence in my abilities and to use them to push the boundaries of science. This has led to a rich career in research and development of bionic arms, where we redefine the unknown each day!

Aarna Sanghai (WSE, '27)

Degree/School: Whiting School of Engineering

Name of the program: Biomedical Engineering (Major)

What skill did you learn at Hopkins?

The value of embracing diversity. By being an inclusive and equitable home for all, JHU has fostered the perfect environment for cross-cultural interactions. I have met people from across the world and learned the most interesting facts about different cultures. I was surprised to hear that one of my friends from Mongolia had watched Indian Matchmaking and she couldn’t believe it was real! I loved learning bits and parts of Korean and Mandarin and I loved teaching my friends how to write their names in Hindi. Hopkins has taught me to embrace this collective growth by learning about and learning with the people around me. Meeting people whose experiences, perspectives and beliefs are different than my own enriches my personal growth. The values of acceptance, open-mindedness, and respect have been engrained in me.

Clubs and Organizations on Campus

One of the organizations I am involved with on campus is Charm City Science League (CCSL). We mentor primary, middle, and high school students in Baltimore to participate in science olympiads and host science competitions for younger kids. Last semester, I had an incredible experience guiding high- school students once a week and making new friends. I love STEM and truly believe in its power to help solve real world problems. Hence, lighting a spark for the same within younger students is exciting and rewarding. Additionally, I thoroughly enjoyed the hands-on science olympiad activities that involved building wooden models of bridges and using laser pointers and mirrors for optics. I am really looking forward to continuing to participate in this club next semester as well.

What is your favorite spot on campus?

My favorite spot on campus would have to be Keyser Quad. On a warm day, my friends and I love sitting on the beach chairs on the quad. It’s the best place to soak in the sun, people watch, listen to the Gilman bells, and relax. Later in the evenings we often get sushi from CharMar and hot chocolate from Brody café, snuggle up in warm coats, and blast music.

IN THE NEWS

New Johns Hopkins institute aims to make Baltimore an AI hub

The Daily Record, Jan. 29, 2024

The new Data Science and Translation Institute, announced several months ago and planned for the western edge of the Homewood Campus, is expected to be “the leading academic hub for data science and artificial intelligence – a resource that will bring world-class experts to the Baltimore region and drive game-changing innovations,” said Rama Chellappa, interim co-director of the planned institute and a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor at Johns Hopkins.

How India Gave the US a Generation of Business School Deans

Financial Times, Feb. 6, 2024

Devesh Kapur, Professor of South Asia Studies at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, says: “I firmly believe that the mirror image is how weakly Indian higher education has [performed]. India has gifted the US, in particular, immense talent. It’s worth reflecting what they could have done if they had stayed, and what India has lost.”

Dr. Kunchok Dorjee: Leading the Charge in the Fight Against Global TB

Nunchi, Jan. 29, 2024

Dr. Kunchok Dorjee (he/him) is a physician and epidemiologist specializing in tuberculosis (TB). He serves as Assistant Professor of Medicine and International Health at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health. Dr. Dorjee sat down with RC Sadoff to discuss his personal and professional experiences with infectious diseases and refugee populations.

Ashoka-MyHealthcare partnership secures Johns Hopkins GKII breakthrough grant

Express Healthcare, Feb. 14, 2024

The collaboration between MyHealthcare and Ashoka University has marked a significant milestone in health data research by securing Johns Hopkins GKII Breakthrough Grant for Health Data Research. The Ashoka-MyHealthcare partnership is focused on leveraging technology, clinical expertise, and big data, to accelerate health informatics and data-driven evidence generation, and in turn, deliver better patient care outcomes.

Diwali 2023 in Baltimore

By Akshaya Annapragada, Jan. 24, 2024

Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is a holiday often associated with Hinduism and the Indian subcontinent. However, it is celebrated by South Asian communities of diverse religious and nonreligious backgrounds around the world, and it marks triumphs such as good over evil, light over dark and knowledge over ignorance. The holiday, based on the lunar calendar, is observed each year around October and November. Because the lunar calendar shifts each year, Diwali’s date also changes — in 2023, it fell on Nov. 12. It happened to be my first year celebrating Diwali in Baltimore.

ACCELERATE Featured in Best of 2023 by JHU

ACCELERATE, Feb. 6, 2024

The PEPFAR and USAID-supported project ACCELERATE, implemented through the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, was recently featured in the Best of 2023 from the USAID India/Health Office. Read more about how the project is revamping the mapping of HIV-affected vulnerable populations, supporting mental health for youth in Manipur, and an update on India's first peer-led e-pharmacy led by people living with HIV. 

EVENTS

Join Us: Guest Lecture with Dr. George M. Varghese

Please join us for a special guest lecture with Dr. George M. Varghese, Head of Infectious Diseases at Christian Medical College, Vellore, and the Head of the Clinical Infectious Diseases Society of India.

When: Tuesday, February, 20, 2024: 11 a.m. EST/ 9:30 p.m. IST. 

Cohosted by the Johns Hopkins Center for Infectious Diseases in India

His talk, "Innovation for Transformative Impact: Saving Lives in India,” will underscore the critical role of innovative solutions and approaches in addressing the intricate healthcare needs, particularly within the Indian context. Drawing from his research endeavors, Dr. Varghese will discuss how innovative strategies can effectively tackle pertinent healthcare challenges. He will also explain the advantages of leveraging innovation to catalyze significant and positive changes in healthcare outcomes byy delving into specific research inquiries.

JOHNS HOPKINS CERTIFICATE COURSE IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Intensive Course on Infectious Diseases in Primary Care, India 

Date: June 21-23, 2024  

Location: Aloft New Delhi Aerocity

5B, IGI T3 Road, Aerocity, Delhi Aerocity  

New Delhi, India, 110037   

The Johns Hopkins Division of Infectious Diseases is offering a course for healthcare professionals comprising a 2.5 day in-person conference and 8 self-paced online modules for developing knowledge and skills needed to address, manage, and prevent a wide range of infectious diseases. The course incorporates interactive case studies and clinical decision-making exercises. Upon successful completion, learners will receive a Certificate from Johns Hopkins Medicine. There are two ways to participate: online only or in person and online.

PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Ascend: Leadership Program for the Future of Tobacco Control  

Deadline: Feb. 20, 2024

This free 9-month leadership program commencing in April 2024 is offered by the Institute for Global Tobacco Control (IGTC) at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. It’s designed to develop and enhance the skills of participants in low- and middle-income countries with the largest burden of tobacco-caused death and disease.

Postdoctoral Researcher in Deep Learning and Network Science 

Deadline: March 31, 2024

The successful candidate will be based in India as part of a multidisciplinary team of scientists and physicians, contributing to a portfolio of projects focused on leveraging network science, phylodynamics, and deep learning. The primary objective is to develop targeted HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) interventions for people who inject drugs in India (PWID).   

Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering is Hiring

As part of JHU's new Data Science and AI Initiative, WSE is hiring 80 new tenure-track faculty, the largest cluster hire in Hopkins Engineering's history. 

Check out the opportunities in the departments of Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Applied Mathematics and Statistics.

OPEN FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Fulbright Fellowships for Indian Citizens

Deadline: May 15, 2024

The United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) is accepting applications for several fellowship opportunities specifically for Indian citizens, including Fulbright-Nehru Fellowships, Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowship, as well as others. 

Wellcome Climate Impact Awards

Deadline: Mar 3, 2024

Wellcome, a global charitable foundation, is accepting proposals from mid-career and established researchers for transdisciplinary projects that deliver short-term, high-impact projects that maximise policy outcomes by combining evidence generation, policy analysis, engaged research approaches and communication strategies.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR JOHNS HOPKINS AFFILIATES

Campus as a Living Lab Program and Sustainability Grants* 

Deadline: April 10, 2024

This opportunity for researchers, instructors and students at all JHU schools and divisions is intended to foster research and educational opportunities while testing scalable sustainability solutions on JHU campuses.

2024 TRAC Development Awards

Deadline: March 4, 2024

The Johns Hopkins Tuberculosis Research Advancement Center (TRAC) is accepting Letters of Intent from Johns Hopkins faculty and senior post-doctoral fellows for pilot grants to enable and support TB-related research projects.

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

PETS Challenge

Deadline: April 1, 2024

Data.org is partnering with a global financial institution, Harvard OpenDP, researchers from the Pontifical Javeriana University, and a scientific research philanthropic non-profit organization, to run a Privacy-Enhancing Technologies (PETs) for Public Health Challenge to create innovative differential privacy (DP) solutions to unlock privately held commercial sensitive data and enable optimal data-driven decision making in epidemiology.

NIKKEI ASIA AWARD

The NIKKEI ASIA AWARD is a project to recognize innovation originating in Asia, sponsored by Nikkei Inc. “Innovation from Asia” is any activity that promotes the transformation of Asia and the world, and supports the realization of a free and prosperous economic society from the Asian perspective based on the diverse values. 

NEWS OF NOTE

Visa Price Hike

The United States has announced a fee hike for various non-immigrant visas, including the popular H-1B, L-1, and EB-5 visas, affecting many Indians, with the adjustments set to take effect from April 1, 2024. The increased fees include raising the H-1B application fee to $780, the H-1B registration fee to $215 (from next year), the L-1 visa fee to $1,385, and the EB-5 visa fee to $11,160. 

Peabody Conservatory to Meet Full Student Financial Need and Eliminate Loans 

The Hub, Feb. 2, 2024

The Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University has announced it will meet 100% of demonstrated financial need for all domestic undergraduate students and eliminate loans from financial aid packages beginning in the fall 2024 semester. Current domestic undergraduate students with unmet financial need have also received a grant in spring 2024.

Hopkins Engineering Online Graduate Master's Programs Again Ranked Among Nation's Best

The Hub, Feb. 7, 2024

Multiple Engineering for Professionals (EP) programs are ranked No. 1, including its online computer information technology offerings, which share the top spot with Columbia University. Rankings in this category considered data from five EP fields: computer science, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, information systems engineering, and data science.

Also in the No. 1 spot are EP's Engineering Management and Electrical and Computer Engineering programs, which are tied with Purdue University and Georgia Institute of Technology, respectively.

NEW IN RESEARCH

Severe Disease During Both Primary and Secondary Dengue Virus Infections in Pediatric Populations

Nature Medicine, Feb. 6, 2024

Dengue is a global epidemic causing over 100 million cases annually. The clinical symptoms range from mild fever to severe hemorrhage and shock, including some fatalities. The current paradigm is that these severe dengue cases occur mostly during secondary infections due to antibody-dependent enhancement after infection with a different dengue virus serotype. India has the highest dengue burden worldwide, but little is known about disease severity and its association with primary and secondary dengue infections. To address this issue, we examined 619 children with febrile dengue-confirmed infection from three hospitals in different regions of India.

Aggarwal C, Ahmed H, Sharma P, Seetharami Reddy E, Nayak K, SinglaM , Maheshwari D, Chawla YM, Panda H, Chandra Rai R, Gunisetty S, Priyamvada L, Kumar Bhaumik S, Fazil Ahamed S, Vivek R, Bhatnagar P, Singh P, Kaur M, Dixit K, Kumar S, Gottimukkala K, Saini K, Bajpai P, Pillai Sreekanth G, Mammen S, Rajan A, Philip Verghese V, Mary Abraham A, Shah P, Alagarasu K, Yu T, Davis CW, Wrammert J, Ansari A, Antia R, Kumar Kabra S, Medigeshi GR, Ahmed R, Lodha R, Shet A, Chandele A, Murali-Krishna K.

The Impact of Preventive Treatment for Multidrug- and Rifampin-Resistant Tuberculosis Exceeds Trial-Based Estimates 

Clinical Infectious Diseases, Jan. 25, 2024

Several clinical trials of tuberculosis preventive treatment (TPT) for household contacts of patients with multidrug- or rifampin-resistant tuberculosis (MDR/RR-TB) are nearing completion. The potential benefits of delivering TPT to MDR/RR-TB contacts extend beyond the outcomes that clinical trials can measure. If forthcoming trial results demonstrate efficacy, the long-term population impact of TPT for MDR/RR-TB-including the large effect of increased active TB detection among MDR/RR-TB contacts-could be much greater than suggested by trial outcomes alone.

Kasaie P, Pennington J, Gupta A, Dowdy DW, Kendall EA.

Tobacco Product Litter as a Form of Postconsumption Marketing: an Observational Study in India

BMJ, Jan. 12, 2024

Tobacco product litter may be a form of postconsumption marketing if the littered items are branded. We conducted an observational study in India to assess the presence of tobacco product litter and determine the proportion that included branding. This study found that the majority of tobacco product litter in India is branded, which could function as a form of postconsumption marketing. Plain and standardised packaging and banning branding features on filters would reduce tobacco litter branding.

Grilo G, Kaplan B, Cohen J, Bhattacharya P, Mukherjee N, Welding K, Kennedy RD.

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