GKII Presents Women in STEM Initiative at USBIC Summit



On September 11, 2024, the U.S.-India Alliance for Women’s Economic Empowerment convened its first in-person meeting on the margins of USIBC’s Ideas Summit in New Delhi. The meeting aimed to foster collaboration between public and private sectors to advance women’s economic participation. Participants included Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues and Alliance co-chair Dr. Geeta Rao Gupta, Assistant Secretary Donald Lu, USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator Änjali Kaur, and Deputy Assistant Secretary Nancy Izzo Jackson. As an anchor partner of the Alliance, GKII highlighted its Women in STEM initiative, which focuses on empowering women in India through leadership development, training, and mentorship opportunities.

GxD Hub Partners Meet

Dr. Diwakar Mohan, Associate Research Professor, recently attended LEAD’s Gender x Digital hub, in collaboration with the University of Cape Town and Johns Hopkins University's Bloomberg School of Public Health workshop: Measuring Digital Access in India. Experts from the ecosystem and the hub's partners discussed new opportunities and approaches for effectively measuring and tracking digital inclusion. Participants also shared their inputs on a list of survey questions for measuring digital access.

DAY-NRLM and LEAP Launch New Initiative

The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) in collaboration with LEAP announced the launch of the initiative "Million Designers, Billion Dreams." This innovative program aims to empower individuals across India with systems design know-how to tackle complex societal challenges. André Nogueira, Ph.D., CEO of LEAP and Associate Faculty of Design Knowledge at Johns Hopkins gave a presentation on the program's vision and structure.

EVENTS

GKII JHU India Networking Event

When: October 4, 2024, 5-7:00 p.m.

Where: Tamber's Restaurant, 3327 St Paul St, Baltimore, MD 21218

Registration is FREE but required

Join us for an exciting in-person networking event to connect with JHU students, alumni, faculty, and staff with an India connection! This informal gathering, centered around the theme of mentorship and India, is an opportunity to welcome the new cohort of students to JHU.

The GKII Team will share opportunities to be more involved with JHU and India through programs, communications, and initiatives. Mingle with affiliated faculty doing life-changing work with India and explore how you can expand your JHU India network!

Center for Public Innovation Summer Scholars Showcase

Where: Glass Pavilion at Levering Hall, Johns Hopkins University

When: Friday September 20, 2024, 12:00 – 3:00 PM

Please join the the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins and the 2024 cohort of Summer Scholars for lunch, networking, and to learn about their innovation projects in the cities of Albany, Baltimore, Birmingham, Cincinnati, Raleigh, San Francisco, and Fortaleza, Brazil. Lunch is included!

OneHop Second Saturdays with JHU

When: Oct. 12 & Nov. 9, 2024

Johns Hopkins Students who have registered their free OneHop account can join Second Saturdays for a host of perks designed for career success and interviewing: Assistance updating OneHop Mentoring account profile, meetings with mentors and/or industry partners to get helpful insight and feedback, free professional headshots, info sessions, and lots of freebies!

WHAT'S NEW IN RESEARCH

Satellite-informed Simulation of Irrigation in South Asia: Opportunities and Uncertainties

Zhou Y, Zaitchik B, Kumar SV, Nie W, Loomis BD, Richey McLarty AS, Appana R. Journal of Hydrology, Sept. 1, 2024

Our results show that representing irrigation has a significant impact on the simulation of hydrological terms in this intensively managed region. Overall, RETRO agrees more closely with GLEAM_A and GLEAM_B ET while IRRI agrees better with ALEXI ET. Including irrigation was shown to reduce the RMSE of ET as compared to ALEXI and SSEBop for most of the area. Irrigation also alters the seasonality of ET, leading to closer agreement with ALEXI ET, especially for the Northern India, Upper Indus, and Uttar Pradesh regions.

Reorienting Health Systems Towards Primary Health Care in South Asia

Pereraa S, Ramanib S, Joarderd T, Shuklae R, Zaidif S, Wellappulig N, Ahmedh SM, Neupanef D, Prinjai S, Amatyaj A, Rao K. The Lancet Regional Health, Sept. 2024

The wide canvas of PHC necessitates prioritizing issues for action. The action points that we have arrived at in this paper have been chosen through careful deliberations within the author-group, as well as in consultation with other global and regional experts in PHC. However, we do acknowledge that there is a diversity of opinion and evidence on how best to reorient health systems towards PHC. We do not intend the action points we have proposed in this paper to be one-size-fits-all solutions, but we call for countries to engage with these action points and adapt them to country-specific needs.

Strengthening Primary Health Care Through Community Health Workers in South Asia

Shresthaa P, Afsanab K, Weerasinghe M, Perrya H, Joshid H, Ranae N. The Lancet Regional Health, Sept. 2024

As the countries of South Asia continue their dynamic economic growth, it will be incumbent upon governments and civil society to meet their obligations to improve the health of their people and achieve Universal Health Coverage, and therefore for policymakers and other decision-makers to sustain the momentum for stronger CHW programs. The limitations of hospitals and even PHC centers for reaching those most in need of basic and essential services needs to be more fully recognized.

Prevalence and patterns of helmet use among motorized two-wheelers: findings from a large observational study in an Indian metropolis

Melur Sukumar G, Patel N, B R RG, Roy A, Akashanand A, Roy R, Sakhi P, P P, M N A, G G, Bachani AM, International Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion, Aug. 25, 2024

Motorized two-wheeler users account for 45% of road fatalities in 2021 in India. Correct helmet use decreases the risk of fatalities, but information about the prevalence of correct helmet use is limited in the Indian context. This study aims to assess the prevalence of helmet use and factors associated with correct helmet use among motorized two-wheeler users in Bengaluru city, India.

Decoding India’s AI Governance Strategy and its Implications for the U.S.-India Bilateral Relationship

Harmon S, Wilsmann M, Joshi G, Ballesteros A, Baitinger P, Indian Public Policy Review, Aug. 21, 2024

This paper reviews India’s available AI governance choices, as the country defines its regulatory model, and highlights their associated trade-offs. It also analyses these choices in light of the government’s national priorities, as well as India’s perceived advantages and weaknesses in various industries that might utilize AI systems. With this background, this paper examines how India’s current approach to AI governance may impact the trajectory of U.S.-India technology cooperation.

Data management plan and REDCap mobile data capture for a multi-country Household Air Pollution Intervention Network (HAPIN) trial

Jabbarzadeh S, Jaacks LM, Lovvorn A, Chen Y, Wang J, Elon L, Nizam A, Aravindalochanan V, Ntivuguruzwa JD, Willams KN, Ramirez A, Johnson MA, Pillarisetti A, Gurusamy T, Rosa G, Diaz-Artiga A, Romero JC, Balakrishnan K, Checkley W, Peel JL, Clasen TF, Waller LA, Digital Health, Aug. 21, 2024

While the HAPIN trial experienced some challenges, REDCap effectively met HAPIN study goals, including quality data collection and timely reporting and analysis on this important global health trial, and supported more than 40 peer-reviewed scientific publications to date.

Comment on “Indian Economy: Performance, Policies, Politics, and Prospects and Challenges”

Kapur, D. Asian Economic Policy Review, Aug. 19, 2024

Panagariya (2025) provides a cogent summary of the performance of India's economy and the policies that shaped them and concludes with an optimist prognosis of India's future prospects despite some enduring challenges. These comments focus on three issues highlighted in the paper, continuing versus change, from socialism to statism, and future prospects, focusing particularly on the past quarter century.

Addressing Missed Opportunities for Vaccination among Children in Hospitals: Leveraging the P-Process for Health Communication Strategies

Dhaliwal BK, Mathew JL, Obiagwu PN, Hill R, Wonodi CB, Best T, Shet A. Vaccines, Aug. 3, 2024

Addressing missed opportunities for vaccination requires a nuanced and context-specific approach. The five-step P-Process provides a robust framework to develop a clearly defined strategy that addresses social and behavioral drivers, integrates into existing health delivery systems, and facilitates collaboration with local experts.

The World Health Organization Antenatal CorTicosteroids for Improving Outcomes in preterm Newborns (ACTION-III) Trial

WHO ACTION Trials Collaborators. Trials, April 12, 2024

Preterm birth complications are the leading cause of newborn and under-5 mortality. Over 85% of all preterm births occur in the late preterm period, i.e. between 34 and < 37 weeks of gestation. Antenatal corticosteroids (ACS) prevent mortality and respiratory morbidity when administered to women at high risk of an early preterm birth, i.e. < 34 weeks' gestation.

JOHNS HOPKINS OPPORTUNITIES

Greenwall Faculty Scholars Program LOI

Deadline: Sept 16, 2024

The Greenwall Faculty Scholars Program in Bioethics is a career development award to enable junior faculty members to conduct innovative bioethics research. It supports research that goes beyond current work in bioethics to help resolve pressing ethical issues in clinical, biomedical, and public health decision-making, policy, and practice, and creates a community that enhances future bioethics research by Scholars and Alumni/ae.

Grant Accelerator Program

Deadline: Oct. 1, 2024

Geared to junior and midlevel Johns Hopkins faculty members, the School of Medicine is introducing the new Grant Accelerator Program to help these faculty members more quickly bring their innovative ideas to fruition. This research award will provide onetime grants of $5,000–$15,000 to successful submissions.

Rishi Children's Fund Orphans and Vulnerable Children Travel Grant for JHU Graduate Students

Deadline: Nov. 7, 2024

The mission of the Rishi Children’s Fund at Johns Hopkins University is to advance research on how investments in children and youth from disadvantaged backgrounds can unlock their potential, leading to improved health outcomes and positive societal change. This travel grant provides funds for JHU graduate students to support travel to affiliated research sites for an 8-16 week global health research or practice experience related to this topic.

JHU Medical Student Global Health Travel Award

Deadline: Nov. 21, 2024

Medical student travel grants are available to Johns Hopkins medical students to facilitate clinical elective rotations, or research/project participation in low- and middle-income countries. We encourage applications from medical students with interests in global health. Elective rotations may be clinical, observation focused, or research-based in nature.

EXTERNAL OPPORTUNITIES

The Luce Scholars Program

Deadline: Oct. 1, 2024

Established in 1974, the Luce Scholars Program is a competitive leadership development fellowship that provides emerging leaders with immersive professional experiences in Asia. We aim to strengthen relationships across borders by offering Scholars opportunities to deepen their understanding of Asia's countries, cultures, and people. Through this yearlong immersion, the Program equips scholars with knowledge and skills to address global leadership challenges and build a more interconnected world.

Artificial Intelligence Powered Approaches for T1D Cell Therapy

Proposal Deadline: Nov. 5, 2024

This funding opportunity by Breakthrough T1D is designed to accelerate research and development of next generation beta cell replacement therapies for type 1 diabetes (T1D) by leveraging advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning. This initiative will award grants to academic investigators and industry partners of up to $750,000 over three years.

AIIS Fellowship Competition

Deadline: Nov. 15, 2024

The American Institute of Indian Studies has announced its 2024 fellowship competition and invites applications from scholars who wish to conduct their research in India. Junior fellowships are awarded to Ph.D. candidates to conduct research for their dissertations in India for up to eleven months. Senior fellowships are awarded to scholars who hold the Ph.D. degree for up to nine months of research in India. AIIS welcomes applicants from a wide variety of disciplines, especially encourages applicants in fields from Development Studies, Natural Resources Management, Public Health, and Regional Planning.

JOHNS HOPKINS NEWS

DY Patil Medical College, Boston University to Collaborate for TB Research

The Hindustan Times, Aug. 26, 2024

Dr DY Patil Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre, Pimpri in collaboration with Boston University and Johns Hopkins University have started a study to identify and analyze long-term pulmonary effects in tuberculosis patients’ post-recovery. Dr. Vidya Mave, co-director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Infectious Diseases in India, alongside Dr Nishi Suryavanshi are part of the study. It will guide advanced diagnostic methodologies as well as treatment that can prevent post-TB lung diseases at an early stage.

Bill Gates Turns to Computer Vision to Eradicate Malaria

Analytics India Magazine, Aug. 23, 2024

Microsoft founder Bill Gates has announced the use of computer vision technology as a crucial development in the battle against malaria, a disease that kills over 600,000 people annually. Gates introduced VectorCam, an app developed by Dr. Soumya Acharya and his team at Johns Hopkins University, with support from the Gates Foundation and Uganda’s malaria control program. The app allows for the rapid identification of mosquito species, a critical task in controlling the spread of malaria.

JHU Alum Vinay Goyal to be State Mission Director of NHM

The Hindu, Sept. 6, 2024

A native of Haryana, Dr. Vinay Goyal has assumed office as the State Mission Director of National Health Mission (NHM). He belongs to the 2016 IAS batch and holds an MBBS degree from PGIMS Rohtak, a postgraduate degree in Public Health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and another postgraduate degree in Public Management from Jawaharlal Nehru University.

Improving Digital Health Information Systems and Data Use at Sub-Health Centers in Meghalaya

Primary Health Care Matters, Sept. 1, 2024

This publication by the India Primary Health Care Support Initiative discusses how digital health information systems are essential for collecting information on population health. However, in West Garo Hills in the state of Meghalaya, health workers put significant time and effort into data collection, fragmented data management systems and inefficient processes mean that the data collected is not effectively used to improve service delivery.

New Study to Test Ultra Short-term TB Preventive Therapy in PLHIV

The Hindustan Times, Aug. 9, 2024

In a first-of-its-kind study in the country, doctors at BJ Medical College (BJMC), Sassoon General Hospital, and scientists from John Hopkins University have started an ultra-short-term study amongst people living with HIV (PLHIV). Under the study titled “One to Three HP,” PLHIV will be examined and put on ultra-short-duration tuberculosis preventive therapy recommended by the World Health Organization.

NEWS OF NOTE

PM Chairs First Meeting of Governing Body of Anusandhan National Research Foundation

Department of Science and Technology, Sept. 11, 2024

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi chaired the first meeting of the Governing Board of Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) to discuss India’s Science and Technology landscape and redesign research and development programs. Key points of the meeting were the need to identify and remove obstacles in research, pairing research universities for mentorship opportunities, and aligning with the goals of Viksit Bharat 2047.

GST Exemption for Research Grants in Education Institutes

Times of India, Sept. 10, 2024

The Goods and Service Tax Council announced tax exemption for research funding for higher educational institutions and research centers established under central or state laws, as well as institutions that enjoy income tax exemption.

A Time Bomb Is Threatening Economies Across Asia

The Wall Street Journal, Aug. 27, 2024

Asia’s fastest-growing economies are hiding a dirty secret: Their youngest workers are battling stubbornly high rates of unemployment. Double-digit unemployment is holding back tens of millions of young people, raising urgent questions for a swath of fast-growing nations.

CONNECT WITH US