Key Announcements
Key Announcements
During the week of November 17th 2024, the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) delegation visiting India announced four pioneering initiatives, each driving impactful collaborations in India. These initiatives exemplify JHU’s commitment to advancing health, education, and equity in India.
The TB-Free Schools Initiative launched by Johns Hopkins University (JHU) aims to tackle the tuberculosis epidemic among school-going children in India. With a $3 million commitment from the Gupta-Klinsky India Institute (GKII), this three-year program will scale efforts to reach over 10,000 children across Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. The initiative builds on the success of a pilot program in Himachal Pradesh, which demonstrated an 87% reduction in TB cases through education, screening, treatment, and preventive therapy. In collaboration with India’s National TB Elimination Program and other partners, the program seeks to significantly reduce the burden of TB among children, who account for 6% of India’s reported TB cases but often remain undiagnosed.
Dr. Urvashi B. Singh, Deputy Director General, Central Tuberculosis Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, commented, “Addressing childhood TB is a critical for eliminating tuberculosis in India. This initiative offers cost-effective screening methods that can be deployed in schools nationwide.”
Dr. Amita Gupta, Chair of Infectious Diseases Department at Johns Hopkins University said, “The Centre for Infectious Diseases is committed to finding evidence-based strategies that accelerate TB. The TB-Free Schools Initiative has demonstrated the power of early detection, treatment, and prevention for dramatically reducing pediatric TB cases. This initiative represents a crucial step toward eliminating TB among and strengthens our collective efforts to build a TB-free generation.”
Link to article: Johns Hopkins University launches 2 programmes in India to address paediatric TB, promote women in STEMM | Education News – The Indian Express
The Women in STEMM Fellowship, launched under the US-India Alliance for Women’s Economic Empowerment, seeks to advance women’s leadership in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM). This 12-month program, designed by the Gupta-Klinsky India Institute (GKII) at JHU, will mentor 40 early-career women scientists annually, offering training in technical research, leadership development, and experiential learning. With women making up only 17% of India’s research workforce despite comprising 43% of STEMM graduates, the initiative aims to address systemic barriers such as gender bias, mentorship gaps, and limited access to research funding.
Ronald J. Daniels, President, Johns Hopkins University said, “India is a place of tremendous talent and opportunity, and Johns Hopkins values its enduring collaborations in India and their impact. We are excited to launch these two initiatives that reflect our shared commitment to innovation and human flourishing.”
Nancy Izzo Jackson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for India in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs who provides leadership to this Alliance said, “The U.S.-India Alliance for Women’s Economic Empowerment brings together key partners across industry, academia and non-profit sectors to strengthen women’s workforce participation and create pathways to leadership. We are pleased to support the Gupta-Klinsky India Institute at Johns Hopkins University to advance women’s growth in STEMM research and education.”
Ambassador-at-Large, Office of Global Women’s Issues at the U.S. Department of State, Dr. Geeta Rao Gupta said, “Empowering women in STEMM is vital to fostering innovation and addressing the complex challenges of our time. The U.S. is committed to supporting the Gupta-Klinsky India Institute at Johns Hopkins University in creating meaningful opportunities for women scientists in India. Through this fellowship, we aim to remove barriers, provide mentorship, and build a robust network for early-career women, helping them to lead the way in research and discovery. This partnership is a testament to the power of collaboration between the U.S. and India to strengthen gender equity and advance scientific leadership.”
Link to article: US announces Women in STEMM India Fellowship, various initiatives for India during International Education Week (aninews.in)
Johns Hopkins University (JHU) and Bharat Biotech have introduced the Ella PhD Scholarship in International Health at JHU’s Bloomberg School of Public Health, commemorating Dr. Krishna Ella’s contributions to vaccine science, including Covaxin. This scholarship will support one Ph.D. candidate annually, fostering scientific talent to tackle global health challenges. Beyond scholarships, the collaboration extends to joint research initiatives between Bharat Biotech and JHU, targeting critical health issues such as cancer and non-communicable diseases.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Krishna Ella, Executive Chairman of Bharat Biotech, stated, “Our collaboration with Johns Hopkins University represents a significant step forward in advancing global health, particularly in vaccine science. Through the Ella PhD Scholarship and our joint efforts in research, we aim to support the next generation of scientists who will contribute to impactful, life-saving innovations worldwide.”
Judd Walson, Chair of JHU’s Department of International Health at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, remarked, “Johns Hopkins University is proud to collaborate with Bharat Biotech in advancing global health through cutting-edge vaccine science research. The Ella PhD Scholarship reflects a shared commitment to fostering the next generation of scientists and innovators dedicated to life-saving discoveries.”
Johns Hopkins University (JHU) and the Ajit Isaac Foundation (AIF) have partnered to launch a palliative care program addressing gaps in end-of-life care in rural India. With only 1-2% of terminally ill patients in India accessing palliative care, this collaboration will expand services to underserved regions. AIF’s 63-bed Palliative Care Centre in Tumkur, launching in 2025, will serve as the foundation for training programs, research fellowships, and workshops to improve healthcare access and quality of life for patients and their families.
Commenting on the collaboration, Ronald J. Daniels, President, JHU said, “We are delighted to partner with AIF and are committed to bridging the healthcare divide, ensuring compassionate and dignified care for all. With colleagues in India, we will use evidence-based approaches to help healthcare providers and caregivers improve quality of life for terminally ill patients, regardless of geography or circumstances.”
Ajit Isaac, Co -founder, AIF commented, “Palliative care is deeply meaningful to us, shaped by personal experiences and a commitment to addressing the significant gaps in this field. There is a pressing need for skilled personnel, infrastructure and resources to provide dignity and compassionate care to those in need at the end of life. We are excited about our collaboration with JHU, which has the potential to advance palliative care and drive equitable healthcare for all in India”.
Link to article: John Hopkins University and Ajit Isaac Foundation to establish 63-bed Palliative Care Centre in Tumkur – The Economic Times (indiatimes.com)