GKII Breakthrough Research Grants Awardees Present Key Findings

The Gupta-Klinsky India Institute (GKII) at Johns Hopkins University recently hosted a webinar highlighting the work of two awardees of its Breakthrough Research Grants (BRG) program. Established in 2022, the BRG program aims to foster equitable, high-impact research collaborations between Johns Hopkins faculty and Indian institutional partners. By providing seed funding of $50,000–$60,000 per project, the program supports scientific inquiry, early-stage research, capacity building, and mentorship, laying the foundation for larger grants and long-term partnerships.

To date, the BRG program has funded projects spanning infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, climate change, artificial intelligence, and health policy, generating over $300,000 in collaborative research funding and facilitating cross-institutional partnerships with top Indian research organizations, including PHFI, Tata Medical Center, AIIMS, and the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.

The webinar featured Dr. Christopher Kemp, Assistant Scientist, Bloomberg School of Public Health and Dr. Nishi Suryavanshi, Deputy Director, Center for Infectious Diseases in India (CIDI), who presented their study on integrating peer-led mental health support into tuberculosis (TB) care in India. Their research, part of the TB Aftermath Study, explored the intersection of TB and mental health, revealing that many TB patients experience depression and anxiety, yet face stigma and lack access to mental health services. Their findings emphasized the need for routine mental health screenings at the time of TB diagnosis and throughout treatment, as well as peer-led counseling and family support programs to improve adherence and outcomes. The study also developed patient journey maps, highlighting real-life barriers faced by TB survivors and potential solutions for integrating mental health into TB care.

Dr. Sarah Benjamin-Neelon, Professor, Bloomberg School of Public Health and Dr. Giridhar R Babu, Professor, Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) presented their study on maternal metabolites and child health outcomes in India, leveraging data from the Maternal Antecedents of Adiposity and Studying the Trans-generational role of Hyperglycaemia and Insulin (MAASTHI) birth cohort study. Their research explored the relationship between maternal metabolic profiles during pregnancy and key health outcomes such as preterm birth, maternal depression, and child growth and development. Analyzing over 1,500 metabolites, their study identified key biomarkers linked to preterm birth and underscored the role of environmental exposures and maternal nutrition in shaping child health. Their work has broader implications for early-life interventions and preventive strategies to reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases. The study also contributed to the establishment of a new Center for Developmental and Life Course Research at the PHFI, further strengthening JHU-PHFI collaborations.

The BRG program has proven to be a powerful enabler of early-stage, high-impact research that strengthens collaborations between JHU and Indian institutions while fostering mentorship and capacity-building for early-career researchers. It supports innovative, interdisciplinary projects, thereby laying the groundwork for larger grants, scaling up promising research, and translating findings into policy and practice.

Watch the full webinar below: