Johns Hopkins University (JHU) is launching two important programs in India to address the elimination of paediatric tuberculosis (TB) and promote women's leadership in research and development (R&D). The university's researchers will spearhead the TB-Free Schools Initiative, aiming to build on a successful project in Himachal Pradesh that resulted in an 87% reduction in TB cases in residential schools. This new initiative will extend the approach to four regions across three states: Pune and Satara in Maharashtra, Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh, and Chennai in Tamil Nadu.
The TB-Free Schools Initiative will focus on preventing, diagnosing, and treating both active and latent TB cases in students attending day schools. The program will also provide access to care, education, and counseling. The initiative is being launched in collaboration with the Government of India, the Serum Institute of India, AIIMS Gorakhpur, and the Mukul Madhav Foundation.
Dr. Urvashi B. Singh, Deputy Director General of the Central Tuberculosis Division in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, highlighted the importance of addressing childhood TB as a crucial step toward eliminating tuberculosis in India. She said, "This initiative offers cost-effective screening methods that can be deployed in schools nationwide."
In addition to the TB program, Johns Hopkins is also focusing on advancing women’s careers in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine). As part of this initiative, JHU will mentor and train 40 early-career women for senior R&D roles. Currently, women represent only 29% of the global STEMM workforce, as reported by the World Economic Forum. In India, while women make up 43% of STEMM graduates, they account for just 17% of the country’s research workforce.
The Johns Hopkins Gupta-Klinsky India Institute (GKII) has been selected as a key partner by the U.S. Department of State under the U.S.-India Alliance for Women's Economic Empowerment to create a national fellowship program focused on the career advancement of women scientists in India. Other partners in this effort include the U.S. India Business Council and the American India Foundation, which are working to improve women’s representation in the corporate workforce and entrepreneurship.
The fellowship program will offer a 12-month curriculum with technical research education, mentorship, leadership development, experiential learning, and networking opportunities. JHU President Ronald J. Daniels expressed excitement about the initiatives, saying, "India is a place of tremendous talent and opportunity, and Johns Hopkins values its enduring collaborations in India and their impact."
Dr. Geeta Rao Gupta, Ambassador-at-Large at the U.S. Department of State, emphasized the commitment of the U.S. to supporting the career development of women scientists in India. She said, "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."
Founded in 1876, Johns Hopkins University is a world-renowned research institution based in Baltimore, Maryland, known for pioneering modern research universities in the United States.
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