People in the global health news - October 2020

New NIH eye institute director has global ties

Dr. Michael F. Chiang is the new director of NIH’s National Eye Institute (NEI). An ophthalmologist, Chiang most recently was professor at Oregon Health & Science University and associate director of OHSU’s Casey Eye Institute. He has research ties to Asia, Europe, the Middle East and South America.

• NIH selects Dr. Michael Chiang as director of the National Eye Institute
  NEI/NIH news, July 24, 2020

NIH taps Criswell to lead arthritis, skin disease research

NIH has selected Dr. Lindsey A. Criswell as the new director of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS). Criswell was vice chancellor of research at the University of California, San Francisco. She has been principal investigator on multiple NIH grants and published more than 200 peer-reviewed papers.

• NIH taps Dr. Lindsey Criswell as director of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
  NIAMS/NIH news, August 6, 2020

D’Souza is named director of NIH dental research

Dr. Rena D’Souza is the new director of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR). A past president of the International Association for Dental Research, D’Souza is vice president of health sciences at the University of Utah. Born in India, she has lived in the U.S. since 1978.

• NIH names Dr. Rena D’Souza as director of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research
  NIDCR/NIH news, August 13, 2020
• That little push: As a scientist and an international leader of dental researchers, Rena D'Souza brings significant change to global oral health
  University of Utah Health news, September 4, 2019

Fauci to receive RF Kennedy Ripple of Hope Award

Dr. Anthony Fauci will receive the Robert F. Kennedy Ripple of Hope Award during a virtual ceremony in December. The honor celebrates outstanding leaders who have demonstrated a commitment to social change. Fauci is recognized for his work as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Fogarty mHealth grantee wins NIH tech competition

Fogarty grantee Dr. Young Kim has won the $400,000 first prize in the NIH Technology Accelerator Challenge (NTAC). The Purdue University engineering professor’s proposal aims to develop a non-invasive, smartphone-based spectroscopy platform to detect anemia and sickle cell disease by analyzing photos of the microvasculature of the inner eyelid.

Meshnick remembered for dedication to global health

Fogarty grantee Dr. Steven Meshnick died of cancer in August. He was a professor of epidemiology at the University of North Carolina (UNC) and a member of the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases. Meshnick is being remembered for his work on malaria and other tropical diseases.

Former Fogarty bioethics trainee is honored

University of Ghana bioethicist Dr. Paulina Tindana has received the inaugural Forum on Bioethics in Research award for her paper, which explores the issue of informed consent regarding genomic research and establishment of biobanks in sub-Saharan Africa. Tindana is a former Fogarty bioethics trainee.

• Global Forum on Bioethics in Research (GFBR) announces 2020 paper award winner
  GFBR news, August 4, 2020
• 'It is an entrustment': Broad consent for genomic research and biobanks in sub-Saharan Africa [Free access]
  Developing World Bioethics via PubMed, March 2019