'New England Journal of Medicine' Editor, Dr Rubin and Dr Jitendra Singh discuss future of medical research

New Delhi: Editor-in-chief of one of the world's oldest iconic ''New England Journal of Medicine'' and renowned American Professor of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Dr Eric J. Rubin, currently on a visit to India, called on Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology, MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh, who is himself also a known Diabetologist and Professor of Medicine.

The two medical academicians discussed future perspectives of Medical Research with special focus on two important issues relevant to India’s healthcare, Diabetes and Tuberculosis. 

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Citing research evidence on Diabetes, Dr Jitendra Singh said it has now been proven beyond doubt that Indian origin diaspora living in the United States and European countries for several generations still continue to have higher preponderance to develop Type 2 diabetes mellitus even though they were no longer living in India and the environmental conditions they are living in is different.

Referring to some of the important risk factors prevalent in Indians, Dr Jitendra Singh said that our central obesity profile is also different from others. For example, in India, prevalence of central obesity is high and almost equal in both males and females whereas in the western population, the individual may be apparently looking obese but has less visceral fat, he said.

Dr Jitendra Singh said, it’s heartening to note that new breakthroughs are being reported in the diagnosis and treatment of the killer number one disease of our time globally.

The Minister pointed out that Researchers led by Hiroshi Ohno at the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS) in Japan have discovered a type of gut bacteria that might help improve insulin resistance, and thus protect against the development of obesity and type-2 diabetes.

The study, published August 30 in the scientific journal Nature, involved genetic and metabolic analysis of human fecal microbiomes and then corroborating experiments in obese mice. The results were compatible with the findings from human patients and have implications for diagnosis and treatment.

Prof. Rubin delivered a public lecture hosted by the Department of Biotechnology at National Institute of Immunology on ‘Safe but not too safe - human challenge in TB’ on 29th September, 2023.

Dr Eric J. Rubin is an American microbiologist, infectious disease specialist, and is currently the editor-in-chief of the New England Journal of Medicine. He is also an adjunct professor of immunology and infectious diseases and was formerly the Irene Heinz Given Professor and chair of the department of immunology and infectious diseases at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. His research laboratory works on Mycobacterium tuberculosis, nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTMs), and the development and application of bacterial genetics tools to study the fundamental biology of these pathogenic organisms.

He holds an M.D. from the School of Medicine as well as a Ph.D. from the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Tufts University. His research focuses primarily on three areas. Study of fundamental cell biology of the organism, including central processes such as cell wall metabolism, cell growth and translation. Investigation of antibiotics – how they work and how we can make new ones. Building the tools to study mycobacteria both in vitro and during infection.