New Delhi, Oct 02: New England Journal of Medicine Editor-in-Chief, Dr Eric J. Rubin, known for his expertise in microbiology and infectious diseases, visited India and met with Dr Jitendra Singh, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space.
During their meeting, the two esteemed medical professionals exchanged views on current issues in medical research, with a particular focus on diabetes and tuberculosis.
Dr Jitendra presented research findings indicating that people of Indian origin living in the US and Europe still have a higher likelihood of developing Type 2 diabetes mellitus even after several generations, despite the absence of environmental conditions in India. He noted that central obesity prevalence is higher in India, afflicting both men and women, while western populations may have more visible obesity but less visceral fat.
Dr Singh expressed optimism about advancements in diabetes research and positive breakthroughs in diagnosis and treatment, highlighting a new study on gut bacteria that may potentially improve insulin resistance and protect against obesity and type-2 diabetes. The study was led by Hiroshi Ohno at the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS) in Japan and published in the scientific journal Nature.
Dr Eric J. Rubin delivered a lecture titled “Safe but not too safe – human challenge in TB” during a public event hosted by the Department of Biotechnology at National Institute of Immunology in India on September 29th, 2023. Dr. Rubin is recognized worldwide for his unparalleled expertise in the fields of microbiology and infectious diseases. He currently serves as the editor-in-chief of the New England Journal of Medicine and as an adjunct professor of immunology and infectious diseases. Dr. Rubin holds an M.D. degree from the School of Medicine, as well as a Ph.D. degree from the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Tufts University. His research is primarily focused on Mycobacterium tuberculosis, nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTMs), and the development and application of bacterial genetics tools for the study of these pathogenic organisms.
