Calling all undergrads, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows with an interest in infectious disease and global health research: EPIC is excited to host UofT alum Dr. Senjuti Saha for a engaging discussion with UofT trainees!! She’ll share her perspective on research and public health in low- and middle-income countries informed by her work as a leader in Bangladesh’s national infectious disease-focused public health program working with the WHO and other international agencies.After brief overview of her own work, they’ll be lots of time to answer trainees’ questions about global health research priorities, challenges and opportunities.
Pizza lunch will be provided!
Dr. Saha’s short bio
Dr. Saha is currently the Deputy Executive Director of the Child Health Research Foundation in Bangladesh. She obtained her PhD from the UofT Dept. Molecular Genetics and did post-doctoral training at Toronto’s SickKids Research Institute and then at Stanford U. Since 2016, she has pioneered genomic research in Bangladesh, including her important discovery that chikungunya virus had emerged as the cause of previously uncharacterized cases of pediatric meningitis. She is a member of key committees including the WHO Product Development for Vaccines Advisory Committee, the WHO SARS-CoV-2 Technical Advisory Group on Viral Evolution, the WHO Technical Advisory Group on Salmonella Vaccines and the Polio Transition Independent Monitoring Board. She has over 75 peer-reviewed publications and sits on the editorial board of several international journals. Dr. Saha also leads a nation-wide program “Building Scientists for Bangladesh”, advocating for equitable science education and opportunities. Her work not only advances scientific knowledge but also ensures its accessibility and benefit to all.