The South and Central Asia region has experienced extensive social, economic, and technological transformations, and it faces sometimes unpredictable problems in the areas of health and natural disasters: HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria present health challenges; natural disasters such as tsunamis and earthquakes strain the region’s limited resources and lead to increased health and survival risks; isolated but ongoing conflicts jeopardize peace, stability, and development in the region.
In India, NIAID priorities for research include HIV/AIDS, with additional funding for research on HIV co-infections, filariasis, leishmania, and other diseases. Another important NIAID research focus is drug-resistant TB. NIAID funds major research projects in Bangladesh that are focused on endemic diseases, such as cholera, amebiasis, and cryptosporidiosis, and on enteric pathogens, such as Vibrio cholerae and Entamoeba histolytica. NIAID also funds leprosy research in Nepal.
The U.S. government has science and technology agreements with both India and Bangladesh that facilitate research and collaboration. One of the most important and successful collaborations has been the Indo-U.S. Vaccine Action Program.
Contact Information
For more information about NIAID-funded activities in the South and Central Asia region, please email NIAIDOGRACAP@mail.nih.gov.