Fulbright Scholar, NIH Public Health Fellow and Medical Student
Pioneering Global Health and Tackling Diabetes in South Asia
Shaun Ranad茅 (DC 2014; MCS 2015; ENG 2016) was a third-year medical student when he became aware of the prevalence of diabetes among South Asians. His clinical rotation at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) deepened his understanding of this growing public health crisis, and led him to pursue a Fulbright grant to investigate diabetes in South Asia.
鈥淯nlike in Western populations, where obesity is a primary risk factor for Type 2 diabetes, South Asians often develop diabetes at much lower BMI levels. This phenomenon is largely attributed to a combination of genetic, metabolic and lifestyle factors,鈥� he says.
Shaun鈥檚 year-long Fulbright research project uses glucose monitors to study gestational diabetes in 60 Nepalese women. The monitors gather real-time metabolic data to identify behavioral and physiological patterns that may exacerbate diabetes. His goal is to refine early diagnostic strategies and interventions that could improve maternal and fetal health outcomes.
鈥淚 have started to explore the concept of 'generational gestational diabetes' and the compounding risks it poses over time,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 suspect gestational diabetes is a risk factor for mothers and also their babies. The likelihood of metabolic disorders may amplify for the child and for that child鈥檚 babies, creating a vicious cycle of increasing prevalence and severity that affects the long-term health trajectories of entire families.鈥�
Shaun鈥檚 current research reflects his long-standing interests in medical technology and public health.
鈥淭he research I鈥檓 conducting in a rural, resource-limited environment has far-reaching implications,鈥� he emphasizes. 鈥淢any of the challenges we see in Nepal are directly relevant to women鈥檚 health issues in the United States and globally. By advancing early detection and management strategies, we can not only improve outcomes in developing nations but also help shape policies that make medical technologies more accessible and affordable.鈥�
Story by Elizabeth Speed