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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline JUNE 14, 2024 | The Indian Eye 32

DEEPAK KAJI & ADITHYA RAJAGOPALAN

Doctors are among 2024 Leon

Levy Scholars in Neuroscience

wo Indian Americans are
among the 2024 cohort of
TLeon Levy Scholars in Neuro-
science, announced by the The New
York Academy of Sciences and the
Leon Levy Foundation. It was initiat-
ed by the Foundation in 2009 that has
supported 170 fellows in neurosci-
ence. Deepak Kaji and Adithya Raja-
gopalan were among the nine schol-
ars who were competitively selected journey that should have typically taken 4 to 5 hours.”
for a three-year term from a broad This achievement is by no means a solo endeavor. it could not have been
pool of applications from more than
a dozen institutions across New York City that offer postdoctoral positions in possible without the support from my family and friends, who were cheering
me on every step of the way. Knowing that hundreds of people love me and
neuroscience. wanted me to succeed fed my motivation to put one foot ahead of the other
Deepak Kaji, MD, PhD, is recognized for using 3D organoids and as-
sembloids to model abnormal protein accumulations and aggregations in the to finally reach the roof of the world at 8848.86 m. I thank each and everyone
of them, added Ismail.
brain, a characteristic of Alzheimer’s Disease. Dr. Deepak Kaji completed his
Ismail believes that the journey to Everest and back has been the most
BA in Economics and Biological Sciences at Cornell University. During his physically daunting and mentally challenging expedition of his life. He said,
undergraduate years, he completed an honors thesis utilizing bioengineering “But it was worth it. I am glad that I followed my dream, and I am now an
techniques to study cardiac development. He completed his MD/PhD at the
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Everester!” PRANAV DESAI
Adithya Rajagopalan is recognized for examining how neurons within the
brain’s orbitofrontal cortex, combine input from other brain regions to en- VOSAP launches drive for
code complex properties of the world that guide decision-making. Currently a
postdoctoral associate in Dr. Christine Constantinople’s lab at NYU’s Center
for Neural Science, Rajagopalan received a PhD in Neuroscience at the Johns healthcare access to individuals
Hopkins University School of Medicine and the Howard Hughes Medical In-
stitute’s Janelia Research Campus, in the lab of Dr. Glenn C. Turner. with disabilities
This highly regarded postdoctoral program supports exceptional young
researchers across the five boroughs of New York City as they pursue innova- US-based non-profit Voice of Specially Abled People (VOSAP) an-
tive neuroscience research and advance their careers toward becoming inde- nounced an initiative called Project Hitarth to enhance healthcare ac-
pendent principal investigators. A cess for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The initiative aims to
Shelby White, founding trustee of the Leon Levy Foundation, said, “For
two decades, the Foundation has supported over 170 of the best young neu- benefit 10,000 people in India in the first year.
Under the project, US-based Voice of Specially Abled People (VOSAP)
roscience researchers in their risk-taking research and clinical work. We are has entered into a collaboration with Parivaar NCPO (National Confedera-
proud to partner with The New York Academy of Sciences to continue to en- tion of Parents Organizations) to provide financial support to social workers to
courage these gifted young scientists, helping them not only to advance their assist individuals with intellectual disabilities in accessing much-needed thera-
careers but also to advance the cause of breakthrough research in the field of pies, dental work, outpatient department services and get reimbursement up
neuroscience.”
JAFAR ISMAIL to Rs 1 lakh per year from the government of India’s Niramaya scheme.
“We are very excited for the opportunities with this new model to expand
VOSAP impact that leverages the government of India’s existing programmes
59-year-old climbs Mount Everest and strengths of our trusted, reputed partners like Parivaar,” said VOSAP’s
California-based founder Pranav Desai.
J afar Ismail climbed Mount Everest after years of training and conquering 25,000 persons with disabilities since 2017 by providing assistive devices, sur-
VOSAP is a leading disability sector NGO, having enabled more than
other summits.
“It has been a childhood dream for me to stand on the summit of
A joint research conducted by VOSAP and Parivaar NCPO revealed sig-
Mount Everest. At times, I had thought that the dream would remain a dream. gical interventions and scholarships.
But I am happy to report that I fulfilled my dream. On May 19, 2024, 7:24 nificant underutilisation of the scheme due to challenges in online enrolment,
AM Nepal time I finally stood on the summit of my Mount Everest. Happy understanding benefits and navigating the complicated claim process, the
and exhilarated, but exhausted after 11 1/2 hour climb, My supporting Sherpa, statement said.
Dorjee took this picture of me on the summit,” posted Ismail on Linkedin. This indicates a very poor enrolment as the number of individuals with
Ismail was senior project manager with Pegasystems. He has a master’s intellectual disabilities in India are more than one crore and significantly low
degree in computer science from Iona University in New York and a bache- reimbursements amounts ie very little impact of the Niramaya program.
lor’s degree in marine engineering from Marine Engineering College in Kol- “The pilot program aims to benefit 10,000 individuals with intellectual
kata (DMET). disabilities within its first year, with the goal of scaling to 1,00,000 beneficia-
He further wrote, “Return from the summit, was the bigger ordeal as my ries. By improving access to health care and reducing the financial burden
vision had become blurry due to snow blindness, and mild frostbite. Navigat- of medical expenses, (Project) Hitarth strives to enhance the quality of life
ing the descent from the Hillary step, and then the South Summit was the for individuals with intellectual disabilities through essential therapies such as
scariest part of my day. It took me about nine hours to return to camp 4, A Continued on next page... >>

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