Johns Hopkins University is preparing to launch a landmark event: the inaugural Hopkins India Conference, hosted by the Gupta-Klinsky India Institute (GKII), on May 9-10, 2025, at the Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C. This two-day gathering of over 70 global leaders, policymakers, researchers, and innovators is designed to spotlight India’s emerging global leadership and the transformative potential of U.S.-India partnerships across health, education, technology, policy, and inclusive development.
Held under the theme “Innovations & Partnerships for Global Progress,” the event will feature sessions exploring key themes like digital health, the global economy, climate resilience, public policy, and U.S.–India strategic partnerships. Attendees will hear from figures such as Smriti Irani, former Indian Minister for Women and Child Development; Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, former Chief Scientist at the World Health Organization; Dr. V. Anantha Nageswaran, India’s chief economic adviser; and Ambassador Arun Singh, former U.S. ambassador to India.
At the helm of this conference is Dr. Amita Gupta who is the Florence Sabin Professor of Infectious Diseases at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She has worked for over two decades on public health collaborations in India, focusing on tuberculosis, HIV, and antimicrobial resistance. Her vision has helped shape the conference and the institute’s broader mission to advance Indo-U.S. academic and scientific cooperation.
Dr. Gupta received an undergraduate degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Materials Science Engineering, a Doctor of Medicine from Harvard Medical School, and a Master of Health Sciences from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She completed her internal medicine training at University of California, San Francisco, followed by post-doctoral fellowships with the Epidemic Intelligence Service at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine (Infectious Diseases).
In this interview, Dr. Gupta explains the vision behind the conference, the critical role of interdisciplinary collaboration, and how institutions like Johns Hopkins are helping shape the future of U.S.-India relations.
What is the mission of the inaugural Hopkins India Conference, and what does it hope to achieve?
Dr. Amita Gupta: This conference is about building bridges between nations, sectors, and ideas. Our mission is to create a powerful platform for fostering high-impact collaborations between the United States and India in health, education, technology, policy, and inclusive development. The goal is to highlight the power of U.S.-India partnerships, showcase the innovative work that comes from them, and create a platform for meaningful connections that lead to actionable solutions. Think of it as a launchpad for bold ideas that can scale globally.
How does the theme “Innovations & Partnerships for Global Progress” reflect the broader mission of the conference?
The theme perfectly captures the spirit and the scope of this conference. It reflects our belief that we cannot solve global challenges individually, whether it’s improving health systems, advancing technology, strengthening education, or addressing climate change.
By bringing together experts from multiple sectors, the conference advances a shared agenda of inclusive, forward-thinking, and mutually beneficial partnerships between the U.S. and India. It’s a reminder that the U.S.-India partnership goes beyond bilateral ties – it’s a shared agenda for global good.
In what ways is the conference designed to foster cross-sector and interdisciplinary dialogue?
The conference features a dynamic blend of plenary keynotes, fireside chats, panels, and roundtables that convene stakeholders from government, industry, academia, civil society, and the diaspora. The idea is to blur the lines between sectors and encourage interaction that fosters ideas that span sectors. Sessions are intentionally cross-cutting. For instance, you’ll see conversations linking artificial intelligence with public health, or exploring the role of education in influencing geopolitics. Beyond the main stage, sideline events like cultural showcases and networking roundtables create space for informal, in-depth engagement.
Could you provide an overview of the key tracks featured at the conference and how they intersect?
The conference is covering themes like geopolitics, economic development, healthcare, AI, education, and women in STEMM. These themes intentionally intersect. For example, digital health shows up in both our technology and public health tracks. We’re emphasizing a systems-thinking approach.
How are these tracks selected to align with India’s and the U.S.’s most pressing shared challenges and opportunities?
We chose topics where both nations are not only aligned in interest but also uniquely positioned to lead. Topics like AI, MedTech, and digital public goods aren’t just buzzwords— they represent real opportunities for joint leadership on the world stage. By inviting policymakers, academic researchers, and private sector leaders from both countries, we ensure that every conversation is not only reflective of current realities but also an opportunity to co-create solutions.
In what areas is India demonstrating global leadership in health, innovation, and policy?
India is really a global innovation powerhouse. In health, it’s leading the way in vaccine development and has built one of the most ambitious digital health infrastructures through the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). On the tech front, India has created world-class digital public goods like UPI and has pioneered scalable fintech platforms that are now being looked at globally as models of inclusion. India is also increasingly influential in climate negotiations and has emerged as a key voice in south-south cooperation, especially in areas like health, sustainable development, and digital transformation.
How can the global community support and collaborate with India’s growth in these sectors?
There is tremendous potential for the global community to play a meaningful role in supporting and collaborating with India’s growth across key sectors. This goes beyond traditional partnerships. It involves co-investing in research, fostering innovation ecosystems, and co-developing scalable, context-specific solutions alongside Indian institutions. Opportunities abound in areas such as AI for public health, climate resilience, and workforce development, where joint academic programs, industry collaborations, and multilateral funding can accelerate impact. We believe this conference can serve as a launchpad for many of these collaborations.
What role do academic institutions like Johns Hopkins play in strengthening U.S.-India artnerships?
Universities like Johns Hopkins act as neutral conveners and innovation hubs, creating space for knowledge exchange, joint research, and public policy dialogue. Johns Hopkins University’s partnerships with India go back nearly 100 years, and in just the last five years, more than 150 faculty have worked on research projects with Indian partners worth over $300 million.
READ: Florida’s BayCare Health appoints Johns Hopkins’ Dr. Shelby Kutty as vice president (February 3, 2025)
Across its various schools and institutes, JHU actively collaborates with Indian academic institutions, government agencies, non-profits, and private sector organizations on a wide range of issues. In 2020, the university established the Gupta-Klinsky India Institute (GKII) to serve as a “superhighway” of partnership and engagement between JHU and India. Building on that momentum, in 2022, JHU launched the Center for Infectious Diseases in India to strengthen in-country research, community outreach, and capacity-building efforts.
How are universities uniquely positioned to bridge diplomacy, research, and innovation?
Universities operate at the intersection of data, diplomacy, and development. We have the unique ability to convene diverse actors – from local governments to global think tanks – to generate robust, evidence-based insights and pilot scalable solutions. Academic institutions offer a level of credibility, continuity, and collaborative spirit that can de-risk complex conversations and help move the needle on both policy and innovation. We see ourselves not just as centers of learning, but as platforms for global problem-solving.
What is the mission of the Gupta-Klinsky India Institute, and how does it operate on the ground in India?
The Gupta-Klinsky India Institute (GKII) was created to scale Johns Hopkins’ impact in India. Its mission is to advance collaborative research, education and training, and policy engagement. What sets GKII apart is its dual presence – with teams based in both New Delhi and Baltimore – ensuring we stay deeply connected to local priorities while leveraging global resources. We build partnerships that span public and private sectors, academic institutions, and civil society, all aimed at amplifying India’s global leadership in health, education, and innovation.
Can you share some of GKII’s most impactful programs?
Some of our key programs and collaborations include:
- The TB-Free Schools Initiative screening thousands of children across three states.
- India RISE Fellowship launching in 2025 to support early-career women in STEMM.
- A training program for Indian Administrative Service officers with Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA).
- Our infectious disease hub in Pune and the Suniti Solomon Centre in Chennai.
- Competitive research grants supporting work in AI, climate, and NCDs.
- Student support funds for India-focused training and fieldwork.
How has your background in global health shaped your vision for GKII?
My work in India, especially in HIV and TB, showed me that science alone isn’t enough. We need deep partnerships to drive sustainable change. GKII was founded to be that bridge—combining research, policy, and education for high-impact solutions.
My approach is also influenced by my parents, Raj and Kamla Gupta, whose belief in strategic philanthropy centered on giving back to both India and the U.S. That value system is reflected in GKII’s programs—like the TB-Free Schools Initiative and the India RISE Fellowship—which combine public health, education, and empowerment.
What are some of the key leadership lessons you bring to your role at GKII?
Collaboration drives innovation. Trust and reciprocity are vital in partnerships. I also champion women in leadership. Mentorship changed my life, and I want to pay it forward. We also ground everything in evidence and strategic implementation.
I believe in integrating science with strategy. My training in both clinical research and public health has shown me that rigorous science must be paired with thoughtful implementation. At GKII, we design our programs to be not only evidence-based but also scalable and aligned with both national and global priorities.
In what ways is the Indian diaspora contributing to innovation and positive change globally?
The diaspora is fueling tech, policy, science, and philanthropy. They serve as cultural ambassadors, investors, and innovators—bridging India with the world and driving change across continents.
Their strong ties to both India and the countries they now call home make them uniquely positioned to connect global ideas with local action, helping accelerate progress on shared challenges like health equity, climate resilience, and inclusive growth.
How can institutions better engage the diaspora to amplify their impact in India and beyond?
Institutions can more effectively engage the Indian diaspora by creating structured and impactful opportunities for collaboration. This can include advisory roles, joint research initiatives, and specialized diaspora fellowships that tap into their expertise and global networks. It’s also important to offer clear pathways for investing in key areas such as education, health, technology, and innovation, while recognizing the diaspora’s leadership and contributions in public forums. However, true engagement goes beyond one-way initiatives. Institutions must actively listen to diaspora perspectives and co-develop solutions that align with their values, aspirations, and networks.
What’s next for Johns Hopkins’ engagement in India over the next 5 to 10 years?
Over the next decade, JHU aims to strengthen and expand its engagement in India through sustained research collaborations, innovative education programs, and strategic partnerships with key institutions and stakeholders. The university’s focus will be on advancing ground breaking work in areas such as public health, digital health, AI, women’s leadership in STEMM, and palliative care, while also contributing to India’s national efforts to eliminate tuberculosis.
What are some of GKII’s strategic priorities for the future, especially in the context of evolving global challenges?
Our focus is on scalable, equity-driven solutions to global challenges. We’re growing our women’s leadership fellowship, launching a Center of Excellence for palliative care, and building bridges between education, health, and innovation sectors across borders.
Finally, we’re focused on building multi-sector platforms to address social determinants of health and development, ensuring that solutions reach those most in need. As global challenges related to health, climate, and equity intensify, GKII is committed to serving as a bridge for evidence-based, cross-border collaboration, generating meaningful impact locally, nationally, and globally.
For more on the Gupta-Klinsky India Institute and the full Hopkins India Conference agenda, visit: https://indiainstitute.jhu.edu.