Asia's Rising Scientists: Senjuti Saha

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Senjuti Saha
Director
Little one Well being Analysis Basis (CHRF)
Bangladesh

Asian Scientist Journal (Jul. 22, 2022) — At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists had been racing in opposition to time to sequence the SARS-CoV-2 genome and map its unfold throughout the globe. Inside days, the complete sequence was printed on-line. This fast turnaround was attainable on account of a greater knowledge and knowledge sharing throughout borders, permitting scientists to optimize their sequencing protocols in actual time as researchers in academia and the pharmaceutical trade started the duty of creating a vaccine to fight the unfold.

Nevertheless, not all nations noticed the speedy advantages of this nice achievement. Traditionally, inequity in world well being analysis has disproportionately impacted decrease and center earnings nations. The COVID-19 pandemic uncovered this once more within the inaccessibility of genomic sequencing reagents and – extra disturbingly – the painfully gradual and unequal distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to the International South.

Regardless of this, an growing variety of native analysis teams within the International South are finishing up SARS-CoV-2 sequencing and surveillance. In reality, it’s by way of the sequencing and monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 variants in South Africa that led to the primary detection of the Omicron variant.

In Bangladesh, Dr Senjuti Saha, director of the Little one Well being Analysis Basis (CHRF), led her crew of scientists to efficiently sequence the complete SARS-CoV-2 genome of their genomic sequencing facility in Dhaka. Now, Saha is main an ongoing undertaking of mapping and surveilling the presence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern throughout Bangladesh.

A fervent advocate of analysis and knowledge fairness in world well being, she speaks to Asian Scientist Journal and shares the challenges she and her crew confronted of their mapping and surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 variants in Bangladesh, and the significance of perseverance to construct a extra equitable analysis panorama.

Why did you create an infectious illness genomic sequencing facility in Bangladesh?

Earlier than I opened this genomic sequencing facility, I did my molecular genetics PhD in Canada and had been dwelling there for 11 years. I made a decision to return to Bangladesh as a result of I needed to handle the ten/90 hole – 10% of world assets specializing in well being analysis is invested in creating nations the place 90% of preventable deaths in youngsters happen. And that is one thing that I really feel may be very unfair. I needed to carry my experience in genomic sequencing again to my start nation to empower the native scientific neighborhood in narrowing that 10/90 hole.
I moved again to Bangladesh in 2016 and started the method of opening my very own genomic sequencing facility. By 2018 we had a small sequencing machine. I secured funding and collaborated with native sequencing teams to coach one another on utilizing the sequencing machine to sequence pathogenic microbes which can be endemic to Bangladesh resembling meningitis and typhoid.
When COVID-19 hit Bangladesh, we had already established the amenities and the experience wanted to conduct genomic sequencing, so we didn’t have to consider the logistics and capability of sequencing SARS-CoV-2 right here. With no matter assets we now have, we should begin documenting precisely what are the variants which can be circulating within the nation.
Had been there any main hurdles you and your crew confronted whereas sequencing and surveilling SARS-CoV-2 variants?
Once we first began sequencing the SARS-CoV-2 genome, we didn’t have entry to assets, and accessible protocols weren’t optimized. We had very restricted reagents accessible, so we may solely sequence a single pattern. On prime of that, the scientists skilled in sequencing at CHRF had been working on the diagnostic labs within the morning and will solely put together the samples for sequencing at night time.

We succeeded in sequencing SARS-CoV-2, and though the sequence itself didn’t inform us a lot at that time, it did give us confidence that these kinds of issues might be carried out efficiently in nations like ours. From there, extra teams in Bangladesh started sequencing SARS-CoV-2. We labored collaboratively with a number of teams within the nation to take randomized samples in sufferers and suspected instances, sequence the genome and hold observe of the variants current within the inhabitants. It has now grow to be a collaborative effort to surveil and monitor the unfold of SARS-CoV-2 variants throughout the nation.
Analysis and knowledge inequity has been one of many main challenges scientists from the International South have confronted within the race to grasp ailments. Do you consider this case is altering?

Completely. I feel what we’ve carried out right here in CHRF and in Bangladesh has highlighted that analysis carried out by scientists within the International South might be carried out efficiently and independently. We will go in opposition to the colonial mannequin the place collaborators from the International North are available, take some pattern, get their footwear soiled for a day, sequence, course of and interpret the information outdoors of the nation the place the samples had been initially obtained.
However for me, I feel what’s extra rewarding is the arrogance that folks have gained within the nation, as a result of I feel that colonial tradition works each methods. It isn’t just like the International North is barely at fault. I feel we’re equally at fault of perpetuating that colonial tradition, as a result of maybe we overlook what our talents are.
What’s the driving power behind your advocacy work?
It’s feelings, ardour, lived experiences and love for the neighborhood that propels the work ahead. Once we take a look at historical past, we take a look at apartheid, the feminism actions and extra lately the Black Lives Matter motion, it’s not the oppressor who brings change, however fairly the oppressed who expertise and acknowledge the issue. They mobilize, lead and push these social actions ahead. Energy isn’t given; energy have to be taken.
I’m nonetheless studying this lesson. A few years in the past, I might be giving talks to a International North viewers and talk about about issues affecting the International South, making an attempt to alter their minds and present them the actual state of affairs. Whereas I feel that’s vital -and I nonetheless do talks like that – I feel what’s extra vital is that researchers in Bangladesh and different lower-middle earnings nations acknowledge what the issue is and take it upon themselves to maneuver the agenda ahead.
With any main motion, there’ll all the time be backlash particularly for actions headed by marginalized communities. Is there any recommendation you want to give younger scientists in navigating and pushing previous the backlash?
Endurance is extraordinarily vital. That is one thing that I’ve discovered -and I’m nonetheless studying – all through my profession. You would brute power your means by way of, however it might probably solely take you to this point. We’ve to be strategic, and we’d like unity. We will’t change centuries value of mindset inside a number of years. It takes time. So, we’ve obtained to be affected person however agency in our unity and centered on our values and mission.