Lakshmy Ramakrishnan

America’s Johnson & Johnson Problem A new book shows how Johnson & Johnson has pushed misleading narratives and suppressed inconvenient findings to sell its products.

1. J&J definitely not the only ones that are complicit.
2. Honesty in science and medicine can’t be replaced by anything else.
3. I’d be more concerned as to why this isn’t revolting more people. Why the apathy over health?

www.theatlantic.com/books/archiv...

America’s Johnson & Johnson Problem A new book shows how Johnson & Johnson has pushed misleading narratives and suppressed inconvenient findings to sell its products.

Truth be told, the revelations of Johnson & Johnson’s shocking acts by Gardiner Harris’ ‘No More Tears,’ aren’t really surprising.

India-EU trade deal negotiations: Differences over food safety rules persist, ‘intense work needed’ says EU report India’s exports to the EU have seen limited growth over the years, rising from $3.02 billion in FY19 to $4.54 billion in FY25, largely due to the stringent standards imposed by the EU on foreign agric...

Changes in #aflatoxin pattens due to #climatechange are increasingly recognised.
Sanitary and phytosanitary measures in #EU-#India #tradedeal negotiations need evidence-based research to make the necessary changes.
#SPS
indianexpress.com/article/busi...

Cy-TB test introduced by Kerala govt. for detecting and treating tuberculosis TB infection is different from active TB disease; and a flare up could happen within weeks of acquiring the infection or maybe years

In a notable step towards addressing latent #TB infections #Kerala has introduced Cy-Tb, a new intradermal test, developed by Serum Institute of India and marketed by Mylab Global.

www.thehindu.com/news/nationa...

Nipah Strikes Again: Adopting a One Health and Science Diplomacy Approach Nipah virus resurfaces in Kerala, spotlighting the urgency for a One Health approach, science diplomacy, and accelerated development of vaccines, diagnostics, and global health cooperation.

Nipah Strikes Again: Adopting a One Health and Science Diplomacy Approach.
My latest for the Observer Research Foundation:

www.orfonline.org/expert-speak...

Global health diplomacy in a post-Covid world Global health diplomacy, once a cornerstone of soft power and international cooperation, stands at a crossroads. Recent upheavals – such as the US retreat from the World Health Organization – are chal...

My article for @ecprtheloop.bsky.social
I argue that global health diplomacy is a powerful soft-power instrument where rising powers - India and China - can reshape the landscape as the Trump administration ignores it at its peril.

theloop.ecpr.eu/global-healt...

Global health diplomacy in a post-Covid world Global health diplomacy, once a cornerstone of soft power and international cooperation, stands at a crossroads. Recent upheavals – such as the US retreat from the World Health Organization – are chal...

🦠 Amid geopolitical tensions & biological threats, Lakshmy Ramakrishnan explores why global health diplomacy, once a cornerstone of soft power & international cooperation, remains indispensable + 🗺️ how rising powers like China and India can reshape the landscape.
👉 ow.ly/TObB50WiaQC

Evolution of China’s Biotech Industry: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon As China leads in biotech innovation with CRISPR and AI drugs, India needs urgent policy, R&D, and talent reforms to avoid being left behind in this race.

I write on the evolution of #China’s #biotech landscape and addressing the threat of tech decoupling for the Observer Research Foundation.

www.orfonline.org/expert-speak...

#China sent 180 delegates to this year's #WHA while #India sent 40.
Does this matter?
To what extent does delegation size influence political will in #globalhealth governance?

Taiwan-India @30: Charting a New Arc of Cooperation Marking 30 years of Taiwan-India ties: Dive into economic growth, tech collaboration, and cultural exchange.

I write on synergies in #healthcare innovation in this special volume marking #India-#Taiwan@30.

www.orfonline.org/research/tai...

Science in Action: Biosensing for Food Safety CRISPR biosensors enable rapid, sensitive detection of foodborne pathogens, making food safety more efficient and affordable, especially in low-resource settings.

My article for this year’s #Worldfoodsafetyday: www.orfonline.org/expert-speak...

Global Health Diplomacy: Navigating Politics and Security Rising health threats demand stronger global cooperation. Learn how India can lead in reimagining health diplomacy amid geopolitical uncertainties.

Check out my latest paper for ORF, co-authored with Nimisha Chadha, on global health diplomacy.

www.orfonline.org/research/glo...

The article identifies the need to strengthen #India’s ability to identify and respond to pathogens, its dependence on technological breakthroughs in a defined framework, an innovation-based ecosystem, and sustained international collaboration.

Resolution to Strengthen India’s Health Preparedness Framework Resolution to Strengthen India’s Health Preparedness Framework

Take a look at our opinion piece, 'Resolution to Strengthen India’s Health Preparedness Framework,' published with BioSpectrum India.

www.biospectrumindia.com/views/17/261...

The case for a resounding framework for AI-biotech convergence The intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) with biotechnology has ushered in a period of innovation in healthcare. The interdisciplinary nature of AI enables it to analyse and interpret large da...

Check out my article on #AI-Biotech convergence published by IndiaBioscience

indiabioscience.org/columns/indi...

@gavi.org

US exit from WHO: it is about much more than WHO The announcement by US President Donald Trump that the USA will withdraw from WHO1 will leave both a large financial gap and a political power vacuum in global health. The disruption endangers human l...

Quoted in this @thelancet.bsky.social commentary by Prof Ilona Kickbusch on the transformation of #globalhealth amidst #Trump 2.0.

www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

The changes will impact global health security and will likely have consequences in international relations, including #China having more space to exert its influence on global health, and #India potentially cementing its role as a #healthsecurity provider.

The Potential Impact of Proposed Gavi Funding Cuts on Global Health Security As the US signals its exit from Gavi, this report examines risks to immunisation in LMICs, global disease outbreaks, and India’s emerging leadership in vaccine manufacturing.

It’s #WorldImmunisationWeek and this year global health is undergoing seismic shifts.

The United States (#US) will likely slash its multibillion-dollar contribution to #Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

Read my analysis for Observer Research Foundation here:
www.orfonline.org/research/the...

What will prepare India for another pandemic? Replace 19th-century laws and 20th-century systems with a 21st-century health plan, a new report urges

Our report on Strengthening India’s Health Preparedness Framework quoted in this piece by Nature India.

www.nature.com/articles/d44...

The US withdrawal from the #WHO, the dismantlement of #USAID, the pause on a leading HIV/AIDS initiative, and the reinstatement of the #GlobalGagRule have collectively placed the health security of women and children at a critical crossroads.

Where do we go from here?

The Future of Maternal and Child Health After US Aid Cuts China’s grey zone warfare poses complex security threats to India. Learn how these subtle aggressions operate under the radar and demand strategic responses.

Check out my latest for the Observer Research Foundation where I examine the #US funding cuts to #globalhealth and its impact on maternal and child health.

www.orfonline.org/expert-speak...

Strengthening India’s Health Preparedness Framework India’s health system must evolve to tackle emerging threats. This report examines existing frameworks, international best practices, and key reforms needed to strengthen India’s health resilience.

Check out a Special Report on Strengthening India’s Health Preparedness Framework.
Co-authored with Shravishtha Ajaykumar for the Observer Research Foundation.

www.orfonline.org/research/str...

Presented a seminar on Global Health Security: Shaping the Narrative to Influence Policy at Christ University (Delhi NCR Campus).

India’s Guillain-Barré Syndrome outbreak lays bare the dangers of water contamination An urgent shift to an integrated One Health response is needed nationally

In this commentary for Nature India I discuss the recent Guillain-Barré Syndrome outbreak and the dangers of water contamination.

www.nature.com/articles/d44...

#Trump administration has revoked a ‘Biden executive order that funneled Federal resources into radical #biotech and #biomanufacturing initiatives under the guise of environmental policy.’
Hope the administration has a clear pathway for the bioeconomy.

t.co/36sLnBEGIk

Trump’s Executive Order Impinges WHO Ops Trump’s Executive Order Impinges WHO Ops

Quoted in this piece by Biospectrum Asia on the future of global health governance.

www.biospectrumasia.com/analysis/89/...

With 8,000+ biotech startups, India can drive mental health R&D via public-private partnerships (PPPs). Govt initiatives like #BioE3, #Bio-RIDE & #PRIP, backed by #BIRAC & #NHM, can fuel innovation by bridging research & commercialisation.

This brief explores the treatment gap that exists in India and its causes.

It advocates for innovative R&D activities in the #biotechnology and #pharmaceutical sectors.