, senior scientist at the Research Institute of the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Health Centre and Canada Research Chair of Epidemiology & Global Health, ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ, was recently selected to serve the World Health Organization (WHO) on two committees. His appointment to the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for TB in the South-East Asia Region was effective June 1, and appointment to the Advisory group on Tuberculosis Diagnostics and Laboratory Strengthening, on July 19.
βThe COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread disruptions to tuberculosis care and service delivery, setting back progress in the fight against TB by over a decade,β says Dr. Pai, who is also associate director of the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ International TB Centre. βI am honoured to have the chance to contribute to global efforts to rebuild and strengthen TB services by serving on these two WHO expert groups.β
One group is focused on improving TB diagnosis, he explains, while the other is focused on ending TB in the South-East Asia region. βSince much of my TB research is in India, it is an opportunity to give back to my homeland.β
An unflagging advocate for scientific outreach and global health equity, Dr. Paiβs activities extend beyond the scope of academia. He advises the non-profits Stop TB Partnership, FIND, and TB Alliance as well as the WHO. In recent years he has addressed the United Nations, co-authored a cover article for TIME, co-edited a free eBook on quality of TB care, and delivered free online βepidemiology 101β courses to help journalists in India and Africa counter misinformation and report better science. At the RI-MUHC, he is a member of the and conducts research at the .