In a significant breakthrough, researchers from the Child Health Research Foundation (CHRF) based in Dhaka have achieved a remarkable feat by producing the first single-cell genomics data originating from Bangladesh.

Collaborating with counterparts from prestigious institutions such as Harvard University, MIT, and Boston Children's Hospital, the CHRF forms part of an international team working on a groundbreaking project funded by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. Their objective is to develop a pediatric atlas focusing on nasal and oral mucosa.

Dr. Senjuti Saha, the director and senior scientist at CHRF, highlighted the importance of this endeavor, noting that oral and nasal mucosa play vital roles as interfaces for environmental and microbial interactions. However, detailed data across diverse ancestries has been lacking until now.

"This project will not only deepen our understanding of pediatric nasal and oral mucosa at a cellular level but will also significantly contribute to the Human Cell Atlas data from South Asia," stated Dr. Saha.

Emphasizing equal collaboration among all partners involved in the research, Dr. Senjuti underscored the CHRF's significant role in this groundbreaking achievement.

In addition to this remarkable achievement, Dr. Senjuti Saha's expertise has garnered international recognition. In 2021, she was appointed to serve on the Polio Transition Independent Monitoring Board (TIMB) by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. This marks the first time a Bangladeshi researcher has been selected for this prestigious position, highlighting the country's growing prominence in global scientific endeavors.