Latest news with #VikramPatel
Indian Express
27-05-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
US health body halts renewal, issuance of subawards to Foreign entities: NIH-funded research projects feel grants heat
RESEARCHERS AT some of the leading medical colleges and scientific institutions in India are staring at uncertain times for their projects following a recent decision by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the US that affects research grants to foreign entities. In a public notice on May 1, the NIH announced that it would not issue awards to domestic or foreign entities (new, renewal or non-competing continuation), that include a subaward to a foreign entity. A majority of the NIH's budget is awarded to universities, medical schools and other research institutions across the US and rest of the world. In many cases, the primary recipients issue subawards to other entities to carry out specific project activities. Many researchers in India are feeling the impact of the NIH decision. Dr Vikram Patel, professor at Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School, told The Indian Express that most Indian research which is funded by NIH occurs through subawards from a partner in a US-based institution. 'This move of freezing new subawards will impact these and future international collaborations,' Dr Patel said. 'Furthermore, all NIH grants to Harvard have been terminated which has affected two of my projects being conducted with partners in India such as Sangath, AIIMS (Bhopal) and NIMHANS,' he said. Patel is also a co-founder at Sangath, an NGO that works in the field of mental health. He said these critically important research studies are at risk of premature termination. A statement from NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya, published on the NIH website, said, 'There is a temporary pause for foreign subawards.' He said NIH will finalise the implementation of the new award structure no later than September 30 and till the time they transition to the new system, NIH will no longer allow new subawards to foreign institutions. 'As the complexity of science increases, this structure has grown increasingly difficult to track. These issues highlighted in a recent Government Account-ability Office report, can lead to a breakdown in trust and potentially the security of the US biomedical research enterprise,' he said. However several scientists and researchers in India, on the condition of anonymity, told The Indian Express that despite the budgetary constraints and issues, the manner in which grants have been frozen was not appropriate. 'Several institutes have NIH-funded foreign grants and any reduction usually occurs through a phased weaning process, not a sudden cutoff,' a scientist said. Anant Bhan, who works as site principal investigator at the Bhopal hub of Sangath and is the immediate past president of the International Association of Bioethics, said this kind of uncertainty affects the morale of the researchers with the project. An ambitious study OptimizeD has been jointly undertaken by Harvard Medical School, AIIMS, Bhopal and the Sangath team. 'The aim is to improve depression treatment outcomes in primary care in India. We have already recruited 900 of the targeted 1,500 patients. The main goal is to develop precision treatment rules using baseline data to predict in advance which individuals will benefit most from each treatment option,' Bhan said. 'Harvard Medical School gets the main grant and we get subawards for the study. The Harvard team has indicated to us that NIH has sent termination notices for all federally funded awards,' he said. Rutuja Patil, a senior scientist at KEM Hospital Research Centre's Vadu Rural Health Programme, said the NIH move was extremely distressing for an important project. The University of California, San Francisco, has funded a research project that looks at a greater understanding of temporary childbirth migration. 'Many South Asian women return to their natal homes in different communities during pregnancy, for childbirth or postpartum. Both temporary and permanent migration may impact maternal and child health outcomes… While this is a common practice in India, it is understudied,' Patil said. 'This migration could impact women's access or continuum of care, with negative consequences for newborn and maternal health. On the other hand, women who return to their natal homes may get more support (nutrition, social/emotional support, etc.) and have better outcomes. Hence it is important to understand if and how this phenomenon is contributing to persistent poor newborn and maternal health in India,' she said. 'The study has completed two years and overall the aim was to recruit 4,000 participants… With this uncertainty there is no clarity on further recruitments,' Patil said. Anuradha Mascarenhas is a journalist with The Indian Express and is based in Pune. A senior editor, Anuradha writes on health, research developments in the field of science and environment and takes keen interest in covering women's issues. With a career spanning over 25 years, Anuradha has also led teams and often coordinated the edition. ... Read More
News18
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Kunal Kapoor's Note Is An Ode To Saif Ali Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat And The Jewel Thief Team
Last Updated: Kunal shared a string of pictures from the sets of Jewel Thief, donning a police bulletproof jacket. Kunal Kapoor is currently basking in the positive response to his recently released action thriller, Jewel Thief. Produced by Siddharth Anand, known for Pathaan, War, and Fighter, the film sees Kunal portraying Vikram Patel, a determined cop on the trail of a master thief, Rehan Roy. As Jewel Thief begins its OTT journey, Kunal took a moment to express heartfelt gratitude to his co-stars Saif Ali Khan and Jaideep Ahlawat, along with the entire team, for making the project a truly memorable experience. Taking to Instagram, Kunal shared a string of pictures from the sets of Jewel Thief, wherein he is seen donning an all-black attire featuring a t-shirt and a police bulletproof jacket. Praising Saif Ali Khan as 'a gem of a star", the Rang De Basanti actor wrote in the caption, 'Thank you to everyone who helped Jewel Thief sparkle! Saif, a gem of a co-star who makes every shot feel like fun rather than work. Here is to our next robbery together!" He also expressed his admiration for co-stars Jaideep Ahlawat and Nikita Dutta, hoping to share more screen space with them in the future. 'Jaideep, one of my fave actors, is as wonderful as ever. Next time, let's share a scene! Nikita, we appeared twice in the same film, but not in the same frame. Third time's a charm," Kunal continued. Kunal also thanked the directors, producer and the streaming giant, writing, 'Our directors, Robbie and Kookie, thank you for casting me and making my job effortless. Marflix, your vision got us through. Netflix, for giving our crime caper a global home," he added. Lastly, he mentioned the crew members and concluded the post saying, 'And to our incredible crew, the real masterminds behind this perfect execution none of this would've been possible without your magic behind the scenes. Here's to stealing hearts worldwide. Officer Vikram Patel signing off!" In no time, the comment section was flooded with reactions from fans and celebs alike. Kunal's friend and actor Hrithik Roshan commented, 'Love the look." Nikita Dutta wrote, 'You are before time." An Instagram user wrote, 'Good to see you back." Kunal will reportedly be next seen in the forthcoming Tamil-language fantasy action Vishwambhara. First Published:
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
"Would be exciting to explore Vikram Patel's backstory in a sequel," Kunal Kapoor on 'Jewel Thief'
Actor Kunal Kapoor is back on screen with a gripping performance as Vikram Patel in the newly released action-thriller 'Jewel Thief.' The film, which premiered on Netflix on April 25, 2025, is a heist thriller directed by Kookie Gulati and Robbie Grewal. In a recent conversation with ANI, Kapoor spoke candidly about his character, his preparation for the role, and the potential future of the film franchise. Kunal Kapoor shared his excitement for joining the 'Jewel Thief' project and said, "One of the things that drew me to this character was the opportunity to do something I've never done before. I've always wanted to be part of a heist film. Heist films are my favourite genre, and this was my chance to be part of one." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Investing $200 with AI could earn you a second salary. Investment Opportunities Learn More Undo Kapoor's character, Vikram Patel, a resolute and action-oriented officer, is hot on the heels of the charming yet elusive jewel thief Rehan Roy, played by Saif Ali Khan. The film's high-octane action sequences and layered characters made it an irresistible project for Kapoor, who expressed a deep respect for the filmmakers behind the scenes. "It was a combination of getting to do something new, being part of a heist film, and working with a team of really good filmmakers," Kapoor added. While Kapoor didn't find any particular scenes overwhelmingly difficult, he did mention the physically demanding nature of the shoot. "We had this intense fight sequence that we shot in the middle of the night. It was exhausting, but it was fun," Kapoor said, adding, "I had to do a lot of running throughout the film. Honestly, Tom Cruise might have some competition for all the running in this movie, and there's a lot of chasing involved!" Kapoor's portrayal of a determined officer, who relentlessly pursues Rehan Roy across continents, required intense physical effort. He noted that running through the night for many of the chase sequences proved to be one of the more physically taxing aspects of the role. When asked about special preparations for the role, Kapoor revealed that there wasn't any specific action training but shared how his physical transformation helped him embody the character of Vikram Patel. "At the time, I was working on another film called Vishwambhara, where I had to get bigger and more muscular. So, I put on quite a bit of muscle for that, and I carried that physique over to Jewel Thief as well," Kapoor shared. For Kapoor, gaining the necessary muscle mass to play the role of a tough, physically commanding cop was the primary physical adjustment for the film. "I gained around 6-7 kilos of muscle for both films, but other than that, the preparation was more about staying in shape and staying ready for the action sequences," he said. With 'Jewel Thief' leaving viewers on a cliffhanger, Kapoor shared his excitement about the possibility of a sequel. "It would be exciting to explore the backstory of Vikram Patel and delve deeper into the complex relationship between him and Rehan," Kapoor said, adding, "The film hints at their history, but there's so much more to explore. I think a sequel or even a prequel could offer a lot of interesting character dynamics." Kapoor also expressed a keen interest in further exploring Vikram's motivations and his long-standing pursuit of Rehan Roy. "There's a lot to uncover about why Vikram has been chasing Rehan for so long. If we had another part of the story, we could go deeper into that relationship," he said, while speaking to ANI. Having built a career in films ranging from 'Rang De Basanti' to 'Dear Zindagi' and others, Kapoor reflected on how his approach to acting has evolved over the years. "I've become a lot more relaxed now. I don't overthink things as much. Earlier, I would be stressed about the next scene or how to approach it. Now, I just prepare well and let my instincts take over during the shoot," Kapoor said, highlighting his growth as an actor. For Kapoor, working on 'Jewel Thief' was part of his ongoing journey of personal and professional growth. "I don't stress as much anymore. I've learned to enjoy the process more and just go with the flow," he added. When asked if, given the chance, he would swap roles with a character in 'Jewel Thief', Kapoor said, "I think Jaideep's character is fascinating. It's a very interesting role, and if I could swap, I'd choose his character," referring to Jaideep Ahlawat's portrayal of a key character in the film. Kapoor's on-screen interactions with Saif Ali Khan and Jaideep Ahlawat were limited, given the nature of the story, but he was quick to praise his co-stars. "Even though we didn't have much screen time together, working with Saif and Jaideep was a lot of fun," Kapoor said, adding, "Saif is a great guy, very smart and generous as a co-star. Jaideep, on the other hand, is so authentic in his performance. He just brings such a relaxed energy to his roles." Despite the limited direct collaboration on set, Kapoor enjoyed working with the duo and admired their professionalism and acting skills. "It was great fun, and I learned a lot just from being around them," he said.
Mint
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
'Would be exciting to explore Vikram Patels backstory in a sequel,' Kunal Kapoor on Jewel Thief
New Delhi [India], April 30 (ANI): Actor Kunal Kapoor is back on screen with a gripping performance as Vikram Patel in the newly released action-thriller 'Jewel Thief.' The film, which premiered on Netflix on April 25, 2025, is a heist thriller directed by Kookie Gulati and Robbie Grewal. In a recent conversation with ANI, Kapoor spoke candidly about his character, his preparation for the role, and the potential future of the film franchise. Kunal Kapoor shared his excitement for joining the 'Jewel Thief' project and said, "One of the things that drew me to this character was the opportunity to do something I've never done before. I've always wanted to be part of a heist film. Heist films are my favourite genre, and this was my chance to be part of one." Kapoor's character, Vikram Patel, a resolute and action-oriented officer, is hot on the heels of the charming yet elusive jewel thief Rehan Roy, played by Saif Ali Khan. The film's high-octane action sequences and layered characters made it an irresistible project for Kapoor, who expressed a deep respect for the filmmakers behind the scenes. "It was a combination of getting to do something new, being part of a heist film, and working with a team of really good filmmakers," Kapoor added. While Kapoor didn't find any particular scenes overwhelmingly difficult, he did mention the physically demanding nature of the shoot. "We had this intense fight sequence that we shot in the middle of the night. It was exhausting, but it was fun," Kapoor said, adding, "I had to do a lot of running throughout the film. Honestly, Tom Cruise might have some competition for all the running in this movie, and there's a lot of chasing involved!" Kapoor's portrayal of a determined officer, who relentlessly pursues Rehan Roy across continents, required intense physical effort. He noted that running through the night for many of the chase sequences proved to be one of the more physically taxing aspects of the role. When asked about special preparations for the role, Kapoor revealed that there wasn't any specific action training but shared how his physical transformation helped him embody the character of Vikram Patel. "At the time, I was working on another film called Vishwambhara, where I had to get bigger and more muscular. So, I put on quite a bit of muscle for that, and I carried that physique over to Jewel Thief as well," Kapoor shared. For Kapoor, gaining the necessary muscle mass to play the role of a tough, physically commanding cop was the primary physical adjustment for the film. "I gained around 6-7 kilos of muscle for both films, but other than that, the preparation was more about staying in shape and staying ready for the action sequences," he said. With 'Jewel Thief' leaving viewers on a cliffhanger, Kapoor shared his excitement about the possibility of a sequel. "It would be exciting to explore the backstory of Vikram Patel and delve deeper into the complex relationship between him and Rehan," Kapoor said, adding, "The film hints at their history, but there's so much more to explore. I think a sequel or even a prequel could offer a lot of interesting character dynamics." Kapoor also expressed a keen interest in further exploring Vikram's motivations and his long-standing pursuit of Rehan Roy. "There's a lot to uncover about why Vikram has been chasing Rehan for so long. If we had another part of the story, we could go deeper into that relationship," he said, while speaking to ANI. Having built a career in films ranging from 'Rang De Basanti' to 'Dear Zindagi' and others, Kapoor reflected on how his approach to acting has evolved over the years. "I've become a lot more relaxed now. I don't overthink things as much. Earlier, I would be stressed about the next scene or how to approach it. Now, I just prepare well and let my instincts take over during the shoot," Kapoor said, highlighting his growth as an actor. For Kapoor, working on 'Jewel Thief' was part of his ongoing journey of personal and professional growth. "I don't stress as much anymore. I've learned to enjoy the process more and just go with the flow," he added. When asked if, given the chance, he would swap roles with a character in 'Jewel Thief', Kapoor said, "I think Jaideep's character is fascinating. It's a very interesting role, and if I could swap, I'd choose his character," referring to Jaideep Ahlawat's portrayal of a key character in the film. Kapoor's on-screen interactions with Saif Ali Khan and Jaideep Ahlawat were limited, given the nature of the story, but he was quick to praise his co-stars. "Even though we didn't have much screen time together, working with Saif and Jaideep was a lot of fun," Kapoor said, adding, "Saif is a great guy, very smart and generous as a co-star. Jaideep, on the other hand, is so authentic in his performance. He just brings such a relaxed energy to his roles." Despite the limited direct collaboration on set, Kapoor enjoyed working with the duo and admired their professionalism and acting skills. "It was great fun, and I learned a lot just from being around them," he said. (ANI) First Published: 30 Apr 2025, 01:33 PM IST
