Skip to main content

Mathuram
Santosham
,
MD

Professor

Mathuram Santosham, MD, MPH 1975, is the founder and Director Emeritus of the Center for Indigenous Health at the Johns Hopkins University. 

Contact Info

415 N. Washington Street, 4th Floor
Baltimore
Maryland
21231
US        
410-955-2010

Research Interests

International Health;
Epidemiologic studies of enteric infections;
improved oral rehydration therapy;
field testing of vaccines;
h. influenzae tybe b;
pneumococcal;
neonatal health;
Zinc supplementation;
rotavirus

Experiences & Accomplishments
Education
MPH
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
1975
MD
Madras University
1970
Overview

Epidemiologic studies of enteric infections; improved oral rehydration therapy; field testing of vaccines; h. influenzae type b and pneumococcal infections; neonatal health.

Honors & Awards

October 2015 American Academy of Pediatrics, Native American Child Health Advocacy Award

October 2014 The James F. And Sarah T. Fries Foundation, Fries Prize for Improving Health

August 2014 American Tamil Medical Association, Once in a Decade Service Excellence Award

January 2014- Sabin Gold Medal Award

November 2013 Counselors Helping (South) Asians/Indians Inc., Radha Pathak Humanitarian Award

March 2012 Johns Hopkins Distinguished Alumnus Award

June 2011 United States Department of Health and Human Services, Indian Health Service Director’s Special Recognition Award

2008- 2010 Paul Rogers Society Research! America Ambassador for Global Health

August 2008 American Tamil Medical Association, Lifetime Achievement Award for “extraordinary contributions in Global Preventative Health”

April 2006 ISPPD Board, Honorary Robert Austrian Lecture Award

June 2003 Indian Health Service Certificate of Merit, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in recognition of personal dedication, commitment and contribution to the overall IHS Research Program Activity

January 1988 -Thrasher Research Fund Award, "In recognition of excellence in research"

1981-1986 - Indian Health Service Award for outstanding dedication and contribution to improving the health of the White Mountain Apache People

Select Publications

Publications with high impact factors

  • Coles CL, Bose A, Moses PD, Mathew L, Agarwal I, Mammen T, Santosham M. Infectious etiology modifies the treatment effect of zinc in severe pneumonia. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007; 86: 397-403.

  • Millar EV, O’Brien KL, Bronsdon MA, Madore D, Hackell J, Reid R, Santosham M. Anti-capsular serum antibody concentration and protection against pneumococcal colonization induced by 7-valent conjugate pneumococcal vaccine (PnCRM7). Clin Infect Dis. 2007;44(9):1173-9. PMID 17407035

  • Lipsitch M, O’Neill K, Bugalter B, Trzcinski K, Cordy D, Thompson CM, Goldstein R, Pelton S, Huot H, Bouchet V, Reid R, Santosham M, O’Brien KL. Strain characteristics of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from carriage and invasive disease during a cluster-randomized clinical trial of the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. J Infect Dis. In Press.

  • Basset A, Trzcinxki K, Hermos C, O’Brien KL, Reid R, Santosham M. McAdam A, Lipsitch M, Malley R. Frequency of the pilus in pneumococcal isolates: Association with certain capsular serotypes but not with increased virulence. J Clin Microbiol 2007 Mar 28 (E-pub) PMID 17392439

  • Eick A, Shaw J, Thumar B, Reid R, Santosham M, Karron R, O’Brien KL. The role of RSV neutralizing antibodies in protecting infants from severe and non-severe RSV disease. Pediatr Infect Dis J. In Press.

Projects
Global Research Activity
Prevention of Haemophilus Influenzae, Type b in India - A Probe Study to Evaluate the Burden of Disease
Evaluation of the Acceptability, Safety and Utility of Skin to Skin Care/India
Evaluation of a Package of Community-Based Interventions on Maternal Health, Bangladesh
Etiology, Prevention and Treatment of Neonatal Infections in the Community
Healthy Fertility Formative Research (Postpartum Birth Spacing)
Community-based Interventions to Reduce Neonatal Mortality, Bangladesh
Newborn Thermal Care Practices in Rural India: Community-based Program to Prevent and Improve Recognition and Management of Hypothermia
Efficacy of Zinc in the Treatment of Severe Pneumonia in Hospitalized Children 2 to 35 Months of Age
Tropical Therapy For Prevention Of Infections In Pre-Term Infants
Validation of neonatal Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) and verbal autopsy
Operations research to improve newborn health and survival in the Integrated Nutrition and Health Program (INHP) II area of CARE/India
Incidence and Determinants of Post Myocardial Infarction Sudden Cardiac Death in South India
Building an Enabling Environment for Pneumonia and Diarrhea Vaccines in India (EEVI)
Providing Technical Assistance in Evaluating the Implementation of Pneumonia and Meningitis Vaccines in India (TA-EIPMVI)
Baseline Assessment for Streptococcus Pneumoniae of India Serotypes (BASIS)
(RAVIN) Rotavirus Accelerated Vaccine Introduction Network
A phase II, double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled study to demonstrate the protective efficacy of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Biologicals’ Streptococcus pneumoniae protein vaccine against acute otitis media when administered as a three-dose primary...
Identifying persistent vaccine-type invasive pneumococcal disease and carriage in American Indian communities during routine use of PCV13
Sustaining Access to Vaccines in India (SAVI)
Rotavirus Organization of Technical Allies (ROTA) Council
Building an Enabling Environment for Vaccines in India (EEVI2)
PREVAIL: Pneumonia Research and Vaccine Impact League
Sustaining Access for Vaccines in India (SAVI)
Baseline Assessment of Streptococcus pneumoniae of India Serotypes (BASIS)