Samudragupta Bora named pediatric research committee chair

### Indian American Pediatric Neuroscientist Dr. Samudragupta Bora Named SPR JEDI Chair

Dr. Samudragupta Bora, an Indian American pediatric neuroscientist known for his research on neurodevelopmental outcomes in high-risk infants, has been appointed to the leadership council of the Society for Pediatric Research (SPR) as its JEDI Chair.

Bora holds the position at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, where he serves as associate professor of pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

The SPR Council operates under the organization’s strategic plan and includes leaders overseeing key areas such as membership, advocacy, justice, equity, diversity and inclusion, organizational partnerships and pediatric scientist development, alongside the society’s executive council.

In addition to his academic role, Bora is the founding director of the University Hospitals Health Services Research Center. His work brings together pediatric research, health services and efforts to address disparities in healthcare outcomes.

Bora has built an international research profile around the neurodevelopment of infants facing elevated health risks, particularly children born prematurely. His research has increasingly expanded to include congenital heart disease and global child health.

A major focus of his work is developing practical and scalable approaches for monitoring children’s neurodevelopment after birth, particularly in communities where access to specialized healthcare and follow-up services is limited.

Since May 2016, Bora has also served as group leader for Neurodevelopmental Follow-Up and Outcomes at the Mater Medical Research Institute.

His research has focused on identifying infants at an early stage who may be at greater risk of developmental difficulties. He has examined both risk factors and resilience through the framework of social determinants of health, recognizing that children's outcomes can be shaped by factors extending beyond medical conditions.

Bora has emphasized the interaction between clinical circumstances and broader environmental and socioeconomic conditions in determining health outcomes. His work seeks to develop strategies that can improve pediatric care while addressing persistent health disparities and inequities.

His professional activities also extend into global health and nonprofit initiatives. Bora serves on the board of directors of Barakat Bundle, a social enterprise incubated at Harvard Business School that works to reduce preventable maternal and infant mortality in South Asia.

Born and raised in India, Bora has pursued an international academic career spanning several institutions in New Zealand and the United States.

He earned his doctoral degree from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand and subsequently completed postdoctoral fellowships at the University of Canterbury, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Brigham and Women’s Hospital at Harvard Medical School.

His appointment to the SPR leadership council adds an organizational leadership role to a career focused on pediatric neuroscience, health services research and improving outcomes for vulnerable children.

As JEDI Chair, Bora will be part of the council responsible for advancing the society’s strategic priorities in justice, equity, diversity and inclusion while working alongside leaders representing other major areas of pediatric research and professional development.