NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Washington, D.C. October 9, 2025: Two scientists of Indian origin — epidemiologist Nabarun Dasgupta and neurobiologist Teresa Puthussery — are among the 25 trailblazing individuals named as 2025 MacArthur Fellows, one of the most prestigious honors in the United States recognizing creativity and societal impact.
The MacArthur Fellowship, often called the “genius grant,” comes with $800,000 in unrestricted funding, paid in quarterly installments over five years. The award cannot be applied for or requested; fellows are selected through a confidential nomination and review process for their “extraordinary originality and dedication” and for demonstrating the ability to make a significant difference in their fields.
“The 2025 MacArthur Fellows expand the boundaries of knowledge, artistry, and human understanding,” said Kristen Mack, the foundation’s vice president of communications. “They focus our attention on microbial worlds and distant stars, community vitality and timeless traditions.”
Fighting the opioid crisis with science and compassion
Nabarun Dasgupta, a senior scientist at the University of North Carolina’s Injury Prevention Research Center, was honored for his groundbreaking work reducing deaths from opioid use through science-driven, community-centered approaches.
Dasgupta leads the Opioid Data Lab, where his team analyzes the chemical composition of street drugs and publishes anonymized data to help shape effective harm-reduction strategies. He is also co-founder of Project Lazarus and Remedy Alliance/For The People, initiatives that have improved access to naloxone, the life-saving medication that can reverse opioid overdoses.
“Our work is about turning data into action,” Dasgupta said in a recent interview. “It’s about building systems that save lives — and making sure that those systems reach the people who need them most.”
Dasgupta earned his undergraduate degree from Princeton University in 2001, an MPH from Yale University in 2003, and a Ph.D. from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2013. He is widely regarded as a leading voice in public health innovation.
Unlocking the secrets of sight
Teresa Puthussery, an associate professor at the University of California, Berkeley, was recognized for her pioneering research into how neural circuits in the retina encode visual information — work that could lead to new treatments for glaucoma, macular degeneration, and other neurodegenerative eye diseases.
Her lab uses advanced imaging, electrophysiology, and anatomical techniques to better understand how the retina communicates with the brain, with the goal of restoring sight in patients with vision loss.
Puthussery, who earned her degrees from the University of Melbourne in Australia, said a formative moment in her career came while working at a low-vision clinic early on. “Seeing the impact of blindness on people’s lives fueled my determination to find ways to protect and restore vision,” she told Berkeley’s Inspire magazine.
Other recipients of the 2025 MacArthur Fellowship include novelist Tommy Orange and filmmaker Garrett Bradley. Last year, historian Shailaja Paik — known for her work on Dalit history — was among those who received the fewllowship.
Cover photos credit.: MacArthur Foundation.
