The Yale Institute for Global Health (YIGH) has selected Jasmine Abrams, PhD, Marwan Osman, PhD, and Claudia Valeggia, PhD as recipients of the Spring 2025 Global Health Spark Award. Each will receive up to $10,000 to “spark” new global health research and collaborations.
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Spring 2025 Spark Award Recipients Announced
We at the YIGH Faculty Support Initiative are delighted to fund these exciting new projects with our Spark Awards. The work of these Spark Award recipients, spanning multiple disciplines and countries, not only attests to the incredible ingenuity and creativity of the award winners, Dr. Abrams, Dr. Osman, and Dr. Valeggia and their global partners, but also provides an impressive snapshot of the depth and breadth of research conducted by our YIGH affiliated faculty. We are thrilled to be able to support this work.
Kristina Talbert-Slagle, Assistant Professor and Director, YIGH Faculty Support Initiative
Improving HIV Prevention for Zambian Girls: Exploring Colorism as a Social Determinant of HIV Risk
Jasmine Abrams, PhD – Research Scientist (Public Health), Yale School of Public Health
In Zambia, adolescent girls and young women experience high rates of HIV, yet a key social determinant known as colorism remains overlooked in prevention efforts. This project will explore how discrimination based on skin tone influences girls’ sexual risk behaviors and how colorist beliefs are passed down by maternal figures and peers. Findings from qualitative research conducted in partnership with the Center for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia will inform an adaptation of IMARA, an evidence-based HIV prevention program, to explicitly address colorism. By grounding our work in local voices and participatory methods, this project aims to advance culturally responsive and sustainable HIV prevention strategies.
Colorism shapes how girls see themselves, how they are treated, and ultimately, how they make decisions about their bodies and health. By listening intently to their experiences, we can better understand how colorism impacts their health and build more equitable interventions that reflect their realities and affirm their worth.
Jasmine Abrams
Uncovering Genomic Determinants of Neonatal Paenibacillus Infections in East Africa
Marwan Osman, PhD – Associate Research Scientist, Yale School of Medicine
The project addresses a critical gap in neonatal infection diagnostics by focusing on Paenibacillus species, an emerging but underrecognized cause of sepsis and post-infectious hydrocephalus in East Africa. The team will conduct whole-genome sequencing of Paenibacillus isolates from neonates at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital in Uganda to gain a deeper understanding of transmission dynamics, antimicrobial resistance, and virulence factors. This work will not only provide essential data to guide treatment and prevention strategies but will also support the development of rapid diagnostics and build local microbiology capacity. Ultimately, the goal of the project is to reduce neonatal mortality and long-term disability from neglected bacterial infections in low-resource settings.
This study sheds light on a neglected neonatal pathogen and strengthens essential diagnostic capacity to reduce sepsis-related mortality in underserved countries.
Marwan Osman
Strengthening Community Health: Intercultural Multimedia Strategies to Address Type 2 Diabetes in an Indigenous Community in Argentina
Claudia Valeggia, PhD – Professor of Anthropology, Yale University
The award will support the launch of “Haiem sanoelec, qalagaye, shectá,” a vital diabetes care communication project in Namqom, Argentina. The initiative addresses the high prevalence of Type 2 diabetes in a Qom community by raising awareness, enhancing early detection, and supporting long-term disease management through culturally grounded and community-driven strategies. Utilizing social media, radio broadcasts, and community events, the dedicated team of local Indigenous leaders and healthcare professionals will disseminate valuable information and promote healthier behaviors. This collaborative effort is building sustainable health infrastructure and fostering local leadership in health promotion.
The project in Namqom, Argentina works with the Qom community through cultural strategies, including social media, radio, and community events to improve awareness and management of Type 2 diabetes.
Claudia Valeggia
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