Nabarun Dasgupta, an Indian American scientist, has earned a place in TIME’s 2023 TIME100 Next list as an advocate. In recent years, this scientist, affiliated with the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina, has actively engaged in an initiative through the nonprofit organization Remedy Alliance.
The primary focus of this program was to overcome challenges hindering the distribution of naloxone, a critical drug used to reverse opioid overdoses, especially among those at the forefront of tackling the opioid crisis.
Through innovative approaches such as establishing new supply chains and bulk purchasing of naloxone, the organization managed to distribute an impressive 1.6 million doses of naloxone nationwide within the past year alone. TIME’s release aptly stated, “Few Americans have done more to prevent drug-overdose deaths than Nabarun Dasgupta.”
Dasgupta’s dedication to this cause is exemplified by the photographs of individuals lost to drug overdoses that he keeps on his desk, serving as a constant reminder of the ongoing challenges. He has also developed a system for swabbing and testing street drugs at the University of North Carolina.
This innovative initiative collects valuable data that is beneficial to both scientific research and drug users. Dasgupta’s work spans a wide range of efforts, driven by his commitment to utilizing scientific research to address the profound complexities of drug use and overdose. As he emphasized, “With 100,000 people dying a year, it’s not theoretical.”
