Epidemiology & Nutrition

 

The Epidemiology and Nutrition Division at the Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) for the North Eastern (NE) region is a cornerstone of public health research, addressing the unique health challenges of this diverse and geographically distinct area. This division is dedicated to understanding and improving the health of communities across the NE region through cutting-edge research and strategic interventions.

 

Impact and importance

The work of the Epidemiology and Nutrition Division is instrumental in shaping a healthier future for the NE region. By focusing on the region's unique epidemiological and nutritional challenges, the division not only contributes to the well-being of local communities but also provides valuable insights that can inform national and global public health efforts. Through its research, interventions, and capacity-building activities, the division plays a pivotal role in enhancing the health landscape of one of India's most diverse and dynamic regions.

 

Achievements

Salt Intervention: IEC module to reduce dietary salt consumption:

  • Non-intervention: Usual Care, Intervention: IEC module
  • Result: Significant reduction extra salt consumption with reduction of BP and Prevalence of hypertension.

Mobile applications:

  • My Heart: A mobile application with decision support named "My Heart" was developed as an add-on to control and prevent hypertension. Short video presentation of the application: https://drive.google.com/file/d/16JQMI_fmBGDZb4wFYjHWRxEywqVs7Q5N/view?usp=sharing) (My Heart: 7.15 min duration)
  • ICMR (HDSS): For the collection of data on Family information, Individual information, Clinical information, Pregnancy form, Birth event form, Anthropometry (≥ 5 years), and Causes of death by verbal autopsy. The application facilitates Paperless data collection, geo-tagging of Surveyed Individuals, QR Code generation for easy follow-up, live viewing of surveyor location, linking of ASHA, ANM, and clinician, and Vital information in real-time. Short video presentation of the application: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aped_YdTSo1DddJZuK0vRun31PNuUZxX/view?usp=sharing) (ICMR-HDSS: 5.5 min duration)

 

Sl No. Name Designation
1 Dr. Prasanta Kumar Borah Scientist-F & Division Head
2 Dr. Hiranya Kumar Das Scientist-E
3 Ms. M Memeenao Scientist-B
4 Ms. Sandhya Gupta Laboratory Attendant
5 Dr. Krishnarjun Bora Project Sc-B (NM) 
6 Ananya Jyoti Gogoi Project Sc-B (NM)
7 Priyangana Bora Project Sc-B (NM)
8 Dr. Manisha Rabidas Project SRF
9 Dr. Namita Garh Project SRF
10 Gargi Chanda Project  RA
11 Rajshree Das Project  RA
12 Manju Sonowal UDC
13 Christopher Nanda Driver
14 Kabyashree Gogoi Field Assistant
15 Krishna Jyoti Hazarika Field Assistant
16 Mallika Dutta Field Assistant
17 Priyanka Gohain Field Assistant
18 Sumsumi Saikia Field Assistant
19 Priyanka Phukan Field Assistant
20 Pallab Dutta Field Assistant
21 Raveena Kumbang Field Assistant
22 Rubi Pegu Field Assistant
23 Rijumoni Bora Field Assistant
24 Bonjit Doley Field Assistant
25 Kashmiri Kuli Field Assistant
26 Biraj Kr. Deka Field Assistant
27 Dayawati Basumatary Field Assistant
28 Pranamika Borah Field Assistant
29 Ghanamaya Aley Field Assistant
30 Pallabi Borah Field Assistant
31 Bitupon Gohain Field Assistant
32 Rituraj Boruah Field Assistant
33 Rahul Bagh Field Assistant
34 Anupoma Pegu Field Assistant
35 Anurag Bora Field Assistant

 

Present PhD Scholars under the supervision of Dr. Prasant Kumar Borah

Sl No. Name University and year
1 Ananya Jyoti Gogoi Gauhati University
2 Trishnakhi Swargiari Dibrugarh University
3 Kimmi Sarmah Dibrugarh University
4 Anand Sharma Dibrugarh University
5 Mayurakhi Gogoi Don Bosco University

 

Projects

Sl No. Name of the Projects Funding Agency Status
1 Establishment of health and demographic surveillance system in Dibrugarh district, Assam (Dibrugarh –HDSS) ICMR Ongoing
2 Capacity Building of Self-Help Group (SHG) for Blood Pressure Monitoring and use of Mobile Application software with decision support: Assessment of a task-shifting Model for reduction of Blood Pressure in Assam ICMR Ongoing
3 Assessment of haematological and biochemical parameters of the population under Dibrugarh- HDSS ICMR Ongoing
4 Progression of blood pressure of prehypertensive subjects from native rural Assamese and tea garden community: A two-year prospective follow-up study in a health and demographic surveillance cohort from Dibrugarh, Assam ICMR Ongoing
5 Establishment of Population Based Stroke Registry and Clinical Stroke Care Pathway using Mobile Stroke Unit in Dibrugarh, Assam ICMR Completed
6 Self-monitoring of blood pressure and decision support with lifestyle intervention through Mobile Phone application to control blood pressure. ICMR Completed
7 To study the bacterial aetiology, antimicrobial sensitivity pattern resistance determinants and associated risk factors of neonatal sepsis in 4 different districts of Assam (Initially Dr. U. Devi was the PI. I took the responsibility of PI after her sudden demise) ICMR Completed
9 Mobile Application for Immunization Data in India-MAIDI (PILOTING PHASE I & II Target age– 0 to 1 yr.) (Initially Dr. U. Devi was the PI. I took the responsibility of PI after her sudden demise) ICMR Completed
10 Study on prevalence of Hb E and thalassemia in malaria endemic zones of NE India. ICMR Completed
11 Study of Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology of Oral cancer in two states (Assam and Meghalaya) of N.E. Region of India. ICMR Completed
12 Study of Molecular Epidemiology of Lung cancer in Manipur and Mizoram. ICMR Completed
13 ICMR- India Diabetes [INDIAB] Study (North East Component) ICMR Completed
14 Nutritional factors and severity of malaria-a study from the North eastern region of India ICMR Completed
15 Expression profiling of inflammatory gene high sensitive C reactive protein (hsCRP) and Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) among COVID-19 patients and correlation with disease severity in Northeast India: A prospective study. ICMR Completed

 

Recent Publications: Last 5 Years (2019-2024)

  • Yadav, A. K., Patil, R., Juvekar, S., & Network, I. H. N. (2023). The Indian Health and Demographic Surveillance System Network: Opportunity to Generate Evidence for Public Health Policy. Indian Journal of Community Medicine, 48(6), 808-810.
  • Sarmah, K., Sarma, K., Borah, P. K., Mahanta, J., Borkakoty, B., & Kaur, H. (2023). Co-circulation of two Mumps virus genotypes in Assam, India. Virus Genes, 59(4), 515-523. [2.198]
  • Anjana, R. M., Srinivasan, S., Sudha, V., Joshi, S. R., Saboo, B., Tandon, N., ... & Ghosh, S. (2022). Macronutrient recommendations for remission and prevention of diabetes in Asian Indians based on a data-driven optimization model: the ICMR-INDIAB National Study. Diabetes Care, 45(12), 2883-2891. [17.152]
  • Patel, K., Nayak, B., Rana, S., Krishnan, P., Tandale, B. V., Basak, S., ... & Palo, S. K. (2022). Enablers and barriers towards ensuring routine immunization services during the COVID-19 pandemic: findings from a qualitative study across five different states in India. Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 116(9), 814-821. [2.455]
  • Kaur, P., Borah, P. K., Gaigaware, P., Mohapatra, P. K., Das, N. K., Uike, P. V., ... & Mehendale, S. M. (2022). Preparedness of primary & secondary care health facilities for the management of non-communicable diseases in tribal population across 12 districts in India. Indian Journal of Medical Research, 156(2), 260-268. [2.198]
  • Kaur, P., Borah, P. K., Uike, P. V., Mohapatra, P. K., Das, N. K., Gaigaware, P., ... & Mehendale, S. M. (2022). Non-communicable diseases as a major contributor to deaths in 12 tribal districts in India. Indian Journal of Medical Research, 156(2), 250-259. [2.198]
  • Rasaily, R., Devi, U., Borah, K., Chetry, P., Saikia, H., Borah, N., ... & Borah, P. K. (2022). Cohort profile of the largest health & demographic surveillance system (Dibrugarh-HDSS) from North-East India. Indian Journal of Medical Research, 156(4&5), 579-587. [5.274]
  • Rasaily, R., Chetry, P., Borah, K., Pathak, J., Borah, N., Saikia, H., & Borah, P. K. (2022). Predictors of Low Birth Weight: A Study in a Health and Demographic Cohort from Assam, India. Indian Journal of Pediatrics, 89(10), 1019-1021. [5.319]
  • Rasaily, R., Pathak, J., Borah, K., Chetry, P., Borah, N., Dutta, M., & Borah, P. K. (2022). Correlates of breastfeeding in villages and tea-gardens in Assam, India. Indian Pediatrics, 59(3), 210-213. [3.839]
  • Paine, S. K., Bhattacharjee, C. K., Bhaduri, G., Pramanik, S., Borah, P. K., Mahanta, J., ... & Mondal, L. K. (2021). Pre-therapeutic biomarkers for ranibizumab therapy among type 2 diabetic patients with diabetic macular edema. Optometry and Vision Science, 98(1), 81-87. [2.106]
  • Devi, U., Baruah, P., Dutta, S., Paine, S., Gogoi, N., & Borah, P. (2020). Immune status against diphtheria toxin in tea garden population surveyed in Dibrugarh district, Assam. The National Medical Journal of India, 33(3), 187-187 [0.559]
  • Borah, P. K., Mahanta, J., Kalita, H. C., & Bhattacharjee, C. K. (2020). Distribution of hypertension subtypes in a hill tribe of Mizoram, Northeast India. Indian heart journal, 72(5), 398-402. [0.43]
  • Bhattacharjee, C. K., Paine, S. K., Mahanta, J., Borphukan, S., & Borah, P. K. (2019). Expression of inflammasome complex mRNA and its targeted microRNA in type 2 diabetes mellitus: A possible predictor of the severity of diabetic nephropathy. Journal of diabetes, 11(1), 90-92.

Dr. Prasanta Kr. Borah

Scientist-F

Email id: pkborah.rmrcne@gov.in

Dept. of Epidemiology and Nutrition

ICMR-Regional Medical Research Centre,

NE Region Dibrugarh, Assam, India -786010

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