PHFI

Research Associate- Health Communication

Shweta Khandelwal, currently a faculty member (Asst Professor) at the Public Health Foundation of India and a Postdoctoral fellow (Nutrition) at the Centre for Chronic Disease Control (CCDC), has a doctorate in Human Nutrition from the University of Delhi as well as a second Master’s degree in Public health (distance learning) from LSHTM, UK. Shweta has recently returned from Emory University, Atlanta after completing her US training as a part of the NIH sponsored postdoctoral fellowship (Evaluation Grade: A/Excellent) and will pursue the remaining 1.5 years at CCDC. At PHFI she is leading the online academic initiative in Public Health Nutrition, involved in curriculum development and teaching (Major areas: Nutrition epidemiology, Health promotion and Public Health Nutrition) as well as co-investigating a couple of research projects (salt intake in India, trans fats, omega 3 supplementation).

She is also a UGC-NET qualified researcher who received Junior and Senior research fellowships to complete her doctoral thesis by the Delhi University. Her thesis work revolved around analyzing the effect of dietary factors (in particular, omega 3 fatty acids and plant sterol-esters) on the cardiovascular risk factors. She graduated from G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar and later went to the SNDT Women’s University, Mumbai where she got her Masters’ degree in Food Science and Nutrition with high academic honors.

Shweta has been conferred many prestigious awards like the Young Scientist Award 2009 in Experimental Nutrition (by the Nutrition Society of India, NIN), Dr. K.U. Naram Award for securing first rank in the M.H.Sc. in 2004-2005 from S.N.D.T. University, Mumbai, Dr. Dhirajlal Dhanjibai Shah Memorial Prize (First prize) for securing the highest G.P.A. in the Foods and Nutrition Deptt in M.H.Sc. in 2005, The Association of Scientists and Technologists (India) Bombay Chapter Prize for standing first in 2004-2005 in Post Graduate Deptt of Foods and Nutrition, S.N.D.T. University, Mumbai.

Areas of Interest:

public health and nutritional epidemiology especially investigating the role of nutrition in non-communicable diseases - cardiovascular diseases/disorders in particular

Publications

• S. Khandelwal , R. Shidhaye, D. Prabhakaran, K.S. Reddy. Impact of plant sterols, fish oil omega-3s and their combination on HDL-C in Indian adults. Circulation, 2012 (Abstract).
• Shweta Khandelwal, Radhika Dayal, Meenakshi Jha, Sanjay Zodpey and K Srinath Reddy. Mapping of Nutrition teaching and training initiatives in India: Need for Public Health Nutrition. Public Health Nutrition2011 (online version published on 25th Nov 2011; print edition in press)
• Shweta Khandelwal, Mark Huffman, Seema Shah, Sandeep Kishore and Karen Siegel (2011). Non-Communicable, Chronic Disease Training and Education Needs in India: Perspectives from Young Professionals. Global Heart 2011, 6(4), 195-99
• Karen R Siegel,, Sandeep P Kishore, Mark D Huffman, Amina Aitsi-Selmi, Phillip Baker, Asaf Bitton, Eric L Ding, Andrea B Feigl, Shweta Khandelwal, Modi Mwatsama, Nikka Rapkin, Benjamin Seligman, Rajesh Vedanthan (2011). Trans-Disciplinary Education and Training for Non-Communicable, Chronic Disease Prevention and Control: A Statement from the Young Professionals’ Chronic Disease Network. Global Heart 2011, 6(4), 191-93
• YP-CDN group (Shweta Khandelwal listed as a co-author). The YP-CDN manifesto on NCDs: The social justice issue of our generation. Global Heart 2011, 6(4), 201-210.
• Shweta Khandelwal. Capacity building in the Primary prevention of NCDs: Realizing the scope of public health nutrition. Conference proceedings pg 54-57.
• Aitsi-Selmi A, Baker P, Ding EL, Feigl AB, Khandelwal S, et al. (2011) Young Professionals' Global Chronic Disease Movement case study: Policy innovators addressing NCDs. In: Secretariat C, editor. Commonwealth Health Ministers Update 2011. London: Commonwealth Secretariat. Pg 93.
• S. Khandelwal, S. Udipi and P. Ghugre. Polyphenols and tannins in Indian pulses: Effect of soaking, germination and pressure cooking. Food Research International 2010, 43(2), 526-530.
• Shweta Khandelwal, Isabelle Demonty, Panniyammakal Jeemon, Ramakrishnan Lakshmy, Rajat Mukherjee, Ruby Gupta, Yogendra Singh, Santosh Jain Passi, Dorairaj Prabhakaran, and Kolli Srinath Reddy. Impact of plant sterols, fish oil omega-3s and their combination on LDL-C and LDL particle-size in Indian adults. Atherosclerosis Supplements  2010; 11(2): 55 (Abstract)