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Prof. ATUL AMBEKAR

Prof.
ATUL AMBEKAR

Male

MBBS, MD

Affiliation

Professor
Department of
National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre

Contact

Email :
atul[dot]ambekar[at]gmail[dot]com

Field of Interest

  • Public Health Issues related to Alcohol and Drug Use
  • Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) and Harm Reduction
  • Training and human resource development
  • Gender and drug use
  • Drug Policies and Programs
  • Epidemiology of drug use
  • Community based research to facilitate access to services
  • Use of Information and Communication Technology in addiction-related issues

Total number of publications till date: 185

  • Awarded, Meritorious Award for outstanding contribution for the prevention & control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), April 2022, National Resource Centre for Non- Communicable Diseases, Thiruvalla, Kerala and Alcohol and Drug Information Centre (ADIC)
  • Awarded “ Venus International Medical Award 2019 (VIMA 2019)” for Excellence in Psychiatry, April 2019
  • Awarded “JJ Memorial Oration on Mental Health”: Govt. Grant Medical College, Mumbai, January 2017 (Topic- Alcohol and Public Health: Impact and Solutions)
  • Winner of “ BMJ Awards South Asia 2016” for the category, “Non-Communicable Disease Initiative of the Year”, November 2016
  • Awarded Travel Grant (Scholarship) for the Asia Regional Meeting of International Society for the Study of Drug Policy, Hong Kong (Oct 2019)
  • Awarded Travel Grant (Scholarship) for the Annual Conference of International Society for the Study of Drug Policy, Sydney, Australia, May 2016
  • Any other relevant information:

Nominated member

  • Inter-Ministerial committee on 'dual use' and illicit trafficking of prescription drugs and precursors - Narcotics Control Bureau, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India (2022-ongoing)
  • Expert Committee for Reviewing the Current Model for the Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts (IRCA) Under NAPDDR - Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India (2022-2023)
  • Subject Expert Committee (Psychiatry and Neurology) – Central Drug Standards Control Organization, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Government of India (2017 - ongoing)
  • Global Burden of Disease (GBD), India Mental Health Expert Group – Public Health Foundation of India(2017- ongoing)
  • National Technical Resource Group, Injecting Drug Use - National AIDS Control Organisation, Government of India (2013 - ongoing)
  • Project Selection Committee  for setting up of District De-Addiction Centres (DDACs) under National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR) - Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India (2022-ongoing)
  • Honorary Fellow, School of Criminology, University of Hong Kong (2019-ongoing)
  • Expert committee on “Exploring the possibility of blocking of illicit use of ‘dual use’ precursor chemicals for the manufacture of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and new psychoactive substances”, - Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India (2020-2021)
  • National Consultative Committee on Drug Addiction and Rehabilitation - Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India (2015-2020)
  • Expert Advisory Panel on Drug Dependence - World Health Organization (WHO), Geneva (2012 -2019)
  • Strategic Advisory Group to United Nations, IDU and HIV - UNAIDS, UNODC and WHO (2012-2016)
  • Chairperson, Addictive Disorders Speciality Section, Indian Psychiatric Society (2019-2021)
  • Punjab Drug Addiction Rehabilitation Board, Government of Punjab, India (2018 - 2021)
  • National Task Force for Integrating Mental Health in Comprehensive Primary Health Care – Ministry of health and Family Welfare, Government of India (2018-19)
  • Steering Committee for Alcohol Control and Health – Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India (2014-2016)
  • National Task Force on Drug Demand Reduction and Capacity Building –Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India (2011-12)
  • Governing Body, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur College of Nursing, Delhi University (2021 - ongoing)

Membership Of Professional Societies

  • Addiction Psychiatry Society of India (APSI) – Secretary General
  • American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM)
  • Asia Pacific Society for Alcohol and Addiction Research (APSAAR) – Board of Directors (2017-21)
  • Harm Reduction International (HRI)
  • Indian Association for Social Psychiatry (IASP) – Elected Member, Executive Council (2017-20)
  • Indian Association of Private Psychiatry (IAPP) – Member, National Advisory Board
  • Indian Psychiatric Society (IPS) – Member, Certification and course committee
  • International AIDS Society (IAS)
  • International Doctors for Healthier Drug Policies (IDHDP)
  • International Society for Substance Use Treatment & Prevention Professionals (ISSUP)
  • International Society for the Study of Drug Policy (ISSDP)
  • International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM) – Member, Board of Directors

Membership Of Editorial And Advisory Boards Of Academic Journals

International Consultancies / Expert Services

  • Developing an online training program on ‘Unhealthy Substance Use’ for Primary Care Physicians (for the NCD Academy platform on Mental Health Disorders). Consultancy for World Psychiatric Association (WPA) and American College of Cardiology (ACC) (2021)
  • Demonstration Project on Opioid Substitution with Buprenorphine at Myanmar.Community Partners International (with support fromUSAID and UNAIDS) (2019-ongoing)
  • Drafting thematic chapter of INCB Annual Report 2017 (“Treatment & rehabilitation of drug use disorders: Essential component of demand reduction”).International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), Vienna (2017)
  • Rapid Assessment of Drug Use Pattern in Sri Lanka.Alliance Regional Technical Support Hub South Asia and the National STD/AIDS Control Programme, Sri Lanka (2017-2018)
  • Developing (a) “Standard Policy and Practice Guidelines ” and “Training Manual” and (b) conducting training programmes for Counsellors. National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Government of Nigeria andUNODC, Vienna (2015-2017)
  • Review of Methodology and data on estimates of Injecting Drug Users and HIV service-coverage for World Drug Report 2014.UNODC, Vienna, (2013-2014)
  • Developing a E-health portal on Problem alcohol use in India, [https://www.alcoholwebindia.in ]WHO, Geneva (2010-13)
  • National Drug Use Survey in Maldives. UNODC, Maldives Project Office (2011-2012)
  • Capacity Building on Methadone Maintenance Treatment for service providers from Nepal and Bangladesh.UNODC, ROSA (2010)
  • A Review of OST Programme of Nepal. UNODC, ROSA (2010)

National Consultancies / Expert Services

Training and Capacity Building Consultancies

Research and Evaluation Consultancies

Other Activities

  • Represented Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India as a part of Indian delegation at the Indo-US Counter Narcotics Working Group (CNWG) meeting, New Delhi, July 2022
  • Represented Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India as a part of Indian delegation at the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), Vienna, Mar 2020, April 2021, March 2022, September 2022
  • In-charge (and initiated): Women Substance Use Clinic (every Saturday) at NDDTC, AIIMS.
  • In-charge (and initiated): Community Outreach Clinic, (focused on homeless substance users) Kotla Mubarakpur, New Delhi
  • In-charge: Implementation of the scheme “Strengthening Drug De-Addiction Programme: Establishing Drug Treatment Clinics (DTCs)”, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Details at: http://dtc-scheme.in/
  • In-charge: Implementation of the scheme “Establishing Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs) in government hospitals in India”, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. Details at: https://atf-scheme.in/
  • Organizing Secretary for the 1st National Conference of Addiction Psychiatry Society of India (APSI) – ADDICON 2021, December 2021
  • Organizing Secretary for the National CME, “Emerging Issues in Substance Use Disorders”, AIIMS, New Delhi, July 2017
  • Organizing Secretary for the National CME, “Opioid Substitution Therapy: Policy and Practice”, AIIMS, New Delhi, April 2015
  • Chairperson, Website & IT Committee for the Global congress of International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM 2019)
  • Contributed towards developing the “Substance Use Treatment Unit (SUTU)” at AOD Hospital, Indian Oil Refinery, Digboi, Assam.

Awards and Honours

  • Awarded, Meritorious Award for outstanding contribution for the prevention & control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), April 2022, National Resource Centre for Non- Communicable Diseases, Thiruvalla, Kerala and Alcohol and Drug Information Centre (ADIC)
  • Awarded “ Venus International Medical Award 2019 (VIMA 2019)” for Excellence in Psychiatry, April 2019
  • Awarded “JJ Memorial Oration on Mental Health”: Govt. Grant Medical College, Mumbai, January 2017 (Topic- Alcohol and Public Health: Impact and Solutions)
  • Winner of “ BMJ Awards South Asia 2016” for the category, “Non-Communicable Disease Initiative of the Year”, November 2016
  • Awarded Travel Grant (Scholarship) for the Asia Regional Meeting of International Society for the Study of Drug Policy, Hong Kong (Oct 2019)
  • Awarded Travel Grant (Scholarship) for the Annual Conference of International Society for the Study of Drug Policy, Sydney, Australia, May 2016
  • Any other relevant information:

Presentations made at scientific meetings/ conferences/ workshops (2017 onwards)

  • Opioid Substitution Treatment: Policy and legal considerations. Invited plenary presentation at the ADDICON 2022, Annual conference of Addiction Psychiatry Society of India (APSI), Bengaluru, 3 December 2022
  • Drugs and Children in the context of Right to a drug free childhood. Invited plenary presentation at the conference, “Children Matter” organized by the 4th wave foundation and world federation against drugs, Thiruvananthapuram, 17 Nov 2022
  • Laws and policies related to addiction treatment. Invited plenary presentation at the Annual conference of Indian Association of Private Psychiatry - Haryana, Solan 12 November 2022
  • Overview of drug use and addiction. Invited plenary presentation at the Annual conference of Indian Association of Private Psychiatry - Haryana, Solan 11 November 2022
  • How to address substance use in Mental health programs? Panel discussion as a part of Mental Health Forum 2022, organized by the World Health Organization (Geneva), 10 Oct 2022
  • Challenges in the meaningful involvement of civil society in drug policies. Symposium presentation at ISAM 2022 global congress, Malta, 5 Oct 2022
  • ISAM-GEN Structure and Expert Contact Points: From Individuals to Addiction Societies and Treatment Centers. (With Preethy K). Symposium presentation at ISAM 2022 global congress, Malta, 4 Oct 2022
  • Time for India to End Its War on Drugs? Panel discussion by “Argumentative Indians”, (online), 25 Sep 2022
  • Treatment of Opioid Dependence: Policy and Legal Considerations. CME organized by the Hyderabad Psychiatric Society, Hyderabad, 24 Sep 2022
  • Understanding Drug Use (and how to deal with it?). Online Training on Drug Law Enforcement, organized by National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes and Narcotics (NACIN), Mumbai, 20 Sep 2022
  • Laws and Policies related to Addiction Psychiatry. NationalWebinar presented for the resident doctors of National Board of Examination (DNB-Psychiatry), 14 Sep 2022
  • Substance Use and Suicide. Invited lectureat the Annual National Conference of Society for Rural Mental Health, Solan, 10 Sep 2022
  • Drug Use in India: What role could police play?, Training program Police Officers, Delhi Police Academy New Delhi, 8 Sep 2022
  • Harm Reduction: Concept, Philosophy and application to Tobacco. Round table organized by the Policy Circle, New Delhi 4 Sep 2022
  • Harm Reduction: Opioid Substitution Therapy and Needle Exchange Programs for people who inject drugs. Training program for medical and paramedical staff at Delhi Prisons, New Delhi, 24 August 2022
  • SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS & BIPOLAR DISORDER: Assessment & Management. Invited lecture in the Post Graduate Development Program of Indian Psychiatric Society – North Zone, Srinagar, 21 August 2022
  • Substance Use Disorders & their treatment: Situation in India. Invited presentation in the panel discussion on World Mental Health Report 2022, India International Centre, New Delhi, 12 August 2022
  • Long Acting pharmacological options for opioid dependence: Effectiveness and Ethics. Webinar organized by the Indian Association of Biological Psychiatry (IABP), 5 August 2022
  • Drug Addiction & its treatment: Situation in India. Invited lecture at the conference on “Drug trafficking and National security”, Narcotics Control Bureau, Chandigarh, 31 July 2022
  • Cannabis: The Changing Landscape of Perception and Policies. Invited lecture at GPsyCon 2022, Annual conference of Goa Psychiatric Society, Goa, 23 July 2022
  • Drug Addiction situation & responses in India: Focus on North-East. Invited lecture at North East Police Coordination Committee meeting organized by DG police, Tripura, Agartala, 22 July 2022
  • Nasha – Ek Bimari. Ilaaj hai zaroori. Panel discussion organised by the Public Health Dept., Govt. of Maharashtra and Indian Psychiatric Society, West Zone, Mumbai, 17 July 2022, online
  • Drug Addiction & Drug Laws: The interface. ‘Core Competence Conference on Knowledge, Skills & Perspective Development for Special Judges – NDPS Act’, Delhi Judicial Academy, New Delhi, 16 July 2022
  • Treatment of Opioid Dependence: Policy and Legal Issues. CME on addiction psychiatry organized by AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, 10 July 2022
  • Indo-Us Enhanced cooperation related to substance use prevention, treatment and rehabilitation. Presented on behalf of MoH&FW, Govt. of India at India-US Counter-Narcotics Working Group (CNWG), meeting; New Delhi, 7 July, 2022
  • Facts about drug use and addiction. E-SYMPOISUM on Trends in Narcotic Drugs Psychotropic Substances, organized by the Forensic Science laboratory, Govt of Delhi; 27 June 2022; online
  • Recent Policy Update in Decriminalisation of Drug Use.  CME - 'Recent Advances in Addiction Psychiatry’ organized by AIIMS Jodhpur; 26 June 2022, online
  • Substance Use: Government Policies and Laws.  Capacity Building Program for Govt. college teachers (Assistant professor level) of social sciences; NDDTC AIIMS; Ghaziabad, 18 June 2022 
  • Substance Abuse & Alcohol Addiction: Deciphering its Impact on the Mental Health of Adolescents & Young Adults. Panel discussion (webinar) organized by the Asia Society India; 25 May 2022, online
  • Magnitude of drug use in India & our drug policies. Panel discussion on the occasion of inauguration of National Resource Centre on NCDs; 28 April 2022; Thiuvalla, Kerala.
  • Epidemiological research on substance use in India. Lessons from the field. Webinar on ‘Innovations in Addictions Research in India’ organized by Sangath, Goa; 21 April 2022; online
  • Substance Use: Attitudes, Policies and Stigma in India. Annual Conference of American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), 15 April 2022; online
  • Use of addictive substances: Myths and facts. World Health Day event for students and resident doctors at AIIMS, New Delhi, 7 April 2022; New Delhi
  • Brief Interventions for Tobacco and Alcohol use disorders. 7th International Course on Public Health Approaches to Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs), organized by Centre for Community Medicine, AIIMS New Delhi in partnership with World NCD Federation and World Health Organization (WHO); 7 April 2022; New Delhi
  • NDPS Act and the Psychiatrist. Panel discussion moderated at the national CME during the Annual National Conference of Indian Psychiatric Society (ANCIPS); 24Mar 2022; Vishakhapatnam
  • Amendments in the NDPS Act. Panel discussion and workshop organized by the Department of Revenue, Min. of Finance, Government of India; 9 Mar 2022; New Delhi
  • Decriminalization of drug use- Need of the hour. CME organized by the Indian Psychiatric Society North Zone; 9 Feb 2022; Online
  • Drug Addiction among children. Training workshop organized by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Govt of India and National Commission for protection of child rights (NCPCR); 8 Feb 2022; Online
  • Magnitude of drug use in India. Training workshop organized by Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Govt of India and National Commission for protection of child rights (NCPCR); 8 Feb 2022; Online
  • The International Scheduling System for Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances: Implications for South Asia. Conference of SAARC Psychiatric Federation (SPF), Kolkata, 18 December 2021
  • Newer Pharmacotherapies for treatment of opioid dependence: Evidence and Ethics. Annual meeting of Indonesian Psychiatric Association, 5 December 2021
  • The International Scheduling System for Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances: Does It Need an Overhaul?. Plenary lecture in ISAM 2021 Global congress, 21 Nov 2021
  • India: COVID19, Lockdown & Addiction Treatment. Symposium in ISAM 2021 Global congress 21 Nov 2021
  • Newer Pharmacotherapies for treatment of opioid dependence: A Critique. Annual conference of East Zone Indian Psychiatric Society 12 Nov 2021
  • Management of Alcohol Use Disorders in medical settings. Conference of IMA West Zone, 12 Oct 2021
  • Leveraging Information Technology for capacity building in Addiction Treatment. CME organized by IPS West Zone 9 Oct 2021
  • Newer Pharmacotherapies for treatment of opioid dependence: Evidence and Ethics. Annual conference by UP IPS, 25 Sep 2021
  • E-Health Screening & Brief Interventions: Implications for LAMI countries. Plenary lecture in INEBRIA conference, 24 Sep 2021
  • The Genesis of APSI. Symposium presented in WASP 2021, 16 Sep 2021
  • ICD – 11 classification for substance use and addictive behaviors. National CME organized by PGIMER Chandigarh, 15 Sep 2021
  • Opioid Dependence: An overview of management. National Workshop organized by Dept of Addiction Medicine, LGBRIMH, Tezpur, 4 Sep 2021
  • Substance Use Disorders: A public health concern. Guest lecture (online) delivered for the faculty and students from Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune, 12 August 2021
  • Facts about drugs and addiction. Lecture delivered to the senior officials on Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), on the occasion of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, 30 June 2021
  • National Policies and Programmes on treatment of substance use disorders. Webinar organized by the Nursing Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India on the occasion of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, 26 June 2021
  • The International Framework for Drug Control. Webinar organized by the Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP) on the occasion of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, 26 June 2021
  • Laws and Policies related to Addiction Psychiatry. Online CME organized by AIIMS, Nagpur on the occasion of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, 26 June 2021
  • Opioid Agonist Treatment: Evidence for effectiveness in Opioid Use Disorders. Webinar organized by the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, GMC, Srinagar J&K, on the occasion of International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, 25 June 2021
  • Why India does not have an overdose crisis (so far)? Workshop delivered (online) in the International conference ‘Let’s talk overdose’ organized by the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, 23 June 2021
  • India, COVID19 and Addictions. International conference on Technology Addiction, organized by Turkish Green Crescent Society, online, 2 June 2021
  • Cannabis: the changing landscape of perceptions and policies. CME of Indian Psychiatric Society – South Zone, online – 24 April 2021
  • Addiction treatment services duringCOVID19 in India. Side event during the CND meeting (virtual), organized by the International Doctors on Healthier Drug Policies (IDHDP) – 12 April 2021
  • Addictions To Cyberspace & Their Management. Delivered at CME organized by the Indian Psychiatric Society – West Zone, Online – 11 April 2021
  • Brief interventions and MET in substance use disorders. ‘Thursday Musings’ webinar series organized by the Indian Psychiatric Society – Odisha branch, 18 March 2021 
  • Treatment of Substance Use Disorders. National Webinar on ‘Dimensions of Social Defence & Linkages with SDGs’ organized by the FORE school of management, 24 February 2021
  • Epidemiology of Substance Use. PG Development program organized by the Indian Psychiatric Society – Central Zone, 20 February 2021
  • Drug Addiction: An overview and strategies for management. Forensic and Technical Course on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances for Sri Lankan Police officers, organized by the Central Academy of Police Training, 12 February 2021
  • Newer Technologies for treatment of opioid dependence: Evidence and Ethics. Annual National conference of Indian Association of Biological Psychiatry, 7 February 2021
  • ICD-11 Disorder related to Substance Use and Addictive Behaviour: Field Trial India. National CME organized by the Addiction Psychiatry Society of India (APSI), 31 January 2021
  • Harm Reduction: Concept, Philosophy and application to Tobacco. Webinar organized by the Association for Harm Reduction Education and Research, 19 January 2021
  • Cannabis Policies: The Way forward. Webinar organized by Indian Psychiatric Society, West Bengal, 17 January 2021
  • Evidence Based Treatment of Cannabis Dependence. Webinar organized by the Behavioural and Neuroscience Academy of India, 5 January 2021
  • COVID19 pandemic: Impact on Addiction Psychiatry. Annual National Conference of Indian Association of Private Psychiatry, 5 December 2020
  • Opioid Use Epidemic in India: Changing Pattern and Policy Implications. Keynote address delivered in the ISAM Asia Regional conference, 5 December 2020
  • Medicolegal issues with reference to NDPS & MHCA in management of Substance Use Disorders. Webinar organized by Indian Psychiatric Society, 27 October 2020
  • Public health and addictive drugs: Laws and Policies: What works and What doesn’t. Webinar organized by Meghalaya legal services authority and Government of Meghalaya on Mental health day, 9 October 2020
  • SUBSTANCE USE IN NAGALAND. State level consultation organized by Kripa Foundation, Nagaland, 4 August 2020
  • Laws and Policies related to Addiction Psychiatry. Webinar organized by Kolkata Psychiatry Club and Indian Psychiatric Society, West Bengal. 26 July 2020
  • Opioid Substitution Treatment : An Overview. Webinar organized by Indian Psychiatric Society, Odisha, 26 July 2020
  • Benzodiazepine use disorders in clinical practice. Webinar organized by the Indian Psychiatric Society, Karnataka Chapter, 2 July 2020
  • India: COVID19, Lockdown and Addictions. Webinar organized by Govt. of NCT of Delhi, 26 June 2020
  • India: COVID19, Lockdown and Addictions. Webinar organized by International Society of Addiction Medicine, 20 May 2020
  • Services for Drug Use among youth. Moderated the Panel Discussion, during the Indo Scotland Mental Health Conclave, New Delhi, 29 January 2020
  • Alcohol: Evidence for impact of Prohibition. National Conference ‘From Neurons to Neighbourhood’, by Sun Pharma Research Foundation, New Delhi, 27 January 2010
  • Magnitude of drug use in India and the existing policy and program framework for response: A road map for evidence-informed drug supply control and demand reduction, Symposium deliveredat the Annual National Conference of Indian Psychiatric Society (ANCIPS), Kolkata, 24 January 2020
  • Behavioural Addiction: A Primer for Mental Health Professionals, workshop conducted at the National CME during the Annual National Conference of Indian Psychiatric Society (ANCIPS), Kolkata, 22 January 2020
  • Pharmaceutical drug addiction. Training workshop for Police officers from Sri Lanka, National Academy of Customs, Indirect Tax and Narcotics (NACIN), Faridabad, 20 January 2020
  • Classification of Psychoactive Substances: Based on Science? CME of Addictive Disorder Specialty section, Indian Psychiatric Society, Mumbai, 5 January 2020
  • Substance Use Disorders: An Overview. Workshop for undergraduate Medicalstudents of Rajasthan, Jaipur, 21 December 2019
  • Opioid Substitution Treatment: An Overview. National Consultation on OST, Yangon, Myanmar, 11 December 2019
  • Long term pharmacotherapy for alcohol use disorders. CME of Indian Psychiatric Society, West Zone, Goa, 7 December 2019
  • Pharmaceutical drug use disorders. Training workshop for Drug Law Enforcement officers from Afghanistan, National Academy of Customs, Indirect Tax and Narcotics (NACIN), Faridabad, 5 December 2019
  • Debate: OST is the most evidence-based, ethical and appropriate treatment for opioid dependence (For). PSCHIATRICKS, New Delhi, 24 November 2019
  • Drug Laws and Policies: International trends. Annual Conference of Indian Psychiatric Society, North Zone, Amritsar, 3 November 2019
  • Concept and Philosophy of Drug Harm Reduction: Application in India. Stakeholder consultation on substance use harm reduction, Knowledge Action Change, New Delhi, 17 October 2019
  • A Road map for evidence informed drug supply control response in India. Asia Regional Meeting of International Society for the Study of Drug Policy, Hong Kong, 15 October 2019
  • Drug Use Situation in India. Conference on Comprehensive Approach to Combating Illicit Trafficking of Afghan Opiates and Drug Situation in North East, Imphal, 30 September 2019
  • Drug Policy responses in India. Asian Regional Forum Against Drugs, Kochi, 25 September 2019
  • Outpatient management of Opioid Dependence. Annual National Conference of Indian Association for Biological Psychiatry, Agra, 20 September 2019
  • Drug Testing: A new harm reduction intervention at the interface of Toxicology and Addiction Psychiatry. Conference of Indian Association of Medico Legal Experts and Medico Legal Conference Nepal, Kathmandu, 13 September 2019
  • Integrated Package Of Services For Injecting Drug Users. National consultation organized by NACO, Govt. of India, New Delhi, 3 September 2019
  • Size estimation of Injecting Drug Users in India. Meeting of Technical Experts organized by NACO, Govt. of India, 26 August 2019
  • Substance Use and Sexual Dysfunction. National Mid Term CME of Indian Psychiatric Society, Mysore, 10 August 2019
  • Substance Use situation in India: evidence-informed prevention strategies. National workshop on Substance Use Prevention for State Council of Education Research and Training (SCERTs), New Delhi, 2 August 2019
  • Drug Use in India: What role could police play?, Orientation program on National Action Plan for Police key coordinators, New Delhi, 18 June 2019
  • Preventing Substance Use: What Works, What doesn’t. AnnualCME of Indian Psychiatric Society – West Zone, Nashik, 27 April 2019
  • Magnitude of Substance Use in India. Regional Consultation on Drug Use organized by United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, New Delhi, 24 April 2019
  • Epidemiology of Substance Use in India. CME of Society for Rural Mental Health, Hisar, 21 April 2019
  • National Drug Use Survey: “Magnitude of Substance Use in India”. Annual Meeting of Narcotics Coordinaton NARCORD, Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi 12 March 2019
  • Preventing Substance Use: What Works, What doesn’t. Annual Psychology Festival, Aryabhata College, Delhi University, New Delhi, 1 March 2019
  • Magnitude of Substance Use in India. National Conference of Principle Secretaries of State Governments, organized by MoSJE, Govt. of India, 26 February 2019
  • Drug Use situation in India. training programme for Drug Law Enforcement officers from NCB, National Academy of Customs, Indirect Tax and Narcotics (NACIN), New Delhi, 25 February 2019
  • Magnitude of Substance Use in India. Panel Discussion on ‘10 years of Drug Policy in Asia: How far we have come?’ New Delhi, 20 February 2019
  • Drug Abuse scenario in India, vulnerable population and treatment services. Interactive Workshop under National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction organized by the National Institute of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Hyderabad, 1 February 2019
  • Management of Opioid Dependence. CME update organized by the Jammu and Kashmir Psychiatric Society, Jammu, 18 January 2019
  • Drug Use and HIV: Interface with Law enforcement: National Consultation with Police Training Academies, Organized by NACO, Govt. of India, New Delhi, 10 January 2019
  • Opioid Pharmaceuticals: Policy and legal issues. Indian Pharmaceutical Congress, NOIDA, 22 December 2018
  • Policy and legal issues related to Opioid analgesics in palliative care and addiction treatment. Workshop “opioids in palliative care” organized by FDA, Punjab, Chandigarh, 18 Dec 2018
  • Preventing Substance Use: What Works, What Doesn’t. National CME of Preventive Psychiatry Section of Indian Psychiatric Society, Patna, 8 December 2018
  • Abuse of Pharmaceutical drugs in India. training programme for Drug Law Enforcement officers from Myanmar, National Academy of Customs, Indirect Tax and Narcotics (NACIN), Faridabad, 6 December 2018
  • Opioid Substitution Treatment (OST) is the Best strategy for management of Opioid Use Disorders. (Debate – For). National Conference of Indian Association of Private Psychiatry (ANCIAPP), Hyderabad, 1 December 2018
  • Intervention Strategies for Alcohol Use Disorders. National Conference of Indian Society of Gastroentrology, Kochi, 30 November 2018
  • Drug Laws and Policies. What Works and What Doesn’t. Law Economics Policy Conference (LEPC 2018), organized by the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP), New Delhi, 27 November 2018
  • Addiction in North East: Opportunities, Challenges and the way forward. North East Health Care Leadership Summit 2018, Shillong, 29 October 2018
  • Mental Health Care Act (MHCA) 2017: Implications for Addiction Treatment in India. Annual Conference of Indian Psychiatric Society – Rajasthan State, Bikaner, 20 October 2018
  • Treatment of Opioid Dependence: Policy and Legal Issues. National conference of Society for Rural Mental Health, Karnal, 29 September 2018
  • Pharmaceutical drug use – South Asia, training programme for officers from Department of Narcotics Control, Bangladesh, National Academy of Customs, Indirect Tax and Narcotics (NACIN), Faridabad, 26 September 2018
  • Drug Laws and Policies: Scientific arguments for criminalization and De-Criminalization. training programme for judiciary, Delhi Judicial Academy, 15 September 2018
  • Sleep and Opioids: Neurobiology and clinical aspects. Global Conference of Biological Psychiatry, Mumbai, 25 August 2018
  • Changing legal and policy scenario for drugs: Implications for Psychiatrists. Mid Tem CME of IPS East Zone, Dibrugarh, 18 August 2018
  • Cannabis: From Neurobiology to Policy. Mid Tem CME of IPS East Zone, Dibrugarh, 18 August 2018
  • Data collection and analysis for Drug Use Epidemiology: An overview. Training Programme on “Planning and Designing of large scale sample surveys” for officers of Indian Statistical Service, National Statistical Systems Training Academy (NSSTA), Greater Noida, 19 June 2018
  • Economic Cost (and benefit) of Scale-up of Opioid Substitution Treatment in National AIDS Control Program, India: Comparison of three scenarios. Conference of International Society for the Study of Drug Policy (ISSDP 2018), Vancouver, Canada, 17 May 2018
  • Cannabis: The Final Word, RISE 2018, organized the Behavioural and Neurosciences Academy of India, Goa, 11 May 2018
  • National Drug Use Survey: An Overview. Delivered at National Conference of Drug Law Enforcement agencies, 24 March 2018, New Delhi
  • Alcohol Use Disorder: Demand Reduction Strategies. Delivered at South East Asia Region course on Public Health Approaches for Non-Communicable Disease, 21 March 2018, New Delhi
  • Opioid Substitution Treatment: An Overview of Theory and Evidence Base, Workshop organized by National STD AIDS Control Program, Government of Sri Lanka, Colombo, 27 February 2018
  • An Overview of Drug Use Disorders. Training programme for Drug Law Enforcement officers from Government of Myanmar, Narcotics Control Bureaue, New Delhi, 23 February 2018
  • Pharmaceutical drug use – South Asia, training programme for officers from Department of Narcotics Control, Bangladesh, National Academy of Customs, Indirect Tax and Narcotics (NACIN), Faridabad, 13 December 2017
  • Drug Use Epidemiology: Methodological Issues. Training Programme on “Advanced Sampling Techniques” for officers of Indian Statistical Service, National Statistical Systems Training Academy (NSSTA), Greater Noida, 7 Dec 2017
  • Co-morbid Cannabis Use Disorder and Gaming Disorder, Fourth WHO meeting on Public health Implications of Addictive Behaviors, Istanbul, Turkey, 1 December 2017
  • Trends in Drug Laws and Policies. National Conference of Addiction Psychiatry, AIIMS, New Delhi, 27 November 2017
  • Issues related to Pharmaceutical drugs Abuse, training programme for Drug Law enforcement officers from Tanzania, National Academy of Customs, Indirect Tax and Narcotics (NACIN), Faridabad, 10 November 2017
  • Cannabis Dependence: Neurobiology and treatment approaches. Annual Conference of Indian Association for Biological Psychiatry, Chandigarh, 19 August 2017
  • Beyond Alcohol: Issues and Strategies, meeting of Indian Psychiatric Society, Bihar (in the wake of alcohol prohibition), Patna, 24 July 2017
  • Alcohol Control: Identifying opportunities for civil society action in the current policy context. National Civil Society Consultation on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in India, New Delhi, 11 July, 2017
  • Abuse of Pharmaceutical drugs, training programme for Drug Law enforcement officers, National Academy of Customs, Excise and Narcotics (NACEN), Faridabad, 31 May 2017
  • Do drug policies impede the availability of treatment of opioid dependence in India (and more so for non-injecting opioid users)? Analysis of epidemiological data from Punjab, India, International Society for the Study of Drug Policy Conference 2017 (ISSDP 2017), Aarhus, Denmark, 16 May 2017
  • Can economic analysis of household income and expenditure inform alcohol policies? Analysis of household data from nationally representative sample from India, International Society for the Study of Drug Policy Conference 2017 (ISSDP 2017), Aarhus, Denmark, 17 May 2017
  • Managing Pain in Palliative care with Opioids: Perspective of an Addiction Treatment Provider, Annual Conference on Indian Association of Palliative Care, Coimbatore, 11 February 2017
  • Alcohol and Public Health: Impact and Solutions. JJ Memorial oration on mental health, delivered at Govt. Grants Medical College, Mumbai, 24 January 2017
  • National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India: Methodology and Operational Issues, Annual National Conference of Indian Psychiatric Society, Raipur, 6 Jan 2017

Investigator/ Co-investigator in funded projects along with year completed/ongoing

As Principal Investigator

  • National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance use in India, Supported by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India (2016-2021)
  • Development and evaluation of service delivery models for management of substance use disorders among the homeless population receiving urban shelter services in Delhi, Supported by the Department of Women and Child Development, Government of NCT of Delhi (2021 – ongoing)
  • Establishing Addiction Treatment Facilities in Government Health care settings, Supported by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India (2019-ongoing)
  • Field Testing of ICD-11 Classification for Disorders related to Substance Use and Addictive Behaviours, Supported by WHO (Geneva), (2018-2020)
  • Developing Training Mechanisms for use of Essential Narcotic Drugs (Methadone) for the treatment of Opioid Dependence, Supported by the Dept. of Revenue, Government of India (2017 – ongoing)
  • Effectiveness of the revised version of DrinkLess – A Web based self help intervention to reduce alcohol consumption in harmful hazardous drinkers: A Transnational RCT. Supported by World Health Organization (Geneva). (2016-ongoing)
  • Punjab Opioid Dependence Survey, supported by the Society for Promotion of Youth and Masses (SPYM), with financial support from Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India (2014 – 2015)
  • Development of an online training programme on Opioid Substitution Therapy, Project supported by Public Health Foundation of India (2014 – 2017)
  • Post Marketing Surveillance of Methadone in India, Project supported by the Rusan Pharma (2013 – 2014)
  • Drug Use Pattern Assessment in Bihar, Haryana and Uttarakhand, project supported by India HIV/AIDS Alliance and NACO (2013 – 2014)
  • Opioid Substitution Therapy under the National AIDS Control Program: A situation Assessment, supported by GFATM Round 9 grant and NACO, 2012
  • Risk of Transition to Injecting Drug Use among non-injecting opioid users: A Multi-site study in Northwest India, supported by Regional Resource Training Centre, MoSJE, Government of India (2012)
  • A pilot study of feasibility and efficacy of Brief intervention compared with Simple Advice when linked to the Brief ASSIST for Substance Use Disorders in Primary Health Care and Community Settings: Project of University of Adelaide, WHO Collaborating Centre, (2011)

As Co-Investigator

  • Experience of Patients on Methadone Maintenance Treatment receiving Take-Home Methadone doses during COVID-19 pandemic In India: A mixed-method study. Investigators:Ravindra Rao, Atul Ambekar, Rakesh Chadda, Alok Agrawal, Roshan Bhad (2021 – ongoing)
  • Establishing and Implementing Capacity Building Mechanisms for Addiction Treatment Facilities in India Investigators: Alok Agrawal, Atul Ambekar, Rakesh Chadda, Roshan Bhad, Ravindra Rao, (2019-ongoing)
  • Field Testing of International Standards for Treatment of Drug Use Disorders, Investigators: Rakesh Chadda, Atul Ambekar, Roshan Bhad, Ravindra Rao, Alok Agrawal (2017 – 2019)
  • Rapid Assessment of Drug Use Patterns (RADUP) among People Who Use and/or Inject Drugs (PWUD/PWID) in Sri Lanka, Investigators: Sathya Herath, Atul Ambekar (2017-2018)
  • Mapping and size estimation of drug using street children in Delhi. Investigators: Anju Dhawan, Atul Ambekar, Ashwani Mishra, Rachna Bhargava, Biswadip Chatterjee, Alok Agrawal, 2015 – 2016
  • Workplace intervention for Drug and Alcohol use at Indian Oil Refinery, Digboi, Assam, Investigators: Prof Rajat Ray, Atul Ambekar, Rakesh Lal, Deepak Yadav (2010-ongoing)
  • Methadone Maintenance Treatment in India: A multi-site feasibility and effectiveness study. Investigators: Anju Dhawan, Atul Ambekar, Rajat Ray, Deepak Yadav, Anita Chopra, Raka Jain 2011 – 2014
  • OST program in Government health-care settings: treatment compliance and retention’, Investigators: Deepak Yadav, Atul Ambekar, Anju Dhawan, Alok Agrawal, Jyoti Mehra, Hem Sethi, report submitted to DFID TAST and NACO, Government of India
  • Mapping and size estimation of High Risk Groups in Jammu and Kashmir and Tripura, in collaboration with Society for Promotion of Youth and Masses, New Delhi, conducted for and report submitted to National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), New Delhi, 2008
  • A Rapid situation assessment of inhalant use among street children in Delhi and development of an intervention, Investigators: Rajat Ray, Anju Dhawan, Atul Ambekar, Deepak Yadav, Anita Chopra, 2008-2009
  • Developing community-based drug treatment services at four districts in the country – Mandsaur, MP, Bilaspur, Chattisgarh, Meerut, UP and Morigaon, Assam, Investigators: Rajat Ray, Atul Ambekar, Rakesh Lal, Deepak Yadav, Anita Chopra, 2008-2013

Investigator/Co-investigator in non-funded projects along with year and title completed/ongoing

Thesis supervised for MD/ DM/PhD

- as guide: 12

-as co-guide: 23

Details of publications since 2010 onwards (the full citation)- these should be divided into journal articles (peer reviewed publications) and books/monographs/project reports/ proceedings from workshops (non-peer reviewed publications):

Papers And Articles (In Peer Reviewed Scientific Journals)

  • Teck JTW, Zlatkute G, Perez A, Dritschel H, Ghosh A, Potenza MN, Ambekar A, Ekhtiari H, Stein D, Khazaal Y, Arunogiri S, Torrens M, Ferri M, Galea-Singer S, Baldacchino A. Key implementation factors in telemedicine-delivered medications for opioid use disorder: a scoping review informed by normalisation process theory. Lancet Psychiatry. 2023 Jan;10(1):50-64. 
  • Forget P, Patullo C, Hill D, Ambekar A, Baldacchino A, Cata J, et al (2022). System-level policies on appropriate opioid use, a multi-stakeholder consensus. BMC Health Serv Res. 2022 Mar 12;22(1):329. doi: 10.1186/s12913-022-07696-x
  • Ambekar A (2022). Decriminalisation of drug use in India: A long overdue legal reform (editorial). Ind J Soc Psy. 2022, 38(3): 209-212. DOI: 10.4103/ijsp.ijsp_183_22
  • Ambekar A, Gautam M, Matcheswalla Y, Kar S, Kadam K (2022). Medicolegal Issues with Reference to NDPS and MHCA in Management and Rehabilitation of Persons with Substance Use Disorders. Indian J Psychiatry 2022 Mar;64(Suppl 1):S146-S153. doi: 10.4103/indianjpsychiatry.indianjpsychiatry_724_21
  • Quraishi R, Varshney M, Rao RV, Ambekar A (2022). Evaluation of alcohol use pattern among OST patients using alcohol biomarkers: Report from community clinics in India. Indian J Psychiatry 2022 May-Jun;64(3):312-315
  • Singh R, Gupta R, Grover T, Ambekar A, Jain R, Vaswani M, Mishra A, Sharma A. Role of the Serotonin and GABAA Receptor Gene Polymorphisms in patients with Alcohol Dependence. Asian J Psychiatry,  2022 Nov 12;80:103326. doi: 10.1016/j.ajp.2022.103326.
  • Quraishi R, Sarkar S, Parmar A, Jain R, Das BK, Ambekar A (2022). Exploring the clinical variables among drug-dependent HIV-Positive patients: Implications for treatment strategies. Indian J Public Health 2022 Jul-Sep;66(3):331-333.
  • Choudhary N, Singh S, Rathore P, Ambekar A, Bhatnagar S (2021). Opioid Use Disorders among patients on long-term morphine for management for chronic cancer pain: A pilot study from a tertiary palliative care facility. Indian Journal of Palliative Care, 27(2); 264-268
  • Saini R, Parmar A, Rao R, Mishra AK, Ambekar A, Agrawal A (2021). Psychiatric and Substance Use Comorbidities among People who Inject Drugs in India: A Cross-Sectional, Community-Based Study. World Soc Psychiatry 2021;3:195-202.
  • Singh A, Rao R, Chatterjee B, Mishra AK, Kaloiya G, Ambekar A (2021). Cognitive functioning in patients maintained on buprenorphine at peak and trough buprenorphine levels: An experimental study, Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 61, 102697, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2021.102697
  • Singh et al (India State-Level Disease Burden Initiative Neurological Disorders Collaborators) (2021). The burden of neurological disorders across the states of India: the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990–2019. The Lancet Global Health, https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(21)00164-9
  • Schaub MP, Tiburcio M, Martínez-Vélez N, Ambekar A, Bhad R, Wenger A, Baumgartner C, Padruchny D, Osipchik S, Poznyak V, Rekve D, Landi Moraes F, Monezi Andrade AL, Oliveira Souza-Formigoni ML; WHO E-Health Project On Alcohol And Health Investigators Group (2021).  The Effectiveness of a Web-Based Self-Help Program to Reduce Alcohol Use Among Adults With Drinking Patterns Considered Harmful, Hazardous, or Suggestive of Dependence in Four Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Randomized Controlled Trial. J Med Internet Res. 2021 Aug 27;23(8):e21686. doi: 10.2196/21686.
  • Quraishi R, Sharma J, Jain R, Ambekar A (2021). Influence of catechol‑O‑methyltransferase enzyme gene polymorphism on alcohol and tobacco consumption in North Indian treatment seeking population. Indian J Psychiatry 2021;63:240-4
  • Manomy PA, Yenamandra VK, Dabas G, Joshi P, Ambekar A, Sreenivas V, Sharma VK, Vatsa M, Ravindran S, Sethuraman (2021). Impact of a psychodermatological education package on the subjective distress, family burden, and quality of life among the primary caregivers of children affected with epidermolysis bullosa. Indian Dermatol Online J 2021;12:276-80.
  • Chawla N, Verma S, Ganesh R, Sarkar S & Ambekar A (2021). Sexual relationship, self-esteem, dysfunction, and sexual satisfaction in treatment naïve men with heroin dependence. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2020.1870779
  • Castro‐Calvo, J., King, D. L., Stein, D. J., Brand, M., Carmi, L., Chamberlain, S. R., Demetrovics, Z., Fineberg, N. A., Rumpf, H.‐J., Yücel, M., Achab, S., Ambekar, A., Bahar, N., Blaszczynski, A., Bowden‐Jones, H., Carbonell, X., Chan, E. M. L., Ko, C.‐H., de Timary, P., Dufour, M., Grall‐Bronnec, M., Lee, H. K., Higuchi, S., Jimenez‐Murcia, S., Király, O., Kuss, D. J., Long, J., Müller, A., Pallanti, S., Potenza, M. N., Rahimi‐Movaghar, A., Saunders, J. B., Schimmenti, A., Lee, S.‐Y., Siste, K., Spritzer, D. T., Starcevic, V., Weinstein, A. M., Wölfling, K., and Billieux, J. (2021) Expert appraisal of criteria for assessing gaming disorder: An international Delphi study. Addiction, https://doi.org/10.1111/add.15411.
  • Radfar SR, De Jong CAJ, Farhoudian A, Ebrahimi M, Rafei P, Vahidi M, Yunesian M, Kouimtsidis C, Arunogiri S, Massah O, Deylamizadeh A, Brady KT, Busse A; ISAM-PPIG Global Survey Consortium, Potenza MN, Ekhtiari H, Baldacchino AM (2021). Reorganization of Substance Use Treatment and Harm Reduction Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Global Survey. Front Psychiatry. 2021 Apr 29;12:639393. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.639393. PMID: 34025471; PMCID: PMC8135096.
  • Farhoudian A, Radfar SR, Mohaddes Ardabili H, Rafei P, Ebrahimi M, Khojasteh Zonoozi A, De Jong CAJ, Vahidi M, Yunesian M, Kouimtsidis C, Arunogiri S, Hansen H, Brady KT; ISAM Global Survey Consortium (ISAM-GSC), Potenza MN, Baldacchino AM, Ekhtiari H (2021). A Global Survey on Changes in the Supply, Price, and Use of Illicit Drugs and Alcohol, and Related Complications During the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic.Front Psychiatry. 2021 Aug 6;12:646206. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.646206. PMID: 34421664; PMCID: PMC8377291.
  • Mohan, A., & Ambekar, A. (2020). Telepsychiatry and Addiction Treatment.Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 42(5_suppl), 52S-56S. https://doi.org/10.1177/0253717620958169
  • Sartaj D, Krishnan V, Rao R, Ambekar A, Dhingra N, Sharan P. (2020). Mental illnesses and related vulnerabilities in the Hijra community: A cross-sectional study from India.Int J Soc Psychiatry. 2020 Aug 20:20764020950775. doi: 10.1177/0020764020950775.
  • Gupta R, Grover S, Basu A, Krishnan V, Tripathi A, Subramanyam A, Nischal A, Hussain A, Mehra A, Ambekar A, Saha G, Mishra KK, Bathla M, Jagiwala M, Manjunatha N, Nebhinani N, Gaur N, Kumar N, Dalal PK, Kumar P, Midha PK, Daga R, Tikka SK, Praharaj SK, Goyal SK, Kanchan S, Sarkar S, Das S, Sarkhel S, Padhy SK, Sahoo S, Satyanarayana Rao TS, Dubey V, Menon V, Chhabra V, Lahan V, Avasthi A (2020). Changes in sleep pattern and sleep quality during COVID-19 lockdown.Indian J Psychiatry. 2020 Jul-Aug;62(4):370-378. doi: 10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_523_20
  • Grover T, Gupta R, Arora G, Bal CS, Ambekar A, Basu Ray S, Vaswani M, Sharma A (2020).Dopamine transporter availability in alcohol and opioid dependent subjects - a 99m Tc-TRODAT-1SPECT imaging and genetic association study.Psychiatry Res Neuroimaging. 2020 Sep 10;305:111187. doi: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2020.111187
  • Dhagudu, N.K., Ambekar, A., Agrawal, A., Rao, R., Mishra, A.K., Jain, R. and Singh, S (2020). Is there enough naloxone to deter the diversion? Effect of concurrent administration of intravenous naloxone on opioid agonist effects of intravenous buprenorphine: A randomised, double‐blind, within‐subject, crossover study among opioid‐dependent subjects.Drug Alcohol Rev. 2020; 39: 595-603 doi:10.1111/dar.13057
  • Sagar R et al (India State-Level Disease Burden Initiative Mental Disorders Collaborators) (2020). The burden of mental disorders across the states of India: the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990–2017,The Lancet Psychiatry; 7 (2): 148-161
  • Rao R, Panda U, Gupta SK, Ambekar A, Gupta S, Agrawal A (2020). Portrayal of alcohol in Bollywood movies: A mixed methods study.Indian J Psychiatry, 62(2): 159-166
  • Goyal SG, Ambekar A, Jain R, Mehta M, Mishra AK (2020). Intravenous buprenorphine does not impair psychomotor and cognitive functioning in opioid-dependent patients using oral dextropropoxyphene: A randomized, double-blind, crossover study.J Mental Health Hum Behav 2020;25:45-52
  • Chawla N, Verma S, Sarkar S, Ambekar A (2020). Assessment of sexual behavior among patients seeking treatment for opioid dependence and their knowledge and attitude about high-risk sexual behavior: A cross-sectional observational study.Indian J Soc Psychiatry 2020;36:29-36
  • Vishwakarma A, Tarwani J, Chawla N, Dayal P, Agrawal A, Mandal P & Ambekar A (2020) Mephentermine dependence with induced psychosis: a series of two cases, Journal of Substance Use, 25:6, 569-571, DOI: 10.1080/14659891.2020.1749949
  • Rao R, Gupta SK, Swaminathan P, Gupta V, Dhawan A, Agrawal A & Ambekar A (2020) Predictors of long-term retention on opioid agonist treatment with buprenorphine: a 6-year, community-based retrospective cohort study in India, Journal of Substance Use, 25:5, 489-494, DOI: 10.1080/14659891.2020.1736666
  • Gupta S, Lal R, Ambekar A, Mishra AK, Rao R (2020). The pattern of alcohol use and its relationship with consequences among problem alcohol users: A community-based cross-sectional study from India. Indian J Psychiatry. 2020;62(2):152‐158. doi:10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_194_19
  • Srivastava P, Mehta M, Sagar R, Ambekar A. Smartteen- a computer assisted cognitive behavior therapy for Indian adolescents with depression- a pilot study. Asian J Psychiatr. 2020;50:101970. doi:10.1016/j.ajp.2020.101970
  • Dhawan A, Mishra AK, Ambekar A, Chatterjee B, Agrawal A, Bhargava R (2020). Estimating the size of substance using street children in Delhi using Respondent-Driven Sampling (RDS),Asian Journal of Psychiatry: 48 (2020) 101890
  • Ambekar A, Mishra A, Parmar A, Kumar R, Kumar M, Rao R, Agrawal A (2019), Are non-injecting opioid users at risk of transition to injecting drug use? A multi-site study from India Asian Journal of Psychaitry, 42:79-84.
  • Jyani G, Prinja S, Ambekar A, Bahuguna P, Kumar R (2019). Health impact and economic burden of alcohol consumption in IndiaInternational Journal of Drug Policy, 69; 34-42
  • Kathiresan P, Ambekar A, Sarkar S. (2019). Opioid Substitution Treatment Using Buprenorphine for Management of Dependence on Natural Opioids: Case Series,Indian J Psychol Med 11;41(6):586-588
  • Sood A, Mishra A, Ambekar A (2019), Trends in alcohol consumption and expenditure: Analysis of household data from nationally representative sample from India,Asian Journal of Psychaitry, 22;40:116-123.
  • Saini R, Rao R, Parmar A, Mishra AK, Ambekar A, Agrawal A, Dhingra N. (2019), Rates, knowledge and risk factors of non-fatal opioid overdose among people who inject drugs in India: A community-based study.Drug Alcohol Rev.. doi: 10.1111/dar.13016.
  • Jain R, Quraishi R, Verma A, Ambekar A. (2019). Development and clinical evaluation of a dried urine spot method for detection of morphine among opioid users.Indian J Pharmacol; 51(1):40-44.
  • Rao R, Varshney M, Singh S, Agrawal A, Ambekar A(2019), Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 and Addiction Treatment: Potential Pitfalls and Trepidations Indian J Psychiatry, 61(2); 208-212
  • Mandal P, Parmar A, Ambekar A, Dhawan A(2019), Substance use among treatment seeking Indian adolescent girls: Are they unique? Asian Journal of Psychaitry22;41:17-19
  • Ambekar A, Rao R, Agrawal A, Kathiresan P (2019) Research on opioid substitution therapy in India: A brief, narrative review. Indian J Psychiatry; 60:265-70
  • Quraishi R, Varshney M, Singh A, Singh D, Kumar M, Rao R, Jain R, Ambekar A. (2019). Use of Filter Paper to Measure Alcohol Biomarkers among Opioid-Dependent Patients on Agonist Maintenance Treatment: A Community-Based Study. Indian J Psychol Med. Nov 11;41(6):529-534.
  • Chattopadhyay A, Gupta S, Dayal P, Mandal P, Agrawal A, Ambekar A (2019). Butorphanol dependence in a health-care professional: A case report with narrative review. Journal of Substance Use, doi.org/10.1080/14659891.2019.1604839
  • Dandona R, Kumar GA, Dhaliwal RS, Naghavi M, Vos T, Shukla DK, Vijayakumar L, Gururaj G, Thakur JS, Ambekar A, Sagar R, Arora M, Bhardwaj D, Chakma JK, Dutta E, Furtado M, Glenn S, Hawley C, Johnson SC, Khanna T, Kutz M, Mountjoy-Venning WC, Muraleedharan P, Rangaswamy T, Varghese CM, Varghese M, Reddy KS, Murray CJL, Swaminathan S, Dandona L (2018). Gender differentials and state variations in suicide deaths in India: the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990-2016. Lancet Public Health.  Oct;3(10):e478-e489. doi: 10.1016/S2468-2667(18)30138-5.
  • Ambekar A, Mongia M, (2018). Planning research in psychosocial interventions. Indian Journal of Psychiatry; 60 (8): 575-582
  • Rumpf HJ, Achab S, Billieux J, Bowden-Jones H, Carragher N, Demetrovics Z, Higuchi S, King DL, Mann K, Potenza M, Saunders JB, Abbott M, Ambekar A, Aricak OT, Assanangkornchai S, Bahar N, Borges G, Brand M, Chan EM, Chung T, Derevensky J, Kashef AE, Farrell M, Fineberg NA, Gandin C, Gentile DA, Griffiths MD, Goudriaan AE, Grall-Bronnec M, Hao W, Hodgins DC, Ip P, Király O, Lee HK, Kuss D, Lemmens JS, Long J, Lopez-Fernandez O, Mihara S, Petry NM, Pontes HM, Rahimi-Movaghar A, Rehbein F, Rehm J, Scafato E, Sharma M, Spritzer D, Stein DJ, Tam P, Weinstein A, Wittchen HU, Wölfling K, Zullino D, Poznyak V (2018). Including gaming disorder in the ICD-11: The need to do so from a clinical and public health perspective. J Behav Addict.:1-6. doi: 10.1556/2006.7.2018.59.
  • Sahni S, Tickoo M, Gupta R, Vaswani M, Ambekar A, Grover T, Sharma A. (2018). Association of serotonin and GABA pathway gene polymorphisms with alcohol dependence: A preliminary study. Asian J Psychiatry. pii: S1876-2018(17)30466-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ajp.2018.04.023
  • Ambekar A, Parmar A, Mandal P & Therthani S. (2017) High proportion of pentazocine dependence among treatment-seeking female injecting drug users (FIDUs) in India: A distinct population? Journal of Substance Use. DOI: 10.1080/14659891.2017.1364306
  • Dandona L. et al, (India State-level Disease Burden Initiative Collaborators). (2017) Nations within a nation: variations in epidemiological transition across the states of India, 1990–2016 in the Global Burden of Disease Study. LANCET, DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32804-0
  • Ambekar A, Murthy P, Basu D, Rao GP & Mohan A. (2017) Challenges in the scale-up of Opioid Substitution Treatment (OST) in India (Guest Editorial), Indian Journal of Psychiatry;59:6-9
  • Dhawan A,Rao R, Ambekar A, Pusp A & Ray R. (2017) Treatment of substance use disorders through the government health facilities: Developments in the Drug De-addiction Programme of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India Indian Journal of Psychiatry. DOI:10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_19_17 
  • Gupta S, Lal R, Rao R, Mishra A K & Ambekar A. (2017) Pattern of alcohol use among problem alcohol users in a community-based setting in India: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Substance Use. DOI: 10.1080/14659891.2017.1366557
  • Schaub MP, Tiburcio M, Martinez N, Ambekar A, Balhara YPS, Wenger A, Andrade ALM, Padruchny D, Osipchik S, Gehring E, Poznyak V, Rekve D & Souza-Formigoni MLO, WHO e-health project on Alcohol and Health Investigators Group (2017) Alcohol e-Help: Study protocol for a Web-based self-help program to reduce alcohol use in adults with drinking patterns considered harmful, hazardous, or suggestive of dependence in middle-income countries. Addiction. doi: 10.1111/add.14034
  • Saunders J B, Hao W, Long J, King DL, Mann K, Fauth-Bühler M, Rumpf HJ, Bowden-Jones H, Rahimi-Movaghar A, Chung T, Chan E, Bahar N, Achab S, Lee HK, Potenza M, Petry N, Spritzer D, Ambekar A, Derevensky J, Griffiths MD, Pontes HM, Kuss D, Higuchi S, Mihara S, Assangangkornchai S, Sharma M, Kashef A E, Ip P, Farrell M, Scafato E, Carragher N & Poznyak V. (2017) Gaming disorder: Its delineation as an important condition for diagnosis, management, and prevention J Behav Addict:1-9. doi: 10.1556/2006.6.2017.039
  • Singh R, Grover T, Gupta R, Ambekar A, Jain R and Sharma A. (2017) An Association Study of the COMT and GABA Gene Variants with Alcohol Dependence. J Addict Res Ther, 8:6 DOI: 10.4172/2155-6105.1000350
  • Gupta R, Grover T, Ambekar A, Singh R, Vaswani M and Sharma A. (2017) An Association Study on the Glutamate Pathway GRIN2A Gene Polymorphisms with Heroin Dependence. J Addict Res Ther, 8:6 DOI: 10.4172/2155-6105.1000348
  • Qureshi R, Jain R, Ambekar A & Mishra AK. (2017) Association of ankyrin repeats & kinase domain containing 1 (ANKK1) polymorphism with co-morbid alcohol and nicotine dependence: A pilot study from a tertiary care treatment center in North India. Indian Journal of Medical Research, (145); 33-38
  • Gupta SK, Ambekar A, Dhawan A & Mehta M (2017). Personality profile of alcohol and injecting opioid users: A comparative study from India, Asian Journal of Psychatry, 25: 142-146
  • Mandal P, Parmar A, Therthani S & Atul Ambekar (2016). Profile of elderly women seeking treatment for substance use disorders at a tertiary care treatment center, Journal of Substance Use, DOI: 10.1080/14659891.2016.1217092
  • Kuppili PP, Bhad R, Rao R, Dayal P & Ambekar A, (2016)The mis-adventurous use of prescription opioids in chronic non-cancer pain, National Medical Journal of India DOI: 10.3109/14659891.2015.1040092
  • Rao R, Ambekar A, Agrawal A, Pawar AK, Mishra AK & Khandelwal S. (2016) Evaluation of a five-day training programme on opioid substitution therapy in India, Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy: DOI: 10.3109/09687637.2016.1167166
  • Rao R, Mandal P, Gupta R, Ramashankar P, Mishra AK, Ambekar A, Jhanjee S & Dhawan A. (2015) Factors affecting drug use during incarceration: a cross-sectional study of opioid-dependent persons from India, Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment: DOI:10.1016/j.jsat.2015.08.009
  • Bhad R, Dayal P, Kumar S & Ambekar A, (2015) The drug ketamine: a double edged sword for mental health professionals J Subst Use; DOI: 10.3109/14659891.2015.1040092
  • Varshney M, Ambekar A, Lal R, Yadav D, Rao R & Mishra AK, (2015) Brief Interventions for harmful alcohol use in opioid-dependent patients on maintenance treatment with buprenorphine: A prospective study from India, Addictive Disorders and Their Treatment,: doi: 10.1097/ADT.0000000000000076
  • Ambekar A, Rao R, Agrawal A, Mishra AK, Kishore K, Mukherjee D & Albertin C, (2015) Pattern of drug use and associated behaviours among female injecting drug users from northeast India: a multi-centric, cross-sectional, comparative study, Substance Use and Misuse,: 50:10, 1332-1340; DOI: 10.3109/10826084.2015.101313
  • Prakash S, Ambekar A & Dayal P, (2015) Occasional alcohol use, relapse to opioids and the role of disulfiram, Journal of Substance Use,DOI: 10.3109 / 14659891. 2015. 1029024
  • Ramdurg S, Ambekar A & Lal R. (2015) Co-relationship between sexual dysfunction and high-risk sexual behavior in patients receiving buprenorphine and naltrexone maintenance therapy for opioid dependence. Ind Psychiatry J;24:29-34
  • Dhawan A, Chopra A, Ambekar A & Ray R. (2015) Treatment seeking behavior of inhalant using street children: Are we prepared to meet their treatment needs. Indian J Psychol Med;37:282-7
  • Ambekar A, Rao R, Mishra AK & Agrawal A, (2014) Type of opioids injected: Does it matter? A multicentric cross-sectional study of people who inject drugs, Drug Alcohol Rev 34: 97-104. doi: 10.1111/dar.12208
  • Gupta SK, Ambekar A, Dhawan A & Mehta M, (2014) Psychosocial factors associated with HIV-related high-risk injection behavior among people who inject drugs; 19 (2): 62-68
  • Bhad R, Ambekar A, and Dayal P, The lizard: an unconventional psychoactive substance?, Journal of Substance Use, Early Online: 1–2, DOI: 10.3109/14659891.2014.987836
  • Goyal S, Ambekar A & Ray R. Jul - Sep 2014 Ketamine Dependence in an Anesthesiologist: An Occupational Hazard? Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine,; Vol 36; 3
  • Pal A, Ambekar A & Bera SC, (2014) Pharmacovigilance in psychiatry: time to take notice Journal of Drug Discovery and Therapeutics, 2 (20), 38-39
  • Ambekar A, Rao R, Pun A, Kumar S & Kishore K (2013), The trajectory of Methadone Maintenance Treatment in Nepal, International Journal of Drug Policy 2013 Jul 8. doi:pii: S0955-3959(13)00094-7. 10.1016/j.drugpo.2013.06.001
  • Ambekar A, Rao R, Agrawal A (2013). India’s National Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Policy 2012: A 20th Century Document in 21st Century. International Journal of Drug Policy 2013 Jul;24(4):374-5
  • Rao R, Agrawal A, Kishore K & Ambekar A (2013). Delivery models of opioid agonist maintenance treatment in South Asia: A good beginning. Bulletin of the World Health Organisation, Volume 91, Number 2, February 2013
  • Prasad P, Ambekar A & Vaswani M,(2013) Case–control association analysis of Dopamine receptor polymorphisms in alcohol dependence: a pilot study in Indian males, BMC Research Notes, 6:418
  • Quraishi R, Jain R & Ambekar A (2013), The Use of Dried Blood Spot Samples in Screening Drugs of Abuse Pharmacology & Pharmacy,4 (2); 152
  • Ambekar A & Pawar A, (2012) Low Dead-Space Syringes for HIV prevention among people who inject drugs: Interesting, but a much stronger case is required. International Journal of Drug Policy. pii: S0955-3959(12)00149-1. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2012.09.009.
  • Singh RR & Ambekar A, (2012) Opioid substitution treatment in a public health setting: A collaboration between hospitals and NGOs in the Punjab. International Journal of Drug Policy, 23; 169– 171
  • Rao R, Ambekar A, Yadav S, Sethi H & Dhawan A, (2011)Slow-release oral morphine as a maintenance agent in opioid dependence syndrome: an exploratory study from India Journal of Substance Use; Early Online:1–7
  • Larance B, Ambekar A, Azim T, Murthy P, Panda S, Degenhardt L & Mathers B,(2011) The availability, diversion and injection of pharmaceutical opioids in South Asia, Drug Alcohol Rev. May;30(3):246-54.
  • Ramdurg S, Ambekar A & Lal R.(2011) Sexual Dysfunction among Male Patients Receiving Buprenorphine and Naltrexone Maintenance Therapy for Opioid Dependence J Sex Med. Mar 2. doi: 10.1111
  • Sood M & Ambekar A,(2011) Giving ‘fresh fruit juice’ to patient as a metaphor for giving care by family members / care takers. National Medical Journal of India, 24 (6): 375
  • Mathers BM, Degenhardt L, Ali H, Wiessing L, Hickman M, Mattick RP, Myers B, Ambekar A & Strathdee SA, (2010) HIV prevention, treatment, and care services for people who inject drugs: a systematic review of global, regional, and national coverage, LANCET, 375(9719)  1014-1028; DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(10)60232-2
  • Prasad P, Ambekar A & Vaswani M, (2010) Dopamine D2 receptor polymorphisms and susceptibility to alcohol dependence in Indian males: a preliminary study, BMC Med Genet. 11;11:24  

Books And Monographs (authored / Edited): Training Manuals / Resource Materials

Books And Monographs (authored / Edited): Research reports

Chapters In Books / Monographs

  • Ambekar A, Singh S (2022). “Dealing with Drug Addiction”. In Chadda RK, Pratap S, Sood M, Deb KS (eds) Mental Health at Crossroads: Challenges and Solutions. New Delhi: White Falcon Publishing
  • Ambekar A (2021), “Challenges in managing substance use disorders during COVID19 pandemic”. In Bhattacharyya R, Dalui A, Bandhopadhyay T, Sen A (eds)Guidelines for managing mental health issues during COVID 19 pandemic. Kolkata: Indian Medical Association – Bengal State Branch
  • Ambekar A., Rao R., Agrawal A. (2021). “Contribution towards national policies and programs related to addiction treatment services during COVID-19 pandemic: An experiential account” (pp 70-74). In Chadda R, Sood M, Deep R (eds),COVID19 pandemic and Mental Health: Experiences of organizing services at a tertiary care healthcare institution. New Delhi: Dept. of Psychiatry and NDDTC, AIIMS, New Delhi
  • Ambekar A, George A (2020). “Integrating the biological basis and the pharmacotherapy of Alcohol dependence: Focus on current and potential interventions.” In Gupta N, Kumar P, Mohan A (eds)Recent Advances in Biological Psychiatry – Theme: Addiction Psychiatry (2nd ed). Mumbai: Indian Association of Biological Psychiatry
  • Ambekar A, Mandal P (2020). “Substance related disorders” In Singh PK, Singh OP, Kumar V (eds)IPS Text book of Undergraduate Psychiatry. New Delhi: Jaypee brothers medical publishers
  • Qureshi R, Ambekar A (2018). “Genetics of Alcohol Use Disorders” in Bhuyan D (Ed).Psychiatry Update. Dibrugarh: Assam Medical College
  • Ambekar A, Chawla N (2018). “Cannabis: From Neurobiology to Policy” in Bhuyan D (Ed).Psychiatry Update. Dibrugarh: Assam Medical College
  • Dabholkar H, Ambekar A & Benegal V,(2017) “Psychiatric Emergencies in Substance Abuse” in Thara R, Vijayakumar L (eds), Emergencies in Psychiatry in Low and Middle Income countries, Edition - II, New York: Routledge
  • Qureshi R, Jain R & Ambekar A. (2017) “Dried Blood Spots for Testing Drugs of Misuse”, in Wolff K (Ed),Detection of Drug Misuse : Biomarkers, Analytical Advances and Interpretation, Cambridge: Royal Society of Chemistry
  • Ambekar A & Goyal S (2016), “Clinical Practice Guidelines for treatment of Amphetamine Type Stimulants”, in Basu D, Dalal PK (eds),Clinical Practice Guidelines on Newer and Emerging Addictive Disorders in India, New Delhi: Indian Psychiatric Society
  • Srivastava P, Mehta M, Ambekar A & Sagar R (2015), “Depression” in Mehta M, Sagar R (eds),A Practical Approach to Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Adolescents, New Delhi: Springer India
  • Ambekar A & Pawar A (2015), “Epidemiology of Substance Use in India: Emerging insights”. Hyderabad: Souvenir of Annual National Conference of Indian Psychiatric Society, 2015 (ANCIPS-2015).
  • Ambekar A & Goyal S (2015), “Clinical Practice Guidelines for treatment of Opioid Use Disorders”, in Basu D, Dalal PK (eds), Handbook -Clinical Practice Guidelines for Substance Use Disorders, New Delhi: Indian Psychiatric Society
  • Ambekar A (2014), “Management of Substance Use in India: Where we are and where do we need to go?”.Souvenir of Annual Conference of Indian Psychiatric Society – East Zone, 2014 (CEZIPS-2014), Dibrugarh:Department of Psychiatry, Assam Medical College
  • Ambekar A & Deb KS , (2013). “Import of Narcotics for Clinical Trial Supplies”, in Kshirsagar N, Kulkarni T, Desai A, Shah J (eds), Emergencies in Psychiatry in Low and Middle Income countries , New Delhi: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
  • Ambekar A (2013), “Pharmacotherapy for opioid dependence”, in Rakesh Lal, Ramandeep Pattnayak (eds), Substance Use Disorders: Handbook for Physicians. New Delhi: National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre, All India Institute of Medical Sciences
  • Ambekar A & Goyal S (2013), “Methadone Maintenance Treatment” in Dhawan A, Jhanjhi S (eds) Manual for Long-term pharmacotherapy of alcohol and opiate dependence New Delhi: National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre, All India Institute of Medical Sciences
  • Ambekar A & Kattimani S (2013), Anti-craving medications for long-term treatment of alcohol dependence, in Dhawan A, Jhanjhi S (eds) Manual for Long-term pharmacotherapy of alcohol and opiate dependence . New Delhi: National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre, All India Institute of Medical Sciences
  • Dabholkar H, Ambekar A & Benegal V, “Psychiatric Emergencies in Substance Abuse” in Thara R, Vijayakumar L (eds), Emergencies in Psychiatry in Low and Middle Income countries , (2012), Manipal: Byword Books
Default Doctor Image

Dr.
Sanjay Sharma

Male

Affiliation

Prof. of Radio-Diagno.
Department of
Dr. R. P. Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences
Default Doctor Image

Dr.
Arshad Ayub

Male

Affiliation

Asso. Prof. of Anaesth.
Department of
Dr. R. P. Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences
Dr. Vivek Gupta

Dr.
Vivek Gupta

Male

Affiliation

Addl. Prof. of Comm. Ophth.
Department of
Dr. R. P. Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences

Contact

Email :
vgupta[at]aiims[dot]edu
Phone :
+91(11) 26594097
+91 9899410420

Office Address

Dr Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences (RPC),All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, 110029 India

Educational Qualifications

  • v Jan 2003 – Jan 2005: MD (Community Medicine), All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi
  • v Jul 1996 – Dec 2001: MBBS, University College of Medical Sciences, Delhi (64.9%)

Work Experience

  • July 2018-Current: Associate Professor, Community Ophthalmology, Dr RP Centre, AIIMS, New Delhi
  • 6 June 2015-June 2018: Assistant Professor, Community Ophthalmology, Dr RP Centre, AIIMS, New Delhi
  • 8 Feb – 5 June 2015: Operational Research Fellow, International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), South East Asia Office, New Delhi
  • 3 August 2012 – 31 Jan 2015: Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, Centre for Public Health, NIMHANS, Bangalore.
  • 15 April 2009 – 31 July 2012: Senior Program Officer, The InCLEN Trust International.
  • 1 February 2009 – 12 April 2009: Researcher, HISP-India
  • 23 January 2006 – 22 January 2009: Senior Resident, Community Medicine, AIIMS, New Delhi

Contribution To National Programs

  • Member of MoH&FW Sub-Committee on legal and policy frameworks for the utilization of artificial intelligence in public health in India
  • Member of “Central Task Force at national level for policy planning and strategy Implementation for elimination of Trachoma from the country by the year 2020” set up by MoHFW, GoI
  • Member of “Monitoring Committee for monitoring and reporting of Trachoma cases in states for elimination of Trachoma from the country by the year 2020” set up by MoHFW, GoI
  • Member of the NPCB&VI “Group to prepare action plan for forming a sound IT platform for transparent monitoring of the field level performance and payments to NGOS through NPCB&VI MIS”.
  • Actively collaboration with IIT Delhi for development of AI based algorithms for automated detection of glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy
  • Leading the successful developmenet and impllementation of online coding platform for RGI under the MINErVA Platform.
  • Led the field survey team conducting the Trachoma Prevalence Survey in Car Nicobar Island.
  • Trachoma Elimination in India – Data analysis of National Trachoma Survey and writing up of the report
  • Personally visited and supervised the implementation of National Blindness Survey in 22 districts.
  • Involved in generating evidence for Diabetic Retinopathy for the NPCB&VI
  • Working with IIT-Delhi on use of Vision Computing and Neural Network based Deep Learning technologies for AI based detection of Glaucoma and DR in screening programs.
  • Developed an Android Application for collection of glaucoma data by District Ophthalmologists who have been trained in management of glaucoma under the NPCB&VI Glaucoma control initiatives.
  • Universal Eye Health - Advocated for the inclusion of Visual impairment component in the name of the National Program for Control of Blindness to NPCB & VI.
  • Involved in Development of Disability Certification guidelines under Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, GOI.
  • Contributed to the National Mental Health Survey, the largest ever survey of Mental Health Disorders in India.
  • Improving control and management of Tuberculosis in India.

Awards, Honours, And Significant Events

  • ET Selvam Award for Best Physical Poster in the AIOC 2017 – Title - Innovative use of WhatsApp Messaging and Free Software for GIS Mapping in Ophthalmic Surveys
  • AIIMS Research Excellence Award 2018 for co-authored publication - Incidence and Progression of Myopia and Associated Factors in Urban School Children in Delhi: The North India Myopia Study (NIM Study).
  • Best Free Paper in Community Ophthalmology session at AIOC 2019 2018 for co-authored presentation “Primary Eye Care Training Evaluation for ASHAs in Urban India”.
  • Reviewer: PLoS One, Global Health Action, Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, BMC Health Services Research, JNAMS
  • Certificate of Merit from Central Board of Secondary Education for being the top 0.1% of successful candidates in AISSE 1994 in Science.
  • Fourth position in “Science Open Merit Test 1994” organized by the Delhi State Science Teachers Forum Regd.
  • Certificate of Excellence in “All India Talent Search Examination, 1992” organized by Children’s Education Trust of India.
  • Travel Grant for 14th World Conference on Tobacco or Health, Mumbai, 2009
  • Travel Grant for 8th AGM, INDEPTH, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, 2008.
  • Plaque of Honour, 34th National Conference of the Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine held at AIIMS from February 22-24, 2007.

Research Experience

Ongoing Projects

SrTitleRolePeriodFunding Agency
1.Epidemiological Study of Avoidable Blindness in IndiaCo-Investigator2015-2018MoHFW, Govt. of India
2.Retrospective and prospective audits of the phenotype, causes and correlates of Trichiasis-WHO Trachoma Collaborative StudyCo-Investigator2015-2018WHO
3.Patterns and pathways of care seeking for cataract and common ocular morbidities and impact of local volunteers on the pathways among urban vulnerable population settings of West DelhiPrincipal Investigator2017-2019SSMI
4.Diabetic Retinopathy: An Epidemiological Study of its Risk Factors and Biological Markers in DelhiCo-Investigator2017-2019MoHFW, Government of India
5.Multi-centric study of the impact of exposure to Ultra Violet Radiation (UVR), and aerosols exposure on ocular health in IndiaCo-Investigator2018-2023ICMR, Government of India
6.Health-Related Quality of Life and Costing of cataract surgery for treatment of age-related cataract in IndiaCo-Investigator2017-2018DHR, Government of India
7.To evaluate the effect of increased outdoor activity on the incidence and progression of myopia in school childrenCo-Investigator2016-2018Department of Science and Technology
8.Development of a culturally appropriate health literacy instrument and assessing its validity in Hindi speaking patients receiving general and primary eye care services in New DelhiPrincipal Investigator2016-17AIIMS Intramural
9.Operational research project on strengthening integrated primary eye care in urban vulnerable populations of DelhiCo-Investigator2016-2018Sightsavers International
10.SNOMED-CT: NRCeS – Development of National Drug Repository databaseCo-Investigator2017-2018MoHFW C-DAC Pune
11.Establishing a Technical Support Unit (TSU) for Verbal Autopsy based Cause of Death Ascertainment in the Sample Registration System, Registrar General of India - MINErVA - N1715Co-Investigator2017-2022Registrar General of India
12.Epidemiological study of Childhood Blindness in DelhiPhD Thesis Co-Guide2016-2019PhD Thesis
13.Community based Operational Research Study on involvement of Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHAs) in Strengthening Primary Eye Care Services for Urban Vulnerable Population of DelhiPhD Thesis Co-Guide2015-2019PhD Thesis
14.A Population based study to assess the prevalence of glaucoma in DelhiPhD Thesis Co-Guide2017-2020PhD Thesis
15.Tools to Diagnose – Eye- Development and assessment of image analysis tool for identification of glaucomaPrincipal Investigator2017-PhD Collaborative IIT-Delhi
16.Tools to Diagnose – Eye- Development and assessment of image analysis tool for identification of DRCo- Investigator2017-PhD Collaborative IIT-Delhi
17.Comprehensive primary eye care services in rural areas of DelhiCo- Investigator2017-2020DJJS
18.Vision Screening and Eyeglasses Dispensing Program for Students in Delhi SchoolsCo- Investigator2017-2018VisionSpring
19.Community Ophthalmology Programme in South DelhiCo- Investigator2017-2018Deepalaya
20.A Sustainable Model for Comprehensive Outreach Eye Care Service in NCRCo- Investigator2017-2018Deepalaya
21.A Sustainable Model for Comprehensive Outreach Eye Care Service for underserved population in Delhi Slums and resettlement coloniesCo- Investigator2017-2018Deepalaya
22.A Sustainable Model for Comprehensive Outreach Eye Care Service in NCRCo- Investigator2017-2018Hero Motocorp
23.A Sustainable Model for Comprehensive Outreach Eye Care Service for underserved populationCo- Investigator2017-2018Sparsh
24.A Community based Assessment of Disability among Adult Population in Delhi using WHO-ICF framework

Ph.D Thesis

Co-Guide

2019Ph.D Thesis
Dr. Suraj Singh Senjam

Dr.
Suraj Singh Senjam

Male

MBBS, MD, MSc PH for Eye Care ( London)

Affiliation

Prof. of Comm. Ophth.
Department of
Dr. R. P. Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences

Office Address

Community Ophthalmology, Dr. R. P. Centre ,All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi

Dr. Suraj is a Professor working in Community Ophthalmology, at Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi. He has done his post-graduation in Community Medicine from PGIMER, Chandigarh, and completed a master’s degree in Public Health for Eye Care from the London School of Hygiene Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), London. He has extensively worked in assistive technology in collaboration with national and international organizations, including WHO. He is one of the expert members of the technical working of WHO, Geneva for redesigning the Rapid Assistive Technology Assessment (rATA) study tool. He has led the rATA study in India, supported by the WHO. He served as a technical expert and led the national monitoring unit of rATA India under ICMR, New Delhi Ministry of Health. He was also an expert observer in developing the National Assistive Products Priority List of India as well as finalizing the technical draft on India making a Global Hub for Assistive Technology of the Ministry of Health. He is serving as one of the key members of NCAHT (National Centre for Assistive Health Technology), AIIMS New Delhi funded by ICMR, New Delhi. He was also nominated as one of the members by AIIMS to visit Japan under the JICA-AIIMS medical devices program. He is an expert member of site inspection of those START-UP funded by DBT, Govt. of India. He has established the Vision Rehabilitation Training Centre in Dr. R.P.Centre and led a twinning Low Vision Rehabilitation program in Southeast Asia with support from the WHO Southeast Asia Regional Office. He also received the best government assistive initiative in the government sector organized by jointly AssiTech Foundation and IIT Madras. He is one of the key investigators for the National Blindness Survey supported by the Ministry of Health. He has received various awards, including oration at national and international conferences. He has published more than 100 research papers in national and international peer-reviewed indexed journals, 29 chapters, and 20 books, including various vision rehabilitation guides, and is a reviewer of regular of the Lancet Global Health. He served as Guest Academic Editor of Frontier in Public Health and PLoS One. He also chaired many national and international scientific conferences, including the Asia Pacific Academy of OPhthalmolgogy(APAO).

Publication in the last five years only

  • Senjam SS, Manna S, Goel G, Balhara YPS, Ray A, Gupta Y, et al. (2024) Vaccination coverage against COVID-19 among rural population in Haryana, India: A cross-sectional study. PLoS ONE 19(3): e0299564.
  • Senjam SS, Monica N, Radhika T, Praveen V, Gupta V et al. Consensus Report: Establishment of Low vision and rehabilitation clinic in tertiary eye care hospital, Indian Journal of Ophth. (accepted)
  • Senjam SS. Diabetes and diabetic retinopathy: the growing public health concerns in India. Lancet Glob Health. 2024 Feb 28:S2214-109X(24)00075-5.
  • Gupta V, Vashist P, Sarath S, Gupta N, Senjam SS. Effective cataract surgical coverage in India: Evidence from 31 districts. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2024 Apr 16. doi: 10.4103/IJO.IJO_2835_23.
  • Senjam SS, Lomi N, Aggarwal S, Vashist P, Tandon R. Identifying causes of vision loss and assistive technology needs among patients attending rehabilitation clinic of a tertiary care center in North India. Indian J of Ophthalmol. 2024 Feb 5. doi: 10.4103/IJO.IJO_194_23.
  • Senjam SS, Souvik M, Kishore J, Kumar A et al. Assistive technology usage, unmet needs and barriers to access: a subpopulation study in India. LancetRegional Health Southeast Asia May 19, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lansea.2023.100213
  • Senjam SS, Aggarwal S, Beniwal Abh, Tandon R, Titiyal JS. Head Mounted Display Assistive Technology for Low Vision Rehabilitation, DOS Time, 29 (4) July, 2023.
  • Manna S, Grover S, Senjam SS, Vashist P. An overview on Pediatric Low Vision and Rehabilitation. Delhi Journal of Ophthalmology 32(5):p 72-81, Jul–Sep 2022. | DOI: 10.4103/dljo.dljo_49_23
  • Senjam SS, Mannan H. Assistive technology: The current perspective in India. Indian J of Ophthalmol 71(5):p 1804-1809, May 2023. | DOI: 10.4103/IJO.IJO_2652_22
  • Senjam SS, Manna S, Vashist P. Improving assistive technology access to students with low vision and blindness in Delhi: A school-based model. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2023 Jan;71(1):257-262. doi: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_1281_22. PMID: 36588246.
  • Senjam SS, Beniwal Ab. Smartphone- A third eyes of People with Blindness. BOHR International Journal of Current Research in Optometry and Ophthalmology 2023, 2(1), 33–34 https://doi.org/10.54646/bijcroo.2023.30
  • Vashist P, Manna S, Senjam SS et al. Current Status of Trachoma Among Underserved Population of India: Results from the National Trachoma Rapid Assessment Survey 2014-17. Ophthalmic Epidemiol. 2023 Jul 5:1-8. doi: 10.1080/09286586.2023.2232036. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37408313.
  • Wadhwani M, Vashist P, Senjam SS et al. Prevalence and causes of low vision in a population-based study on childhood visual impairment in North India (CHVI 4) Indian J Ophthalmol. 2023 Jan;71(1):209-214. doi: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_1078_22. PMID: 36588238.
  • Manna S, Grover S, Senjam SS et al. An overview of pediatric low vision rehabilitation. Delhi J Ophthal. 22
  • Wadhwani M, Vashist P, Senjam SS, Gupta V, Saxena R, Gupta N. Study of health-seeking behaviour in parents of children in a population-based childhood visual impairment study in North India - "CHVI 2". J Family Med Prim Care. 2023 Jan;12(1):47-54. doi:
  • Vashist P, Senjam SS, Gupta V, Gupta N, Shamanna BR, et al. Blindness and visual impairment and their causes in India: Results of a nationally representative survey. PLoS One. 2022 Jul 21;17(7):e0271736. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0271736. PMID: 35862402.
  • Senjam SS, Primo SA. Challenges and Enablers for Smartphone Use by Persons With Vision Loss During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Report of Two Case Studies. Front Public Heal [Internet]. 2022 Jul 6 ;0:1955. Available from: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.912460/full
  • Senjam SS, Manna S, Bascaran C. Smartphones-Based Assistive Technology: Accessibility Features and Apps for People with Visual Impairment, and its Usage, Challenges, and Usability Testing. Clin Optom (Auckl). 2021;13:311-322https://doi.org/10.2147/OPTO.S336361
  • Wadhwani M, Vashist P, Senjam SS, Gupta V, Saxena R, Kalaivani M, Tandon R. Development of age-appropriate vision function questionnaire for children with visual impairment (CHVI-VFQ). Indian J Ophthalmol. 2022 Mar;70(3):930-938. doi: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_1177_21. PMID: 35225545; PMCID: PMC9114577.
  • Senjam SS. Smartphone: A smart Assistive device for people visual disabilities amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Indian J of Public Health Apr-Jun;66(2):223-225. doi: 10.4103/ijph.ijph_1492_21. PMID: 35859512.
  • Wadhwani M, Vashist P, Senjam SS. Myopia prevalence in a population-based childhood visual impairment study in North India - CHVI-2. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2022 Mar;70(3):939-943. doi: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_974_21. PMID: 35225546; PMCID: PMC9114607.
  • Souvik M, Vashist P, Senjam SS, Shukla P, Gupta N et al. Vision Delhi, Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care: January 2022 - Volume 11 - Issue 1 - p 201-207 doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_913_21
  • Senjam S S, Balhara YPS, Kumar P. Assessment of Post COVID-19 Health Problems and Its Determinants in North India: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3937558 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3937558
  • Senjam SS. The Current Advance in Human-Smartphones User Interface Design: An Opportunity for People with Visual Loss, Indian J Ophthal. 2021
  • Senjam S.S. Smartphones as assistive technology for visual impairment. Eye (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-021-01499-w
  • Senjam SS. A Persons-Centered Approach for Prevention of COVID-19 Disease and Its Impacts in Persons with Disabilities. Front Public Health. 2021 Feb 5;8:608958. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.608958. PMID: 33614567; PMCID: PMC7892617.
  • Senjam SS. Smartphones for Vision Rehabilitation. Accessible features and Apps, Opportunity, Challenges, and Usability Evaluation. IntechOpen: 200AD. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.97703 .
  • Senjam SS, Manna S, Vashist P, Gupta V, Varughese S, Tandon R. Tele-rehabilitation for visually challenged students during COVID-19 pandemic: Lesson learned. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2021 Mar;69(3):722-728. doi: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_2527_20. PMID: 33595510.
  • Senjam SS, Foster A, Bascaran C. Assistive technology for visual impairment and trainers at schools for the blind in Delhi. Assist Technol. 2021 Jan 19:1-5. doi: 10.1080/10400435.2020.1839144. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33095120.
  • Manna S, Vashist P, Senjam SS, et al. Vision Delhi: A study of primary eye care model operational in urban slums and resettlement colonies of Delhi.J Family Med Prim Care 2021;(in press)
  • Wadhwani M, Vashist P, Senjam SS, Gupta V, Saxena R, Tandon R. A population-based study on the prevalence and causes of childhood blindness and visual impairment in North India. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2021 Jun;69(6):1381-1387. doi: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_2408_20. PMID: 34011705; PMCID: PMC8302266.
  • Shukla P, Vashist P, Senjam SS, Gupta V, Gupta N. A study to assess the knowledge and skills of Accredited Social Health Activists and its retention after training in community-based primary eye care. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2022 Jan;70(1):36-42. doi: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_1020_21. PMID: 34937205.
  • Senjam SS. Developing a disability-inclusive model for low vision service. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2021 Feb;69(2):417-422. doi: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_236_20. PMID: 33463601.
  • Vashist P, Senjam SS, Gupta V, Manna S, Gupta N, Shamanna BR, Bhardwaj A, Kumar A, Gupta P. Prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in India: Results from the National Survey 2015-19. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2021 Nov;69(11):3087-3094. doi: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_1310_21. PMID: 34708747.
  • Gupta N. Manna S, Senjam SS, Gupta V, Vashist P. Integrating primary eye care with primary health care: tracing the journey Comm Eye Health J. 26 October 2021 Epub ahead of print. pp S5-S6. Published online 26 October 2021.
  • Senjam SS. Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on people living with visual disability. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2020;68(7):1367-1370. doi:10.4103/ijo.IJO_1513_20
  • Senjam SS. Glaucoma blindness–A rapidly emerging non-communicable ocular disease in India: Addressing the issue with advocacy. J Fam Med Prim Care. 2020 ;9(5):2200-2206.
  • Vashist P, Senjam SS, Gupta V, et. at. Consensus statement for strengthening refractive error and presbyopia services in India, DOS times: 2021;26: 22-25.
  • Meenakshi V, Vashist P, Senjam SS., et al. A population-based study on prevalence and causes of childhood blindness and visual impairment in North India – CHVI. Indian J Ophthalmol 2021;69:1381-7.
  • Wadhwani M, Vashist P, Senjam SS, Gupta V, Gupta N, Saxena R. Prevalence and causes of childhood blindness in India: A systematic review. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2020 Feb;68(2):311-315. doi: 10.4103/ijo.IJO_2076_18. PMID: 31957718; PMCID: PMC7003592.
  • Senjam SS, Chandra P. Retinopathy of prematurity: Addressing the emerging burden in developing countries. J Family Med Prim Care 2020;9:2600-5
  • Vashist P, Senjam SS, Gupta V, et al. Community eye-health and vision center guidelines during COVID-19 pandemic in India. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2020;68(7):1306-1311. doi:10.4103/ijo.IJO_1527_20
  • Gupta V, Vashist P, Senjam SS. Commentary: COVID-19-How it has impacted ophthalmic care and where do we go from here?. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2020;68(7):1399-1400. doi:10.4103/ijo.IJO_1873_20
  • Senjam SS, Foster A, Bascaran C. Barriers to using assistive technology among students with visual disability in schools for the blind in Delhi, India. Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology https://doi.org/101080/1748310720201738566. 2020;
  • Senjam SS, Singh A: Addressing the Health needs of people with disabilities in India Accepted in Indian Journal of Public Health 2020 Jan-Mar;64(1):79-82. doi: 10.4103/ijph.IJPH_27_19.
  • Senjam SS. Assistive technology for visual impairment: An Indispensable tool for visual challenged people Indian Journal of Community Ophthalmology 2020;1:10-3.
  • Senjam SS. Assistive technology for people with visual loss, Delhi J Ophthalmology 2019: 30: 7-12.
  • Senjam SS, Foster A, Bascaran C, Vashist P. Awareness,utilization and barriers in accessing assistive technology among the youngpatients attending in low vision rehabilitation clinic of a tertiary eye care centrein Delhi. Indian J Ophthalmol 2019 Oct;67(10):1548-1554
  • Senjam SS, Allen Foster, Covadonga Bascaran, Praveen Vashist & Vivek Gupta ( April 2019): Assistive technology for students with visual disability in schools for the blind in Delhi, Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, EPub April 2019 DOI: 10.1080/17483107.2019.1604829
  • Senjam SS. Assistive technology for students with visual disability: Classification matters. Kerala J Ophthalmol 2019;31:86-91.
  • Gupta v, Shukla P, Sindhu T. Vashist P, Senjam SS. Primary Eye care at Health Centre & Wellness Centre: An opportunity for innovation. AIOS Times 2019.
  • Malhotra S, Kalaivani M, Rath R, Prasad M, Vashist P, Gupta N, Senjam SS. Use of spectacles for distance vision: coverage, unmet needs and barriers in a rural area of North India. BMC Ophthalmol 2019;19(1):252.
Dr. Praveen Vashist

Dr.
Praveen Vashist

Male

Affiliation

Prof. of Comm. Ophth.
Department of
Dr. R. P. Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences

Contact

Email :
praveenvashist[at]yahoo[dot]com

Office Address

Community Ophthalmology ,Dr. R.P. Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences,AIIMS, New Delhi-29, India

As Officer In-Charge of Community Ophthalmology at the apex ophthalmic institute of the country, I have been instrumental in developing models for community outreach services and strengthening epidemiological research and training in the field of community eye care. I have been Principal Investigator of 42 research and community eye care projects implemented in RP Centre in partnership with international, national organizations including WHO, NPCBVI, ICMR, DST, SightSavers, Operation Eyesight Universal, VisionSpring, ORBIS, LCIF and CBM. I have more than 80 publications in international and national peer-reviewed journals. I have delivered more than 300 lectures as resource person/faculty in conferences and CMEs organized at international and national level. I routinely provide technical assistance to NPCBVI and was appointed as Principal Investigator for the National Blindness Survey 2015-19 and National Trachoma Surveys 2014-17. As an outcome of this National Trachoma Survey, Government of India declared elimination of active trachoma among children in India. I have also been appointed by WHO as member of dossier review committee for elimination of Trachoma in Nepal and Myanmar. I have been involved in blindness control and rehabilitation activities with WHO SEARO and coordinating the activities of WHO-Collaborative Centre for Prevention of Blindness at RP Centre, AIIMS. I am also Vice President and key resource person for Vision 2020-Right to Sight, India.

Awards and Honors:

YearTitle of AwardAwarding Body
2010Commonwealth scholarship for the MSc Community Eye Health Course at London school of Hygiene Tropical Medicine, London, UKCommonwealth UK
2014AIIMS Excellence Research AwardAIIMS, New Delhi
2014Exemplary individual contribution in the field of Community Eye Care ServicesCOSI
2014GOLD MEDAL" for services in community eye care and trachoma surveysACOIN
2016AIIMS Excellence Award for Certificate of Commendation under clinical researchAIIMS, New Delhi
2019Awarded by MoH FW, Nirman Bhawan for taking “Initiatives for eye care awareness for MOHFW.DGHS, Govt of India
2019Awarded Ophthalmic Ratna awardManthan EHC foundation, Haryana

Research and Community Outreach Projects –Principal Investigator in last five years (2015 onwards)

Sr. NoProject TitleSource of FundingYear
1Regional pilot model to integrate Low Vision and Vision Rehabilitation Services at various levels of Health care delivery system through a Person- Centered Approach involving Assistive TechnologyWHO2020
2Mapping of Human Resource Infrastructure for Pediatric eye care services in IndiaOrbis2020
3Correlation between outdoor activity as measured by UV radiation exposure and myopic refractive error in school going children in New Delhi (C0-PI)Orbis2019-20
4Prospective audits of the phenotype, causes and correlates of Trichiasis: A WHO Trachoma Collaborative Study (Co-PI)WHO2019-2020
5To evaluate the effect of increased outdoor activity on the incidence and progression of myopia in school children (Co-PI)DST2017-2019
6Vision Screening and Eyeglasses Dispensing Program for Students in Delhi SchoolsVisionspring2017-2019
7Multi-centric study of impact of exposure to Ultra Violet Radiation (UVR) aerosol exposure on ocular health in India Phase 2 (Co-PI)ICMR2018-2023
8A Sustainable Model for Comprehensive Outreach Eye Care Service for underserved population in Delhi Slums and resettlement coloniesDeepalaya2017-2022
9A Sustainable Model for Comprehensive Outreach Eye Care Service for underserved population in Delhi and NCRSparsh2017-2022
10A Sustainable Model for Comprehensive Outreach Eye Care Service in NCR- DharuheraHeromotors2017-20
11A Sustainable Model for Comprehensive Outreach Eye Care Service in NCR- TauruDeepalaya2017-2022
12Community Ophthalmology Programme in South DelhiDeepalaya2017-18
13An Operational Research on Developing Disability Inclusive Eye Health Program in India (Co-PI)CBM2016-2020
14Operational Research project on strengthening integrated primary eye care in urban vulnerable populations of Delhi”Sightsavers2016-19
15National Blindness Survey- Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness and diabetic retinopathy in India: Epidemiological Study of avoidable blindness in IndiaNPCB, Govt of India2015-19
Dr. T. Velpandian

Dr.
T. Velpandian

Male

Affiliation

Professor and In-charge of Ocular Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Department of
Dr. R. P. Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences

Contact

Email :
tvelpandian[at]hotmail[dot]com

He has completed graduation in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Tamil Nadu Dr.MGR Medical University with a Distinction in Pharmacology. He pursued his post graduation in Drug Assay in Pharmacology and subsequently pursed PhD from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.  He was awarded PhD in 1999 for his studies on liposome drug delivery to eye and its corneal interactions in which he has done a part of his study from the InstitutfürAnatomie und Zellbiologie - UniversitätWürzburg, Germany. After serving as a Senior Demonstrator and DST Young Scientist Project investigator at AIIMS in the Department of Pharmacology, he has joined as Assistant Professor of Ocular Pharmacology at Dr.RPCentre for Ophthalmic Sciences of AIIMS in 2003 at present he is the Professor and In-Charge of Ocular Pharmacology and Pharmacy Division.

He has been working on ocular pharmacokinetics with the special reference to the contribution of xenobiotic transporters in blood ocular barriers. He has been involved in developing animal models, drugs, their formulations and their delivery systems for ocular angiogenesis, infections, cataract and dry eye. His laboratory is also involved in studying ocular toxicity drugs, tear lipidomics, pharmacogenomics and   ocular QSPR studies using molecular dynamics. His team was involved in addressing several environmental issues contributing towards ocular toxicity of chemical agents.

So far his research has been funded by extramural projects from DST, DBT, ICMR, MHFW, DRDO, AIIMS (intramural), Pharmaceutical companies in India and agencies from abroad. His laboratory has received Level I grant under DST-FIST program for High Precision Bioanalytical Facility (HPBAF) with tandem mass spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS).

He has had the honour of being invited to serve at various places in diverse capacities of speaker, moderator, Session Chairman, Academic Committee member, Technical expert, as well examiner in Biological and Pharmaceutical sciences. He has also been included as advisor and member in various committees of Govt.of India for making decision in drug & research related affairs time to time.   

Awards, Honours & Recognitions

  • 2014 – Dr. Vinod Kumar Bhargava Award for Clinical Pharmacology and Drug Discovery by NAMS
  • 2014 – Editor (Pharmacology), Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
  • 2014 – AIIMS Excellence Research Award – Commendation Certificate
  • 2012 – Visiting Professor – MIT-Harvard (Health Sciences and Technology)
  • 2011 – Visiting Faculty – BPKIHS, Nepal (Clinical Pharmacology)
  • 2010 – Nominated Member of the PG-Curriculum Review Committee of Sikkim University
  • CSIR Senior Research Fellowship
  • ISER – Pharmacia International Travel Fellowship
  • Servior Young Investigators Award

Publications from our laboratory in PubMed (Ctrl + Click)

Publications and Patents

TitleDownload
Total Publications107
Publications in indexed journals101
First and Corresponding Author38
Un-indexed or in other database04
Review articles02
Chapters in book12
Patents (published)05
Patents under commercialization02
Patent  filed02
Default Doctor Image

Dr.
Alok Kumar Ravi

Male

Affiliation

Professor of Biochemistry
Department of
Dr. R. P. Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences
Dr. Neiwete Lomi

Dr.
Neiwete Lomi

Male

Affiliation

Associate Professor
Department of
Dr. R. P. Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences

Contact

Email :
neiwete[at]aiims[dot]edu

General OPD

Wed/Sat 9am-1pm.
Room no. 33.

Dr. Neiwete Lomi is currently Associate Professor at Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. Dr. Lomi has done MBBS from SKMCH, Muzaffarpur, Bihar and completed post-graduation in Ophthalmology from AIIMS, New Delhi. Subsequently, he obtained super specialty training in Cornea, Refractive Surgery and Glaucoma from PGIMER Chandigarh. His current field of interest is in ocular oncology, specially retinoblastoma and uveal melanoma. Besides ocular oncology works, he is also a compassionate and dedicated ophthalmic surgeon working actively in clinical and research activity in the speciality of cornea, cataract and refractive surgery. Dr. Lomi is one of the first ophthalmic surgeon from north India to perform plaque brachytherapy on ocular tumors since 2017 and also initiated Gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery for treating large choroidal melanoma in collaboration with Gamma knife unit at AIIMS. Currently he is working in institutional project on melanogenesis in ocular melanoma, Radiomics and Radiogenomics profiling in retinoblastoma and improvised plaque brachytherapy for various ocular tumours.

Recent Publications

  • Shubha G R, Aditi Khurana, Sumit Garg, Rachna Seth, Neiwete Lomi, Chetan Patel, Rakesh Kumar. Comparison between the diagnostic accuracy of F-18 FDG PET/CT scan and Tc-99m MDP bone scintigraphy for detection of distant metastasis in extra-ocular retinoblastoma- a single centre initial experience. Journal of Nuclear Medicine June 2022, 63 (supplement 2) 2785.
  • Lata Singh, Mithalesh Kumar Singh, Moshahid Alam Rizvi, Sameer Bakhshi, Rachna Meel, Neiwete Lomi, Seema Sen, Seema Kashyap. Clinical relevance of the comparative expression of immune checkpoint markers with the clinicopathological findings in patients with primary and chemoreduced retinoblastoma. Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy. 2020 Feb 26. doi: 10.1007/s00262-020-02529-4.
  • Kashyap Seema, Singh Lata, Kumar Nikhil, Singh Mithalesh, Pushker Neelam, Bakshi Sameer, Sen Seema, Lomi Neiwete, Meel Rachna, Chawla Bhavna . Combined association of Massive choroidal and Optic nerve invasion as a prognostic relevance in Primary Retinoblastoma: A 10 year study. Asia-PacJClinOncol.2020;1–9.
  • Seema Kashyap, Mithelesh Kumar Singh, Jayanti Jha, Lata Singh, Neelam Pushker, Seema Sen, Pradeep Venketesh, Rachna Meel, Neiwete Lomi. Prognostic impact of HERC2 protein and pink-eyed dilution protein in uveal melanoma. Human Cell. Doi.org/10.1007/s13577-020-00397-9.
  • Lata Singh, Mithalesh Kumar Singh, Maria Cristina Kenney, Martine J. Jager, Moshahid Alam Rizvi, Rachna Meel, Neiwete Lomi, Sameer Bakhshi, Seema Sen, Seema Kashyap. Prognostic significance of PD‐1/PD‐L1 expression in uveal melanoma: correlation with tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes and clinicopathological parameters. Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-020-02773-8.
Default Doctor Image

Dr.
Sahil Agrawal

Male

Affiliation

Assistant Professor
Department of
Dr. R. P. Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences