I am a physician turned public health researcher with a post-graduate degree in Applied Statistics. I currently hold the position of Associate Scientist and Lead, Maternal Nutrition in the Nutrition and Clinical Services Division at icddr,b, an international public health research organization based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. My research efforts are dedicated to improving the well-being of women and children by preventing and treating maternal and childhood malnutrition, as well as reducing maternal and neonatal mortality. My work employs a diverse array of research methodologies, including epidemiological studies, large-scale surveys, validation studies, and clinical trials. I have experience analyzing large demographic surveillance system datasets and possess a keen interest in the statistical modeling of epidemiological data.
My team and I have extensively investigated crucial aspects of maternal and infant health and nutrition, examining biological and social factors linked to inappropriate gestational weight gain (GWG), pregnancy complications, intrauterine growth restriction, low birth weight, preterm birth, neonatal infections, and other major maternal and childhood complications. I have spearheaded studies examining the status, dynamics, and determinants of GWG, the consequences of inappropriate GWG on birth weight and perinatal outcomes, the applicability of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) guidelines on GWG for Bangladeshi women, as well as testing interventions to optimize GWG. Recognizing that maternal malnutrition extends beyond insufficient caloric intake, my research also delves into the influence of gut health, microbiota, and infection on maternal health. My research interests extend to adolescent health, nutrition-related noncommunicable diseases, and developmental origins of health and disease with a view to connecting all the dots in the life course approach toward nutrition and overall well-being.
I have contributed to 40+ articles, abstracts, and letters to editors published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at prestigious scientific conferences. I hold pedagogical responsibilities at James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh, where I teach the Public Health Nutrition module for the Master of Public Health program. I have acted as a peer reviewer for several peer-reviewed journals, including Global Health Action, BMC Health Services Research, SAGE Open Medicine, BMJ Open, and Frontiers in Nutrition. I review research protocols submitted to the Research Review Committee (RRC) at icddr,b for Institutional Review Board approval. Additionally, I mentor and supervise a number of junior researchers at icddr,b, fostering the next generation of public health professionals.