About Us
The department undertakes studies on operational and implementation research including cost-effectiveness analysis as well as descriptive research on epidemiology, clinical and social aspects of reproductive health. The areas of primary interest are preconception care, maternal health, anemia, family planning, sexual and reproductive health of adolescents, reproductive tract infections including sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS and burden of reproductive health disorders. Through the Model Rural Health Research Unit scheme of Department of Health Research, health issues of tribal people in Palghar district of Maharashtra are addressed through research. The Department of Health research supported Health Technology Assessment Resource Hub conducts cost-effectiveness analysis, along with synthesizing available evidence on clinical effectiveness and generating primary data on costs and quality of life. . The department has collaborations with key stakeholders from local, state and national health departments, international organizations working in sexual and reproductive health along with academia to partner and provide expertise, resources, and support in conduct of research studies. Recognizing the importance of community involvement in wellbeing, the department conducts outreach programs to raise awareness about reproductive health issues, promote preventive measures, and improve access to essential services. The research outcomes are disseminated through policy briefs, research publications and meetings to relevant program managers and policy makers who can facilitate scale up and improve coverage of evidence-based interventions. The department has developed clinical, operational guidelines and information, education and communication material on priority areas of reproductive health for use in government programmes. The department is a recognized for Ph.D in Community Medicine under Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nasik. It also organizes training workshops, CME and symposia on a variety of research methodology topics as well as priority reproductive health issues. The department also oversees the activities of WHO Collaborating Centre for research in reproductive health at the institute.
People
| Sr. No | Name | Designation |
| 1 | Dr. Beena Joshi | Scientist ‘G’ & Head |
| 2 | Dr. Ragini Kulkarni | Scientist ‘F’ |
| 3 | Ms. Bhavya M K | Scientist ‘C’ |
| 4 | Mrs. Kimthianhoih | Technical Assistant |
| 5 | Mr. Iranna Mashal | Technician 2 |
| 6 | Mr. Pravin S. Sanap | Technician 2 |
| 7 | Mrs. Devyani Rathod | Lab Attendant 2 |
| 8 | Mr. J Jayanth | Lab Attendant 1 |
Permanent staff (Past):
| S.No | Name | Designation | From | To |
| 1 | Dr Sanjay Chauhan | Scientist G & Head | 2002 | 2022 |
| 2 | Dr G Srimathi | Scientist B | 2021 | 2022 |
Projects
Projects (Ongoing):
| Sr. No | Title of Project | Funding Agency | Year |
| 1. | Feasibility acceptability and costs of providing Preconception care services for newly married couples in Maharashtra | ICMR | 2023 |
| 2 | Equitable, Quality Universal Health Coverage Implementation Research Project for optimizing comprehensive primary health care through health and wellness centers in Pimpri chindwad Municipal Corporation, Pune district, Maharastra. | ICMR | 2023 |
| 3 | HWC Costing study on RMNCAH+N services/Assessment of RMNCAH+N Service delivery costs, work patterns and efficiency of primary healthcare teams at Ayushman Bharat -Health and wellness centres. | UNICEF | 2023 |
| 4 | Acceleration Efforts to END TB in India | ICMR | 2023 |
| 5 | Health Technology Assessment
To determine Cost-effectiveness of Hydroxyurea oral suspension as prophylaxis for management of Sickle cell Anemia in children |
DHR | 2024 |
| 6 | Validation of novel serum biomarkers in prediction of early onset preeclampsia (EOPE) in a tribal district of Palghar, Maharashtra | ICMR | 2024 |
| 7 | Strengthening Maternal and Perinatal death surveillance (MPDSR) in tribal blocks | ICMR | 2024 |
| 8 | Population – based Health Survey at Model Rural Health Research Units (MRHRUs) in India | DHR | 2024 |
| 9 | Developing & Implementing effective intervention delivery strategies of the Anemia Mukt Bharat program 2.0 to reduce prevalence of anemia amongst vulnerable populations in selected districts of India | ICMR | 2025 |
| 10 | Cost-effectiveness of point-of-care test for detection of Thalassemia during antenatal screening as an alternative to the HPLC test conducted before twelve weeks of pregnancy. | DHR | 2025 |
Projects (Completed): (Last 5 Years)
| Sr. No | Title | Funding Agency | From | To |
| 1. | Cost-effectiveness of ferric carboxymaltose injection (IFA) to treat iron deficiency anemia among antenatal mothers. | DHR | 2025 | 2025 |
| 2. | Implementation Research to optimize CPHC services at HWCs EQUIP study | ICMR | 2024 | 2024 |
| 3. | Understanding availability of National Essential Diagnostics at public health facilities and their facilitators and barriers | ICMR | 2023 | 2024 |
| 4. | Health Technology Assessment of Point of Care Test Kit for Haemophilia and Von Willebrand Disease (vWD) Screening developed at ICMR NIIH (approved by TAC) | HTA | 2024 | 2024 |
| 5. | Implementation research to explore operational feasibility, acceptability and cost-effectiveness of using IV Ferric Carboxy Maltose (FCM) in Management of Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) among pregnant women through sub district health system in Maharashtra | ICMR | 2021 | 2024 |
| 6. | To estimate the cost of diagnosis of infertility and its management including in-vitro fertilization and quality of life among infertile couple: A multicenter study (ICMR NIRRCH being the
main lead centre of the study) |
DHR HTAIn | 2023 | 2024 |
| 7. | To determine Cost-effectiveness of Rapid Diagnostic Tests (Gazalle) in comparison to solubility test followed by HPLC for Sickle Cell Disease/Trait diagnosis among high risk population in India | DHR HTAIn | 2023 | 2023 |
| 8. | To determine Cost-effectiveness of Rapid Diagnostic Tests (Hemo Type Sc, Sickle Scan and HPOS) in comparison to solubility test followed by HPLC for Sickle Cell Disease/Trait diagnosis among high risk population in India | DHR HTAIn | 2022 | 2022 |
| 9. | HTA For strengthening prong 2 intervention of PPTCT program at public health facilities through provision of linked HIV and family planning services | DHR HTAIn | 2021 | 2022 |
| 10. | Health Technology Assessment of intravenous Tranexamic acid use in management of Primary Post-Partum Haemorrhage in India | DHR HTAIn | 2020 | 2020 |
| 11 | Health Technology Assessment (HTA) of Uterine Balloon Tamponades to manage Postpartum Hemorrhage in India | DHR HTAIn | 2020 | 2020 |
| 12 | Health Technology Assessment of Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives in India | DHR HTAIn | 2018 | 2019 |
| 13 | Impact of measles rubella (MR) vaccination campaign on population immunity in India: A Multicentric study by ICMR | ICMR | 2018 | 2019 |
| 14 | Development of District Level Model to Address under Nutrition and Hidden Hunger – ICMR Multicenter Study | ICMR | 2018 | 2018 |
| 15 | ICMR Task Force Study “Improving health and nutritional status of vulnerable segment of population by implementing multi-component health and nutrition education intervention as a sustainable model of intervention | ICMR | 2015 | 2019 |
| 16 | ICMR PCOS Task Force Study “Evaluation of prevalence, regional phenotypic variation, comorbidities, risk factors and the variations in response to different therapeutic modalities among Indian women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS): A Multicenter study across India” | ICMR | 2018 | 2022 |
Contact Us
| Name | Designation | E-mail Id | Phone No |
| Dr. Beena Joshi | Scientist ‘F’ | joshib@nirrch[dot]res[dot]in | +(91-22)24192043 |
| Dr. Ragini Kulkarni | Scientist ‘F’ | kulkarnir@nirrch[dot]res[dot]in | +(91-22)24192115 |
| Ms. Bhavya MK | Scientist ‘B’ | bhavyamk@nirrch[dot]res[dot]in | +(91-22)24192178 |