Punam Kumari Mandal | Oral Cancer | Research Excellence Award

Ms. Punam Kumari Mandal | Oral Cancer | Research Excellence Award

Assistant Professor | Biratnagar Nursing Campus | Nepal

Ms. Punam Kumari Mandal is a highly dedicated public health and nursing professional whose academic excellence, extensive teaching experience, and strong research productivity make her a compelling candidate for a Research Excellence Award. With an MPH degree from Tribhuvan University and a distinguished academic track record beginning with her nursing studies, she has developed a solid foundation in public health, research methodologies, and clinical practice. Her professional career spans over two decades, progressing from staff nurse to teaching assistant, nursing instructor, and ultimately assistant professor, demonstrating consistent growth, leadership, and commitment to evidence-based education. As Research Management Cell Coordinator, she actively promotes research culture through coordination, training, and seminars, reflecting her institutional contribution and leadership potential. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in national and international journals, focusing on maternal and child health, noncommunicable diseases, health services, mental health, and community-based studies. Her works, with more than 30 publications across reputable journals, highlight her research depth, methodological rigor, and ability to address diverse public health challenges in Nepal. Her membership in professional bodies such as the Nepal Public Health Association, Nursing Association of Nepal, and TDR Global further underscores her engagement with the scientific community and ongoing commitment to professional development. Equipped with advanced analytical skills in SPSS, Epi-Info, Epi-data, Excel, and MAXQDA, she is proficient in quantitative and qualitative research, data management, and statistical modeling. Her strengths in problem-solving, communication, and strategic planning enhance her effectiveness as a researcher and educator. Overall, her robust academic background, extensive teaching and research experience, leadership roles, and consistent scholarly contributions demonstrate strong suitability for recognition through a Research Excellence Award, affirming her role as an impactful researcher advancing public health and nursing science in Nepal.

Featured Publications

  1. Chaudhary, A. K., Dahal, T., Niraula, A., & Mandal, P. K. (2025). Students’ satisfaction with the nursing program studying at Tribhuvan University’s Institute of Medicine, Nepal. BMC Medical Education, 25, 1117.

  2. Mandal, P. K., Subedi, S., Bhandari, M., Basnet, B., & Shah, S. (2025). Community health workers’ awareness and attitude towards prevention and control of non-communicable diseases in eastern Nepal. International Journal of Noncommunicable Diseases, 10(1), 4–11.

  3. Bhandari, M., & Mandal, P. K. (2025). Evaluating school health services in Nepal. American Journal of STEM Education, 10.

  4. Mahato, A. K., Mandal, P. K., & Khadgi, D. (2024). Knowledge and practice on chronic kidney disease prevention and associated factors among hypertensive patients attending a hospital in eastern Nepal. Journal of Kathmandu Medical College, 13(1).

  5. Mandal, P. K., Yenden, N., Niraula, A., & Subedi, S. (2023). Behavioral risk factors of non-communicable diseases among pregnant women attending health centers of Morang. Journal of Biratnagar Nursing Campus, 1(1).

Her work advances public health and nursing science by generating evidence that strengthens community health systems, informs policy, and improves maternal, child, and population health outcomes. Through extensive research, capacity building, and academic leadership, she contributes to healthier communities and supports data-driven decision-making that drives sustainable health innovation in Nepal and beyond.

Permal Deo | Prostate Cancer | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Permal Deo | Prostate Cancer | Best Researcher Award

Senior Lecturer | Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia | Australia

Dr. Permal Deo is a distinguished food scientist and academic leader renowned for his contributions to nutrition, food biochemistry, and public health research. He holds a PhD in Food Biochemistry from Queen’s University Belfast, UK, where his doctoral work investigated the effects of food-derived advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) on oxidative stress and receptor activity in human cell lines. Complementing this, he earned a Master of Applied Science and Postgraduate Diploma from The University of Queensland, Australia, and a Bachelor of Science from The University of the South Pacific, Fiji. With over two decades of academic, research, and industry experience, Dr. Deo’s expertise encompasses food microbiology, food processing, functional foods, and the molecular pathways linking type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. His research emphasizes the bioactivity of natural plant compounds and nutraceuticals in combating oxidative stress and inflammation, as well as the antimicrobial and food safety applications of electrochemically activated solutions. An accomplished mentor and research leader, he has supervised numerous postgraduate students and attracted more than AUD 2.5 million in competitive funding from prestigious bodies including the Australian Research Council, Diabetes Australia, and Horticulture Innovation. His extensive collaborations with institutions such as CSIRO, Monash University, and the University of Adelaide have advanced understanding in genome stability, indigenous food systems, and sustainable nutrition technologies. Widely recognized for his scholarly impact and leadership, Dr. Deo has presented at global scientific conferences and published influential studies in leading journals. His enduring scientific legacy is reflected through 944 citations, 57 documents, and an h-index of 19, underscoring his influential role in advancing the frontiers of food biochemistry, nutritional science, and biomedical innovation.

Profiles: Google Scholar | Scopus | ORCID | ResearchGate | LinkedIn

Featured Publications

1. Snelson, M., Tan, S. M., Clarke, R. E., De Pasquale, C., Thallas-Bonke, V., Deo, P., … & Coughlan, M. T. (2021). Processed foods drive intestinal barrier permeability and microvascular diseases. Science Advances, 7(14), eabe4841. Cited by: 148

2. Sim, D. P., Khazandi, M., Chan, W. Y., Deo, P., & Trott, D. J. (2019). Antimicrobial activity of thyme oil, oregano oil, thymol and carvacrol against sensitive and resistant microbial isolates from dogs with otitis externa. Veterinary Dermatology. Cited by: 106

3. Deo, P., Hewawasam, E., Karakoulakis, A., Claudie, D. J., Nelson, R., & Vemulpad, S. (2016). In vitro inhibitory activities of selected Australian medicinal plant extracts against protein glycation, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), and digestive enzymes linked to diabetes. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 16(1), 435. Cited by: 61

4. Bergamin, A., Mantzioris, E., Cross, G., Deo, P., Garg, S., & Hill, A. M. (2019). Nutraceuticals: Reviewing their role in chronic disease prevention and management. Pharmaceutical Medicine, 33(4), 291–309. Cited by: 60

5. Fenech, M., Knasmueller, S., Knudsen, L. E., Kirsch-Volders, M., Deo, P., … & Bonassi, S. (2021). “Micronuclei and Disease” special issue: Aims, scope, and synthesis of outcomes. Mutation Research/Reviews in Mutation Research, 788, 108384. Cited by: 54

6. Ferro, S., Amorico, T., & Deo, P. (2018). Role of food sanitising treatments in inducing the ‘viable but nonculturable’ state of microorganisms. Food Control, 91, 321–329. Cited by: 54