Dr. Prasantajyoti Mohanty: Project Scientist-C at Regional Medical Research Centre(RMRC)-ICMR, India
Dr. Prasantajyoti Mohanty is a dedicated public health expert with over eight years of experience in medical research, health program implementation, vaccine effectiveness studies, and public health systems strengthening. With formal training in Dentistry (BDS), Public Health Management, and Epidemiology, She has consistently worked at the intersection of clinical research and field-based public health interventions. Her work primarily targets under-served, rural, and tribal communities in Odisha, where She has led and participated in multi-centric studies on rotavirus vaccines, COVID-19 surveillance, and communicable disease prevention. He is known for her meticulous research planning, stakeholder coordination, and data-driven reporting that informs public health policy.
Online Profiles
Total Publications (Scopus Indexed): 9
Total Citations: 121 (from 111 documents)
h-index: 6
Dr. Mohanty’s Scopus profile reflects a growing research footprint in vaccine impact assessment, infectious disease surveillance, and public health systems research. Her works have been cited by over 100 peer-reviewed papers, indicating a strong relevance in academic and public health policy communities.
Education
Dr. Mohanty’s academic journey reflects a strong blend of clinical knowledge and public health expertise. She completed her Bachelor of Dental Surgery from Hi-Tech Medical College, Bhubaneswar, followed by a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health Management from the Indian Institute of Public Health, Bhubaneswar (PHFI), with a focus on program planning and epidemiological analysis. Se further advanced her knowledge with a Master of Public Health (MPH) from RMRC (Utkal University), scoring an impressive 76%. Her education was supplemented with various specialized online courses in clinical research, outbreak response, and epidemiology from WHO, Johns Hopkins, and ICMR.
Research Focus
Dr. Mohanty’s research interests lie at the core of infectious disease epidemiology, immunization programs, vaccine safety monitoring, and health systems research. He is particularly focused on vaccine impact assessments like Rotavac and Rotasil, including studies on intussusception, rotavirus strain variation, and hospital-based surveillance. Her work extends to seroprevalence surveys for COVID-19, understanding epidemic curves, and developing community-level interventions using the One Health approach. He is passionate about evidence-based public health strategies that are inclusive of tribal and vulnerable populations and aims to strengthen local health systems through research-informed decision-making.
Experience
Over the past eight years, Dr. Mohanty has held key roles across several renowned institutions. At Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, she served as Co-Principal Investigator and Medical Officer for the Rotavac and Rotasil vaccine impact studies in Bhubaneswar. She coordinated with major hospitals and government health departments for data and sample collection, trained field teams, and ensured high standards in data quality. At ICMR-RMRC Bhubaneswar, she actively participated in COVID-19 serosurveys across multiple districts, including remote tribal regions. Her tenure at INCLEN Trust International involved pediatric hospital surveillance, patient enrollment, and protocol compliance for intussusception research. She has also been involved in MIS implementation, health promotion, and evaluation surveys across Odisha.
Research Timeline & Activities
Dr. Mohanty’s research journey began around 2016, aligning with India’s push for evidence-based immunization programs. She played a pivotal role in the Rotavac and Rotasil impact assessment studies, leading field operations, documentation, and stakeholder engagement. Between 2017–2021, she contributed to hospital-based surveillance studies, including adverse events following immunization (AEFI). During the COVID-19 pandemic, she engaged in three major sero-epidemiological surveys across Odisha, covering rural, urban, and tribal districts. From 2021 onward, her focus expanded into One Health research for zoonotic diseases like anthrax. Throughout, she has remained deeply engaged in data analysis, publication writing, and reporting to national-level health agencies.
Awards & Honors
Dr. Mohanty has received multiple accolades and appreciations for her contribution to public health research and emergency response. Her work during the COVID-19 pandemic serosurveys earned him recognition from ICMR-RMRC Bhubaneswar and state health authorities. He has also been acknowledged for her commitment to community-based interventions, particularly in tribal-dominated districts. As a peer reviewer for the Asian Journal of Pediatric Research, she has demonstrated scholarly engagement and critical evaluation skills. Her consistent involvement in high-impact research projects has also contributed to publications that are cited in policymaking and academic circles.
Top Noted Publication
Among her most significant publications is “Rotavirus Gastroenteritis Hospitalizations Among Under-Five Children in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India”, which has been instrumental in evaluating the post-vaccine introduction landscape. Other high-impact publications include “Intussusception after Rotavirus Vaccine Introduction in India”, and several COVID-19 sero-survey reports such as “Serological surveys to inform SARS-CoV-2 epidemic curve”. Her work on anthrax using the One Health approach adds a unique dimension to her publication record, demonstrating her ability to contribute across a range of public health priorities with multidisciplinary relevance.
Title: Infection, cases due to SARS-CoV-2 in rural areas during early COVID-19 vaccination: Findings from serosurvey study in a rural cohort of eastern India
Authors: Mohanty, Prasantajyoti; [et al.]
Journal: Epidemiology and Infection, 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Access: Open Access
Citation Count: 1 (as per Scopus)
Abstract Summary:
This study presents findings from a sero-epidemiological survey conducted in rural eastern India during the initial rollout of COVID-19 vaccination. It evaluates SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence and correlates it with reported infection and vaccination status. The results provide insights into the level of natural and vaccine-induced immunity in underserved rural populations, highlighting important considerations for targeted public health interventions in similar settings.
Strength for the Female Researcher Award
1. Championing Gender-Inclusive Public Health Interventions in Tribal Areas
Dr. Mohanty’s field-based work in Odisha’s rural and tribal regions often includes the design and implementation of inclusive health programs. Her community-level interventions ensure participation of women in both data collection and health education, contributing to gender-sensitive health planning in traditionally underserved areas.
2. Enhancing Women’s Access to Immunization and Health Information
Through her leadership in vaccine impact studies (like Rotavac and Rotasil), Dr. Mohanty has worked closely with mothers and female caregivers, emphasizing the importance of childhood immunization and maternal awareness. Her research helps shape strategies that improve vaccine outreach to women, especially in patriarchal settings where access to healthcare is limited.
3. Mentorship and Capacity Building for Female Field Researchers
Throughout her tenure at institutions like ICMR-RMRC and CMC Vellore, Dr. Mohanty has trained and mentored female field investigators, health workers, and data managers, encouraging their professional development in research, surveillance, and health system implementation.
4. Research on Women-Centric Health Outcomes in Infectious Disease Surveillance
Her participation in hospital-based surveillance and AEFI (Adverse Events Following Immunization) monitoring includes gender-disaggregated analysis, highlighting differential vaccine responses and health outcomes among female patients, thus enriching the evidence base for gender-sensitive policy design.
5. Advocacy for Equity in Public Health Research Participation
Dr. Mohanty’s inclusive data collection approaches during COVID-19 serosurveys ensured equitable representation of women from rural and tribal populations, allowing for better understanding of women’s vulnerability, exposure risk, and vaccination hesitancy, contributing to more equitable pandemic response strategies.