Gauri Dhumal, MSc, PhD

Pune, India

Role:

Staff

Study Coordinator

Dr. Gauri Dhumal

Dr. Dhumal is the Study Coordinator for the Hybrid trial for Alcohol reduction among people with TB and HIV in India, or HATHI, which is addressing a major public health issue of the intersection of TB and/ HIV with alcohol use. This study is a randomized clinical trial (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04230395) aimed at testing scalable, culturally relevant, evidence-based alcohol interventions to facilitate the rapid integration of effective interventions into TB and HIV/TB care in low-resource settings in India. By training, she is an Anthropologist with over 15 years of experience in public health research in India. Her interests range from substance use, especially tobacco and alcohol, to infectious diseases (HIV, TB), mental health, and adolescent health. Dr. Dhumal has worked on multidisciplinary research projects alongside local and international experts of various racial, ethnic, and linguistic origins.

To her credit, she has published several scientific peer-reviewed research papers, presented research findings, and delivered oral & poster presentations at international and national conferences. She serves on the editorial board of the anthropological journal An Asian Man. She is a contributor to the book Maharshtratil Adivasi, which is in Marathi, and she also contributed anthropological expertise for Marathi Vishwa kosh.

Dr. Dhumal is a fourth-year research scholar for the Women in Global Health Research Program by Weill Cornell Medicine, Center for Global health, New York. This is an initiative to support women global health researchers working to improve health in low and middle-income countries.

She was a mentee in the women in science mentoring program, “Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER)” by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under the mentorship of Dr. Suryavanshi’s (Deputy director, BJMC CRS). The PEER program seeks to address the limited number of women researchers across the world. Dr. Dhumal holds the credit to be a winner of the SEED funding for the pilot proposal “Creating a Hope”: A Mixed-Method Approach to Identify Most Acceptable Evidence-Based Psycho-Social Intervention to Improve the Retention in Care among Indian Youth Diagnosed with Multi-Drug Resistant TB (MDR-TB)”. Her career goal is to keep discovering new ideas through public health research which will add value to the literature.

Dr. Dhumal received a BSc in zoology and an MSC in anthropology from the University of Pune, Pune, Maharashtra, India, and a PhD in anthropology from Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune.

Studies/Projects
Publications
News

“Bridging the Gaps”: Understanding the Barriers and Facilitators in the Tuberculosis Prevention Care Cascade for Optimizing Isoniazid Preventive Therapy Uptake among Adults Living with HIV in India, a Mixed-Method Approach

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2021-11-02

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PURPOSE: The isoniazid preventive therapy policy has achieved limited success in low and middle-income countries. With limited empirical research exploring the barriers to suboptimal IPT uptake, it is important to understand this knowledge gap. Also, limited programmatic strategies exist to address...

Prevalence of Risk Factors for Lung Cancer and Facilitators and Barriers for Tobacco Cessation among People Living with HIV

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2020-04-01

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India has the world’s third largest HIV epidemic, with 2.1 million people currently living with HIV and an additional 90,000 new infections each year.[29] At the same time, expansion of the HIV response under India’s premier governmental agency - the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), has...

Hybrid Trial for Alcohol Reduction among People with TB and HIV in India

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2020-02-12

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Dr. Geetanjali Chander is PI and Dr. Kakrani is local site PI at DY Patil Medical College for this study. The highest incidence of tuberculosis disease (TB) in the world is in India, accounting for 27% of all new cases globally, with approximately 86,000 among persons with HIV (PWH). Unhealthy...

Visual Field Loss in HIV-Positive Patients of Non-Infectious HIV Retinopathy

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2019-06-02

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New study will assess HIV+ patients and determine the prevalence of visual field loss due to noninfectious HIV retinopathy

Prevalence of Tuberculosis in Severely Malnourished Indian Children

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2018-12-18

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This study is funded and conducted under the U.S. National Institutes of Health, Fogarty International Center. PIs are Robert Bollinger, MD, MPH; Dr. Muralidhar Tambe, BJGMC Severely malnourished children are vulnerable population for communicable and non-communicable...

Characterization of TB-specific T Cell Responses in Highly-exposed, but Uninfected Health Care Workers in India

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2018-10-25

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This study is funded and conducted under the U.S. National Institutes of Health, Fogarty International Center. PIs are Robert Bollinger, MD, MPH; Jyothi Rengarajan, MD, Emory University. Primary Research Question Do health care workers who remain TST...

Assessing the Impact of Psychosocial Involvement in Health Care Workers with and without Active Tuberculosis at the Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Government Medical College, Pune, India

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2018-09-13

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This study was terminated effective 9/13/2021 This study is funded and conducted under the U.S. National Institutes of Health, Fogarty International Center. The overall goal is to understand the psychosocial involvement in health care workers with and...

Optimal Approach for TB Screening among HIV Infected Indian Children

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2018-06-11

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This study was terminated May 20, 2019. It was funded by the Fogarty International Center at the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Determining TB status (ie, uninfected, latent, and active TB disease) is more difficult among children, particularly HIV-infected children...

Assessing the Impact of the Fogarty HIV-TB Training Program at the Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Government Medical College, Pune, India

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2018-01-19

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This study was terminated in January 2021. It was funded by the Fogarty International Center at the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Johns Hopkins University was funded in 2013 to establish a new post-doctoral training program in HIV-TB epidemiology, clinical and...

Perceptions of HCWs on Barriers and Opportunities to Airborne Infection Control Guideline Implementation

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2017-12-07

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This study was terminated in December 2020 It was funded and conducted under the U.S. National Institutes of Health, Fogarty International Center. Led by Dr. Nishi Suryavanshi, this qualitative, cross-sectional study is assessing healthcare worker (HCW) perceptions about...

The Role of GeneXpert in Bacterial Diagnosis of Spinal Tuberculosis

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2017-10-26

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This study was teriminated June 19, 2019. It was funded by the Fogarty International Center at the U.S. National Institutes of Health. India has the maximum burden of tuberculosis (TB) in the world. In 2014, there were an estimated 9.6 million incident...

Risk Factors for Unfavourable Treatment Outcomes among Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis Patients in Public Sector Treatment in Pune

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2017-03-29

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This study is funded and conducted under the U.S. National Institutes of Health, Fogarty International Center. This study seeks to identify risk factors associated with unfavourable treatment outcomes (death, treatment failure, default, XDR-TB) among multidrug-resistant...

Optimal Algorithmic Diagnosis of Genital TB among HIV-infected and Uninfected Infertile Women

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2016-05-26

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This study was terminated March 2020. It was funded by the Fogarty International Center at the U.S. National Institutes of Health. There is a lack of a set protocol universally for diagnosis of genital TB, and for Indian hospitals, India's Revised National...

Barriers to Early Treatment Initiation in Childhood Tuberculosis in High Incidence Setting

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2016-04-21

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This study was terminated October 25, 2019. Funded by the Fogarty International Center and led by PI Dr. Chhaya Tukaram Valvi, the aim of this study is to evaluate the time to treatment initiation and barriers to early treatment initiation in childhood tuberculosis. TB...

Barriers to Implementation of Isoniazid Preventive Treatment (IPT) in Pediatric Contacts of Sputum Positive Adults with Tuberculosis

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2016-03-24

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This study was terminated January 3, 2019. It was funded by the Fogarty International Center at the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Young children infected with M.tuberculosis can rapidly progress to pulmonary and extrapulmonary disease with high rates of mortality and...

Barriers for Intervention to Prevent Occupationally Acquired Tuberculosis in Healthcare Workers

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2015-05-21

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This study was terminated April 20, 2017; it was funded by the Fogarty International Center at the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Observational study to assess the current status of implementation of interventions for preventing occupationally acquired...

BJGMC-JHU Fogarty HIV-TB Training Program

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2007-01-01

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Funded by the Fogarty International Center at the National Institutes of Health, the JHU Fogarty program has nearly 20 years of success with providing training, professional development, and mentorship to clinicians and scientists in low and middle income countries. CCGHE's latest efforts in...

A Novel Computer-Based Virtual Counselor-Delivered Alcohol Reduction Intervention : Acceptability, Adaptability and Feasibility among Adults with HIV or TB in Indian Clinical Settings

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2022-05-27

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JMIR Formative Research

Background: Unhealthy alcohol use is associated with increased morbidity and mortality among persons with HIV and tuberculosis (TB). Computer-based interventions (CBIs) can reduce unhealthy alcohol use, are scalable, and may improve outcomes among patients with HIV or TB. Objective: We assessed the...

Utility of the interferon-gamma release assay for latent tuberculosis infection screening among indian health-care workers

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2021-07-13

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Indian Journal of Community Medicine

Background: The utility of interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) screening among health-care workers (HCWs) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remains unclear. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study among HCW trainees...

Detection of genital tuberculosis among women with infertility using best clinical practices in India: An implementation study

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2021-01-15

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Indian Journal of Tuberculosis

Background Diagnosis of genital tuberculosis (TB) as a cause of infertility still remains a diagnostic dilemma for clinicians, as no standard guidelines exist. The recently proposed best practices for genital TB diagnosis have not been evaluated yet in India. Objectives To implement best practices...

Mental health and quality of life among healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic in India

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2020-09-11

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Brain and Behavior

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has placed healthcare professionals (HCP) in stressful circumstances with increased patient loads and a high risk of exposure. We sought to assess the mental health and quality of life (QoL) of Indian HCPs, the fourth highest-burden country for COVID-19. Method:...

Impact of the Fogarty Training Program on Trainee and Institutional Research Capacity Building at a Government Medical College in India

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2020-07-28

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Annals of Global Health

Gauri Dumal and colleagues assess the impact of the 5-year HIV-TB research training program on building individual research capacity at BJGMC.

Delays and barriers to early treatment initiation for childhood tuberculosis in India

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2019-10-01

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International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease

BACKGROUND: India accounts for 27% of global childhood tuberculosis (TB) burden. Understanding barriers to early diagnosis and treatment in children may improve care and outcomes. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed among 89 children initiated on anti-TB treatment from a public hospital...

High risk for latent tuberculosis infection among medical residents and nursing students in India

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2019-07-08

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PLoS One

PLoS ONE: Self-reported TB exposure is underreported, and uptake of LTBI prevention therapy remains low

Elevated highly sensitive C-reactive protein and d-dimer levels are associated with food insecurity among people living with HIV in Pune, India

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2019-03-04

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Public Health Nutrition

Abstract OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and determinants of food insecurity among people living with HIV (PLWH) in Pune, India and its association with biomarkers known to confer increased risks of morbidity and mortality in this population. DESIGN:...

Barriers to screening and isoniazid preventive therapy for child contacts of tuberculosis patients

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2018-10-01

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International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease

Universal, timely TB screening and IPT for exposed children are urgently needed to reduce pediatric TB in India

Addressing knowledge gaps and prevention for tuberculosis-infected Indian adults: a vital part of elimination

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2018-05-02

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BMC Infectious Diseases

BMC Infectious Diseases : Our survey among TB patients' household contacts with evidence of recent exposure found that knowledge is poor and families are confused about disease transmission.

Constituent variation in smokeless tobacco purchased in Mumbai, India

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2017-07-01

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Tobacco Regulatory Science

Objectives: Worldwide, smokeless tobacco products vary greatly in their formulations and chemical composition. Understanding of toxic and carcinogenic constituent variations in such products can provide valuable insights for the development of effective tobacco control policies. In this study...

Patterns of use and perceptions of harm of smokeless tobacco in Navi Mumbai, India and Dhaka, Bangladesh

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2016-12-04

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Indian Journal of Community Medicine

Background: Globally, smokeless tobacco use is disproportionately concentrated in low-income and middle-income countries like India and Bangladesh. Objectives: The current study examined comparative patterns of use and perceptions of harm for different smokeless tobacco products among adults and...

Awareness and support for graphic health warnings on smokeless tobacco packages in Navi Mumbai, India and Dhaka, Bangladesh

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2015-12-04

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Tobacco Control

Awareness and support for graphic health warnings on smokeless tobacco packages in Navi Mumbai, India and Dhaka, Bangladesh

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding breastfeeding in postpartum mothers at a tertiary care institute during a public health awareness campaign

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2015-10-09

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International Journal of Health Sciences

Background: Breast feeding has several benefits for both the infants and mothers. However, despite strong evidences in support of breast feeding its prevalence has remained low worldwide. The objective of the present study was to examine the knowledge and attitude towards breast feeding and infant...

Maternal Smokeless Tobacco Use in Pregnancy and Adverse Health Outcomes in Newborn babies

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2015-09-17

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The Asian Man

BACKGROUND: Perinatal morbidity and mortality are important indicators of maternal health and the future health of the child. Smokeless tobacco (ST) use during pregnancy is associated with low birth weight (LBW), preterm births, stillbirths, and small for gestation age (SGA). This study...

High levels of tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines and nicotine in Chaini Khaini, a product marketed as snus

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2014-12-09

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Tobacco Control

Introduction: Recently, a tobacco product, Chaini Khaini, identified as snus appeared in India. The product marketing emphasizes its discreet nature and explicitly claims safety by referring to the existing evidence on Swedish snus. We here analyzed tobacco-specific nitrosamines and nicotine...

Quit history, intentions to quit, and reasons for considering quitting among tobacco users in India: Findings from the Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation India Wave 1 Survey

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2014-12-05

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Indian Journal of Cancer

Background: GATS India 2009–10 revealed that more than one-third (35%) of adults in India use tobacco in some form: 21% use smokeless tobacco, 9% smoke, and 5% are mixed users (they smoke and use smokeless tobacco), and the quit rate is very low. In an effort to decrease prevalence of tobacco use,...

Assessment of Gutka ban in Maharashtra: findings from a focus group discussion

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2013-06-11

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International Journal of Head & Neck Surgery

According to Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) India 2009-2010, around 8.3% (13.4% among male and 2.5% amongfemale) of people in Maharashtra are gutka users. Gutkaconsumption not only causes oral cancer, but has also beenlinked with development of oral submucous fibrosis, aprecancerous lesion...

Nutritional status and childhood growth among Korku and Warli tribes of Maharashtra: anthropometric perspective

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2013-01-01

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Explorations in Medical Anthropology

Nutritional status and childhood growth among Korku and Warli tribes of Maharashtra: anthropometric perspective.

Early childhood growth among Mahadev Koli tribes of Maharashtra

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2011-06-01

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Voice of Intellectual Man

The present study aims “to study the growth status of the children of age group 0 to 5 years of Mahadev koli”. This cross-sectional study focuses on growth of children of age group 0 to 5 years in Ambegaon Taluka, Pune district, Maharashtra. Using De-facto population, 110 Mahadev Koli- 51 girls and...

Gauri Dhumal featured in Scholar Spotlight

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2022-04-28

Source:

Weill Cornell Medicine Center for Global Health

PDF: Dr. Gauri Dhumal was interviewed for the Weill Cornell Medicine Center for Global Health's Female Global Scholars newsletter. It is part of the Women In Global Health Research Initiative.

Mentorship Award!

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2021-11-02

Gauri Dhumal and Neetal Nevrekar received the award from USAID’s Women in Science Mentoring Program for separate pilot projects that study better tuberculosis treatment methods. Nishi Suryavanshi is their mentor.