I have joined ICMR- NIN in May 2021 during the COVID Pandemic, as a Medical Scientist E and am Heading the Maternal and Child Health, Nutrition Division. I have started my research work at NIN with COVID Sero surveys and am currently pursuing research Systems Approach to combat all forms of malnutrition. I have completed MD in Community Medicine from Osmania Medical College, Hyderabad (2004).

As a Surveillance Medical Officer at the World Health Organization for three years in North Telangana and Bihar, I led efforts in Acute Flaccid Paralysis surveillance, measles outbreak investigations, mass immunization campaigns, and strengthening routine immunisation. I identified silent Type 1 Wild Polio Virus circulation in a remote border village, which influenced vaccination strategies and contributed to polio elimination in India. These efforts helped achieve a 99.9% global reduction in polio, saving over 1.5 million lives and preventing paralysis in 18 million children.* This experience provided me with valuable hands-on expertise in public health implementation science.

Over the course of nine years, I served as a Professor of Community Medicine at the Apollo Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, where I contributed to both academic and public health domains. In this role, I was actively involved as a medical officer in rural and urban health centers, managing diverse healthcare needs, including frontline work in COVID-19 isolation wards. I also contributed significantly to the medical education landscape, focusing on competency-based curriculum integrating family medicine, primary care and community medicine. This extensive involvement in research, education, and public health has provided me with a well-rounded understanding of the healthcare landscape, equipping me to address challenges in medical education, public health policy, and community healthcare implementation in India. Currently part of 9 research projects as PI and Co-PI

*Lancet T. Polio eradication: falling at the final hurdle? The Lancet. 2022 Oct 1;400(10358):1079

1. Banjara SK, Challa SR, Augustine LF, Dasi T, Madhari R, Rao SF, et al. Eggs for Improving Nutrition, cognitive development and reducing linear growth retardation among Infants and young Children (ENRICH): protocol of an egg supplementation trial among children aged 9–18 months in Hyderabad, India. BMJ Paediatrics Open [Internet]. 2024 Feb 1 [cited 2024 Mar 2];8(Suppl 1):e001892. Available from:
   https://bmjpaedsopen.bmj.com/content/8/Suppl_1/e001892
2. Nandeep ER, Mahajan H, Mummadi MK, Sairam C, K V, Kadiyam J, et al. Implementation, delivery, and utilization of iron fortified rice supplied through public distribution system across different states in India: An exploratory mixed-method study. PLOS Global Public Health. 2024 Aug 7;4(8):e0003533
3. Hemalatha R, Samarasimha Reddy N, Sairam Challa, Venkatesh K, Raghu Pullakhandam, Nandeep ER, Teena D, Mahesh Kumar M, Raghavendra P. Efficacy and safety of iron fortified rice in India - A white paper, ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad. 2023. [Internet]. Available from:
   https://www.nin.res.in/downloads/whitepaper.pdf
4. Hemalatha R , Samarasimha Reddy N, Challa Sairam, Hemanth Mahajan, Jayachandra Kadiyam, II Meshram, Venkata Raji Reddy, et al. Formative Research to Understand the Rollout of Fortified Rice through Public Distribution System in India [Internet]. Available from:
   https://www.nin.res.in/downloads/FFR%20Consolidated%20report_Final-01-02-2024.pdf
5. R Hemalatha, SubbaRao M Gavaravarapu, Sai Ram Challa, Sylvia F Rao, P Raghavendra, Hrusikesh Panda. Report On Assessing Effectiveness of Front-Of-Pack Nutrition Labels (FOPNL) For Pre-Packaged Processed Foods In India – A Study On Formats, Acceptability And Potential Use [Internet]. ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad.; 2023. Available from:
   https://www.nin.res.in/survey_reports/fopnl_report.pdf
6. Pandurangi R, Mummadi MK, Challa S, Reddy NS, Kaliaperumal V, Khadar Babu C, Telikicherla UR, Pullakandham R, Geddam JJB, Hemalatha R. Burden and Predictors of Malnutrition Among Indian Adolescents (10-19 Years): Insights From Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey Data. Front Public Health. 2022 Jun 15;10:877073. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.877073. PMID: 35784251; PMCID: PMC9240318.
7. Prabhakar S, Suravarapu S, Mathai D, Renangi S, Challa S. Risk Factors for Stroke in Rural Population of Telangana State of India, an Unmatched Case Control Study. J Neurosci Rural Pract. 2020 Jul;11(3):448-453. doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1713291. Epub 2020 Jul 31. PMID: 32753811; PMCID: PMC7394663.
8. Challa S, Amirapu P. Surveillance of Anaemia: Mapping and Grading the High Risk Territories and Populations. J Clin Diagn Res. 2016 Jun;10(6):LC01–6.
9. Chandrika K, Das BN, Syed S, Challa S. Diabetes Self-Care Activities: A Community-Based Survey in an Urban Slum in Hyderabad, India. Indian J Community Med. 2020 Jul- Sep;45(3):307-310. doi: 10.4103/ijcm.IJCM_236_19. Epub 2020 Sep 1. PMID: 33354008; PMCID: PMC7745821.
10. Challa S, Krosuri V. Danger signs of acute respiratory tract infections in under-five children: awareness among mothers in the urban slums of Hyderabad, its relation to treatment seeking behaviour. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health. 2018 Dec 24;6:190.