Varalakshmi Manchana
Dr. Varalakshmi Manchana, in teaching at higher education institutions for graduate and master nursing programs since 2007, worked in various capacities like Assistant Professor, Vice Principal and Principal before joining at University of Hyderabad (2010). She teaches MPH program and supervises PhD health sciences scholars. Her specific research focus is Sociobehavioural health; and socio-behavioural interventions for healthy, cognitive ageing and mental wellbeing. Dr.Manchana developed age sensitive physical exercise (HAAEP-PACE) program for functional health and fall prevention in ageing population. She is recipient of the International fellowship for senior Biomedical Scientists, by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) (2022-2023), in the area of Ageing and social change and she is awarded with international faculty mobility program to Canada and received international program development grant (2018) to conduct, “India Ageing Study” pilot research. She is also recipient of extramural research grants for her research on Child Injuries (ICMR), Health and Social status in QOL of older population (ICSSR). Her ongoing research on ‘Fall risk and Dementia Prevention through CogPhyEx’ funded by the Institution of Eminence grant. Developed an ‘Active and Healthy Ageing Research Lab’ procuring equipment grant from UoH and DST FIST and started the ‘Healthy Ageing Initiative’ with scientific social responsibility extending her research to rural and urban communities to promote and sensitize population towards active aging and wellbeing. She has presented her work in the national and international conferences in US, Canada, Singapore, Sweden, and Malaysia and visited to present her work at countries like US, Canada and Sweden. She has organized national and international conferences in the area of Ageing, Gender and Ethics. She is a reviewer in several indexed journal review boards, has published 24 research papers, three book chapters in indexed journals and ten other articles. She is experienced in professional accreditation processes and is an adhoc member for professional council and serves as a member in various scientific and professional committees, PhD external examiner and coordinates programs of external academic collaboration. Published 28 research papers, 10 articles and three book chapters in impact journals and presented papers in various international conferences in US, Canada, Sweden, Singapore, Malaysia and India, Scientific reviewers for journals from Springer Nature, Taylor and Francis, Elsevier, Dove Press, Frontiers in Nutrition, BMC Public health, Bentham Science Publishers etc.