Public Health Research Institute of India

18/05/2026

We are honored to share that Mrs. Poornima Jayakrishna Chief Administrative Officer at PHRII, was felicitated with the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Award as a Women’s Health Activist by Universal Brotherhood, a social and educational charitable trust, during the recently held Sarva Dharma Sammelana in Bengaluru.

Over nearly two decades, she has played a pivotal role in advancing women’s health through research, advocacy, training, and community healthcare initiatives across underserved communities. She has led and supported several research-driven public health programs at the grassroots level, contributed to scientific literature through peer-reviewed international publications, and represented her work at national and international forums through multiple scholarships and recognitions.

In 2021, Mrs. Poornima Jayakrishna was honored with the Karnataka Excellence Award for Best Innovation and Research in Healthcare, and in 2024, she was invited by the World Health Organization to Costa Rica as an adviser and member of the HPV TPPS Working Group. Her continued commitment to improving women’s health through accessible, evidence-based healthcare remains deeply inspiring💜

10/05/2026

Mother — Caregiver, Protector, The Heart of the Home ♥️

And yet, in 2 out of 3 families affected by cervical cancer, often a mother is lost—leaving young children behind. A devastating reality from a disease that is largely preventable.

This Mother’s Day—and every day—let’s give our mothers the gift that matters most—Life.

Encourage the women in your family to get screened.
A simple test can detect early changes before cancer develops.
Early screening and vaccination enables timely care—and protects her future.

Because protecting her health is one of the most powerful ways to show love.

Watch the inspiring story of a mother 👇

28/04/2026

World Immunization Week | April 24–30

Vaccines save millions of lives every year - yet many remain underutilized.

In India, cervical cancer continues to claim lives, with over 1.2 lakh new cases and ~80,000 deaths annually (WHO). Despite this, HPV vaccination uptake remains low, largely due to gaps in awareness, access, and widespread misinformation around safety and need.

The recent rollout of India’s HPV vaccination program marks a critical step toward changing this narrative.

At PHRII, we are working to ensure this progress reaches the last mile:
🔹Rolling out HPV vaccination for 400 children in the coming months
🔹Engaging parents and adolescents to understand community perspectives
🔹Co-creating IEC materials that are for the community, by the community, with the community

Vaccination goes beyond access - it requires trust, awareness, and community engagement.

Learn more about HPV vaccination: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mR9BrI7Sa-8

Vaccinate Early. Protect a Lifetime.

-I

Call to Arms the War Against Cervical Cancer

23/04/2026

What’s really holding back cervical cancer screening at the community level?

At a recent Action Group for Cervical Cancer Elimination session—a global consortium of renowned scientists and professionals working on prevention— Dr. Devanshi Somaiya, MD, MPH shared 5 key bottlenecks, and how we’re addressing them at Public Health Research Institute of India (PHRII) one step at a time!

But where do you start?

➡️ Step 1: Low Awareness / Health Literacy
Before improving systems, costs, or capacity — you need to start with community engagement. For the community, by the community, with the community,

That’s why we begin with structured, evidence-based frameworks (TDF/PEN-3) to understand how people think, what they believe, and what holds them back.

When engagement is focused and contextual, IEC becomes more relevant—and more effective.

Start with health literacy, fill knowledge gaps and dispel myths specific to your community, and the wheel begins to turn. Because when people understand the risk, they choose to act.

Swipe to see how health behavior modification increases community awareness and screening acceptance 👇

📊 Explore our quantitative and qualitative question bank:
https://lnkd.in/dGSeuYwu

11/04/2026

Every safe birth begins with care, trust, and timely intervention 🤱

PHRII’s journey started with this prime focus to support pregnant women by providing antenatal care in rural Mysore 🤰

This National Safe Motherhood Day, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that every mother has access to the care she deserves - before, during, and beyond pregnancy 👩‍👧‍👦

07/04/2026

A screening camp in a village.
A conversation that builds trust.
A diagnosis caught early.

Behind each of these moments is science - guiding every decision, every intervention, every life touched.

At PHRII, research is not just data, it shapes how we reach communities, design programs, and deliver care that truly makes a difference.

Because when science reaches the last mile, health becomes possible for all.

Explore how our research is driving real-world impact:

👉 https://www.phrii.com/research-project

30/03/2026

St Johns Medical College Hospital, in collaboration with Public Health Research Institute of India (PHRII), Liger India, and KSOGI, hosted a hands-on training for 50+ physicians across specialties.

Led by Dr. Andrew Goldstein, the workshop highlighted critical insights: Untreated lichen sclerosus markedly increases vulvar cancer risk, and LEEP can be safely performed in outpatient settings under local anesthesia — bridging the gap between screening and timely treatment.

This collaboration reinforces the power of partnerships in strengthening provider capacity and improving outcomes, as PHRII continues to advance scalable solutions for cervical cancer elimination.

28/03/2026

PHRII hosted a capacity-building workshop, bringing together 25 Obstetrician-Gynecologists for hands-on training in cervical cancer prevention.

Led by Dr. Devanshi Somaiya, MD, MPH and Dr. Goldstein - a globally recognized expert in vulvar and vaginal health and Founder & President of the Gynecologic Cancers Research Foundation, the workshop focused on strengthening clinical skills in early detection and treatment through LEEP (Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure).

At PHRII, capacity building remains central to our mission - ensuring that clinical expertise translates into accessible and equitable care. Through practical, expert-led training, participants enhanced their ability to deliver timely and effective care.

We thank Dr. Goldstein for his continued leadership and commitment to advancing women’s health.

23/03/2026

A Day of

PHRII kicked off a meaningful collaboration with Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement - SVYM at Swami Vivekananda Memorial Hospital - beginning with an awareness session on HPV and cervical cancer prevention for healthcare providers.

From knowledge-sharing to understanding community care on the ground, the day reflected what strong partnerships can achieve.

Dr. Kiranmayee Muralidhar's message was a powerful reminder of the strength, resilience, and contributions of women while also emphasizing the continued need to advance equality and prioritize women’s health.

Because improving women’s health takes more than awareness - it takes collective action.

We concluded with a heartfelt celebration honoring the incredible women who lead, serve, and inspire change every day.

18/03/2026

Dr. Kiranmayee Muralidhar, Research Physician at .mysore, recently presented an oral paper at the 14th Annual National AIDS Conference (AIDSCON14) in Chandigarh (Feb 26–27), conducted by the Chandigarh State AIDS Control Society.

She highlighted social-structural barriers and community perspectives on HPV vaccination among sexual and gender minorities (SGM) in South India.

Here's a quick glimpse of the insights 👇


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08/03/2026

Your Health. Your Voice. Your Power.

This Women’s Day, we celebrate the scientists, clinicians, public health leaders, ASHA workers, and community champions who are transforming healthcare from the ground up.

At PHRII, women lead research to strengthen health systems and strive to deliver equitable healthcare to all.

Today, we cheer leadership, resilience, and impact — By the women. For the women.