Member Profile
Mahfuza Talukder Flowra
Country of origin: Bangladesh Currently in: Bangladesh, Dhaka General field of specialization: Medical and Health Sciences incl Neurosciences-
Degrees
2009 Undergraduate Medical and Health Sciences incl Neurosciences -
Current Research Activities
Medical and Health Sciences incl Neurosciences
Dr. Mahfuza Talukder Flowra is a promising, early career female researcher in Global Health at resource poor settings with an excellent track record for Vaccinology, NCD and One Health. After obtaining her medical degree from University of Dhaka in 2009, she held a post graduate clinical training position in Gynaecology & Obstetrics in a tertiary level medical college hospital till 2013.Currently, she is working as Medical Officer at icddr,b for last 4 years with a research group, engaged in different phases of vaccine trials in collaboration with several international organizations e.g., BMGF, IVI and GAVI. Dr. Flowra is the first Vaccinology Fellow from Bangladesh nominated by International Vaccine Institute (IVI), South Korea. Along with a certified vaccinologist from IVI, she is GCP trained with long standing experience of handling the clinical trials at both urban and rural settings. She has been acknowledged several times for her research career like fellowships and travel grants in several international conferences. She has published scientific papers in renowned peer reviewed journals like Journal of Hypertension and European Journal of Epidemiology. Besides the scientific capacity, Dr. Flowra expends effort in capacity building for neglected tropical diseases and zoonoses in Bangladesh. She is the life member of One Health Bangladesh. Dr. Flowra is the only member from Bangladesh in the inaugural cohort of South East Asia One Health University Network (SEAOHUN) Fellowship program which will help her to reach the goal for scientific capacity building in the country.
Publications resulting from Research:
1.Prevalence and associated risk factors for hypertension in a minor ethnic group (bihari community) in Bangladesh (2016). Mahfuza Talukder Flowra; Muhammad Asaduzzaman,Journal of Hypertension: September 2016; doi: 10.1097/01.hjh.0000500363.08234.32
2.Epidemiology, impact, prevention and control of nipah encephalitis in Bangladesh: a systematic review of one health issue(2016). Muhammad Asaduzzaman,Mahfuza Talukder Flowra,Sultan Mahmood;Eur J Epidemiol (2016) 31:S1–S239;DOI 10.1007/s10654-016-0183-1
Current profession
Current professional activities type:ResearchI am a Member of a research group engaged in several vaccine trials in close collaboration with EPI and donor agencies. As a team member, I develop new concepts & protocols with supervision & monitoring of study activities. I am involved in the following studies as co-Investigator and mid-level supervisor- 1. An individually randomized, placebo-controlled trial to measure the protection conferred by a single dose regimen of bivalent, killed, whole cell oral cholera vaccine (Shanchol™) in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Funding Agency- International Vaccine Institute(IVI) 2.Targeted Vaccination of Children in Urban Slums against Cholera: Evaluation of a Potentially Cost-effective and Impactful Strategy for Deploying Oral Cholera Vaccine in Bangladesh. Funding Agency-GAVI 3. A randomized double blind controlled non inferiority trial to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of locally manufactured inactivated bivalent whole cell-oral cholera vaccine (WC-OCV) ‘Cholvax’ in Bangladeshi healthy adults and children Funding Agency- International Vaccine Institute(IVI) 4. Introduction of cholera vaccine in Bangladesh: “ Impact Evaluation of cholera vaccine and behaviour change interventions in urban Dhaka” Funding Agency-Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation(BMGF)
Workshop and Conference Attended
2016 Seoul,South Korea 26th Meeting of the International Society of Hypertension2017 Seoul,South Korea International Congress of Endocrinology and Metabolism2016 Seoul,South Korea 17th International Vaccinology Course2017 Malaysia TRAINING ON PREVENTION OF WILDLIFE ZOONOSES AND TROPICAL ECOSYSTEM HEALTHAffiliations
One Health BangladeshAmerican Society of Microbiology (ASM)International Society of Infectious Diseases (ISID)International Society of Disease Surveillance (ISDS) -
Other Awards
May 2017SEAOHUN FellowshipThis Fellowship is an excellent opportunity for qualified individuals to gain practical, trans-disciplinary experience and contribute productively to One Health related projects at several host organizations sponsored by SouthEast Asia One Health University Network(SEAOHUN).Sep 2016IVI FellowshipFellowship to attend the 17th International Vaccinology Course at International Vaccine Institute (IVI).
