Research at a Glance
Selected indicators from author-supplied Scopus figures
*Figures supplied by the author and may change as databases are updated.
The central contribution of Prof. Mehrotra's work is not publication volume alone, but the translation of cancer evidence into policy, institutions, professional capacity and scalable programmes.
Tobacco Control & Oral Cancer Prevention
Integrated cancer pathology, epidemiology and public policy to address smoked and smokeless tobacco, oral potentially malignant disorders and head-and-neck cancer in high-burden settings.
First author of the 180-country Lancet Oncology policy review; institutional leader of the WHO FCTC Global Knowledge Hub on Smokeless Tobacco at ICMR-NICPR.
Made the global implementation gap in smokeless-tobacco control visible and converted evidence into an actionable agenda for surveillance, regulation, taxation, warnings and cessation.
Selected Landmark Publications
First author | Mehrotra R et al.
Smokeless tobacco control in 180 countries across the globe.
Lancet Oncology. 2019;20:e208-e217.
PMID 30942182.
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First author | Mehrotra R et al.
Role of the WHO FCTC Global Knowledge Hub on Smokeless Tobacco.
Indian Journal of Medical Research. 2018;148:7-13.
PMID 30264749.
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Population Screening & Early Detection
Advanced practical approaches to cancer screening and early diagnosis by linking test performance with workforce training, referral pathways, diagnostic confirmation and continuity of care.
First author of a clinical evaluation of oral-cancer screening aids; last and corresponding author of national Project ECHO work for cancer-screening capacity building.
Demonstrated that telementoring can strengthen and sustain cancer-screening knowledge, supporting scalable capacity-building where specialist access is limited.
Selected Landmark Publications
First author | Mehrotra R et al.
Evaluation of chemiluminescence and autofluorescence for clinically innocuous
oral lesions. J Am Dent Assoc. 2010;141:151-156.
PMID 20123872.
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Senior author | Hariprasad R et al.
Retention of knowledge in cancer screening through telementoring.
J Glob Oncol. 2018;4:1-7.
PMID 30084700.
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Cancer Genomics & Precision Oncology
Promoted genomically informed cancer research relevant to Indian and other underrepresented populations, connecting molecular evidence with pathology, prevention and clinical translation.
First author of a global gallbladder-cancer genomics synthesis; contributor to a Lancet Oncology research-priorities paper; Board Director of the Indian Cancer Genome Atlas Foundation.
Helped define research priorities for population-relevant genomics and build the case for diverse, clinically annotated molecular data to support equitable precision oncology.
Selected Landmark Publications
First author | Mehrotra R et al.
Genetic landscape of gallbladder cancer: global overview.
Mutat Res Rev Mutat Res. 2018;778:61-71.
PMID 30454684.
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Co-author | Sundar S et al.
Harnessing genomics to improve outcomes for women with cancer in India.
Lancet Oncology. 2018;19:e102-e112.
PMID 29413464.
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Global Cancer Epidemiology & Disease Burden
Contributed cancer and public-health expertise to international collaborations estimating disease burden and variation across geographies, risk factors and time.
Named India State-Level Disease Burden Initiative collaborator and co-author; contribution framed as collaborative interpretation and regional cancer-context expertise.
Supported comparable state-level evidence for priority-setting, prevention planning and recognition of major geographic inequalities in India's cancer burden.
Selected Landmark Publications
Co-author | Dhillon PK et al.
The burden of cancers and their variations across the states of India:
GBD Study 1990-2016. Lancet Oncology. 2018.
PMID 30219626.
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Co-author | Marutha et al.
Cancer prevention in low- and middle-income countries: Targeting environmental
and infectious exposure. In The Exposome in Cancer Disparities.
Academic Press, 2026.
DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-443-44322-0.00013-6
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Translation into Institutional Policy & Capacity
Connected evidence generation with institutional development, regulatory action, research governance, professional education and cross-sector collaboration.
Founder, CHIP Foundation; former Director, ICMR-NICPR; former member, WHO-IARC Scientific Council; CMO, Open Health Systems Laboratory; Board Director, Indian Cancer Genome Atlas Foundation.
Built durable bridges between researchers, clinicians, policymakers and public-health organisations, helping move cancer evidence from publication to national priorities and implementation.
Selected Landmark Publications
Co-author | Krishnamurthy A et al.
Cancer research in India: proceedings of an expert consensus panel.
Indian Journal of Cancer. 2026.
PMID 42616953.
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Senior author | Meena JK et al.
Status of Implementation of Cancer Prevention Strategies in India:
Roadblocks and Successes. ecancermedicalscience. 2025.
PMID 41778182.
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Current Research Agenda
Precision cancer prevention — integrating genomics, pathology, epidemiology, behavioural risks and implementation science to create affordable and equitable approaches for diverse populations.
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