Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI)

Provides both on-campus and eLearning academic programs as well as short-term trainings in various fields of public health. Also actively engages in research that aligns with programs and policies.
It aspires to set high standards in public health education, training, and research. The primary objective is to offer quality training to graduates from diverse backgrounds in various public health domains, contributing to the national health objectives.
Collaborating closely with state governments, it conducts state-specific and regional research. They strive to ensure that education and research are contextually relevant for India, maintaining global-quality standards.
The programs feature top-notch scientific content, delivery, and are tailored to the needs of developing nations. Courses are consistently updated to include the latest public health advancements and meet student needs.

Project iPROMISe (PROMoting Health Literacy in School) is an ongoing school-based initiative aimed at fostering a supportive environment among children and adolescents to embrace healthy lifestyle practices. PHFI has collaborated with the World India Diabetes Foundation (WIDF) to implement this project. A comprehensive module has been designed, featuring interactive activities and short, all rooted in the Health Belief Model (HBM), emphasizing the significance of a nutritious diet and physical activity. PHFI is strategizing to adapt these interventions for virtual platforms. This includes online sessions, competitions, and the creation of a mobile application to spread preventive messages that can influence both home and school environments. The audio-visual short films developed as part of Project iPROMISe have been shared with schools, and additional reinforcing messages are being produced for dissemination via social media platforms.

India-Works is an ongoing health and wellness initiative designed to delay the onset of diabetes among high-risk individuals in 11 selected large manufacturing industries in India. Supported by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, USA, the initiative aims to assess the viability, acceptability, and effectiveness of a peer-led structured lifestyle modification program.
India-Works initiative presents a range of offerings aimed at enhancing health and wellness in the workplace. These include a comprehensive and evidence-based wellness program catering to employees and their families. Expert talks and webinars cover topics like stress management, mental health, parenting, work-life balance, ergonomics, exercise, and nutrition. The program includes high-intensity interval training to engage children and adolescents. Additionally, it promotes healthier adaptations of existing food recipes to further support holistic well-being.

Tobacco cessation counseling by healthcare providers is crucial for aiding people in quitting tobacco use. However, healthcare providers often face time constraints in outpatient clinics. Mobile phone interventions, proven effective in developed countries, can enhance quitting rates by 25-50%. Despite WHO's endorsement for such interventions, their effectiveness has not been tested.
The intervention CERTAIN seeks to assess the viability of conducting an initial randomized controlled trial as a precursor to a larger study, evaluating the clinical efficacy (measured by tobacco cessation) and cost-effectiveness of a multifaceted intervention. This intervention combines face-to-face counselling with mobile phone calls and messaging for smokeless tobacco users in Indian primary care clinics, alongside standard care. The study will also create and assess a novel mobile phone-based counselling system to aid tobacco users in quitting over an 18-month period.

Since its establishment, PHFI has actively collaborated with national and international institutions to build a solid evidence foundation for public health. Through prioritized health domains, it has propelled policy-oriented research, partnering to address infectious and chronic diseases, maternal and child health, health systems, and health determinants. Encouraging scientific curiosity, PHFI fosters an environment for faculty, staff, and students to explore diverse public health disciplines and drive research agendas.

A Research Management Committee (RMC) guides and supports organized research activities across PHFI. An independent Research Advisory Committee (RAC), chaired by Professor Barry Bloom, provides external expertise for peer review and strategic counsel. Upholding ethical standards, an Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC) reviews research proposals, offers guidance, and ensures ethical practice.

PHFI has set up four Centres of Excellence to raise awareness and strengthen research, training and education in the high priority area of public health in India. These centres are:
Ramalingaswami Centre for Social determinants of Health, Bengaluru
Centre for Chronic Conditions & Injuries (CCCI)
South Asia Centre for Disability Inclusive Development and Research (SACDIR), Hyderabad
Centre for Environmental Health (CEH)
Centre for Digital Health