Dr Ravindra Rao

2. Name: Dr Ravindra Rao

3. Designation: Professor (Psychiatry)

4. Qualifications: MD (Psychiatry)

5. Email ID: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

6. Field of Interest: Addiction Psychiatry; Public Health related to substance use disorder; Community-based treatment for substance use disorder; Consultation Liaison Addiction Psychiatry

7. Total number of publications till date: 87

8. Details of publications since 2010 onwards (the full citation)- these should be divided into journal  articles (peer reviewed publications) and books/monographs/project reports/ proceedings from workshops (non-peer reviewed publications)

1. Peer reviewed publications:

1. Ghosh S, Jain R, Rao R, Mishra AK, Jhanjee S. Does ethyl glucuronide in hair correlates with alcohol consumption? A comparative study with other traditional biomarkers among individuals with alcohol dependence syndrome. Alcohol, Nov 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.alcohol.2022.10.005

2. Rao R, Chadda R, Kathiresan P, Gupta R, Bhad R, Mishra AK, Deb KS, Rajhans P, Ganesh R. Prevalence of substance use and substance use disorder in medically ill patients: A cross-sectional, hospital-based study from India. National Medical Journal of India, 2022. (Accepted for publication)

3. Kainth D, Kathiresan P, Bhad R, Rao R, Verma A. A Hyperalert Newborn. Neoreviews, 2022;23(6):e413-415

4. Quraishi R, Varshney M, Rao R, Ambekar A. Evaluation of alcohol use pattern among OST patients using alcohol biomarkers: Report from community clinics in India. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 2022;64(3):312-15

5. Rao R, Kathiresan P, Kishore K, Kumar P, Sharma C, Mishra JK. Physical and mental health of women whose spouses inject drugs – A cross-sectional, multi-site study. Indian Journal of Public Health, 2022;66(1):57-60

6. Quraishi R, Kathiresan P, Verma K, Rao R, Jain R. Effect of chronic opioid use on the hematological and inflammatory markers: A retrospective study from North India. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 2022;64(3):252-256

7. Saini R, Parmar A, Rao R, Mishra AK, Ambekar A, Agrawal A. Psychiatric and substance use comorbidities among people who inject drugs in India: A cross-sectional, community-based study. World Soc Psychiatry 2021;3:195-202

8. Garcia RR, Keeley J, Vega-Ramirez H, Cruz-Islas et al. Validity of Categories Related to Gender Identity in ICD-11 and DSM-5 Among Transgender Individuals who Seek Gender-Affirming Medical Procedures. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology 2021. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijchp.2021.100281

9. Mathur R, Parmar A, Singh S, Tandup T, Bhad R, Rao R. Sildenafil misuse for its psychoactive properties? A case report. Journal of Addiction Medicine 2021; 15(6):522-524

10. Singh B, Rao R. Is there an opioid epidemic in India? Journal of Public Health, 2021;43 (Suppl 2). https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdab322

11. Ganesh R, Rao R, Deb KS, Bhad R, Yadav D. Digital Capacity and Interest in mHealth Interventions Among Individuals on Opioid Agonist Maintenance Treatment: A Cross-Sectional Community-Based Study. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine. July 2021. https://doi:10.1177/02537176211027239

12. Ghosh S, Jain R, Singh S, Rao R, Mishra AK, Jhanjee S. A simplified approach for determination of urinary ethyl glucuronide by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Journal of Analytic Science and Technology, 2021;12:35. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40543-021-00290-6

13. Singh A, Rao R, Chatterjee B, Mishra AK, Kaloiya G, Ambekar A. Cognitive functioning in patients maintained on buprenorphine at peak and trough buprenorphine levels: An experimental study. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2021.102697

14. Rao R, Dhawan A, Parmar A, Yadav D, Bhad R. Improving Treatment of Substance Use Disorders through Community Drug Treatment Clinics: An Experiential Account. Indian Journal of Community Medicine, 2021; 46(3):370-3

15. Rao R, Yadav D, Bhad R, Rajhans P. Mobile Methadone Dispensing – Experience of a new model of methadone delivery from India: An Implementation Research. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 2021;99:422–28 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.2471/BLT.20.251983

16. Kathiresan P, Bhad R, Rao R. What’s in a name? Nosological issues in substance use and addictive disorders: perspectives form ICD-11. Asian J Psychiatry. 2021, Feb 10;57: 102585.

17. Sartaj D, Krishnan V, Rao R, Ambekar A, Dhingra N, Sharan P. Mental illnesses and related vulnerabilities in the Hijra community: a cross-sectional study from India. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 2020. Aug 20:20764020950775. 

18. Kathiresan P, Rao R, Narnoli S, Hans G, Sharan P. Adjuvant Trazodone for management of Protracted Delirium Tremens. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1177/0253717620933436

19. Dhagudu NK, Ambekar A, Agrawal A, Rao R, Mishra AK, Jain R, Singh S. Is there enough naloxone to deter the diversion? Effect of concurrent administration of intravenous naloxone on opioid agonist effects of intravenous buprenorphine: A randomised, double‐blind, within‐subject, crossover study among opioid‐dependent subjects. Drug and Alcohol Review, 2020. (doi.org/10.1111/dar.13057)

20. Rao R, Gupta SK, Ramshankar P, Gupta V, Dhawan A, Agrawal A, Ambekar A. Predictors of long-term retention on opioid agonist treatment with buprenorphine: a six-year, community-based retrospective cohort study in India. Journal of Substance Use, 2020. DOI: 10.1080/14659891.2020.1736666

21. Rao R, Panda U, Gupta SK, Ambekar A, Gupta S, Agrawal A. Portrayal of alcohol in Bollywood movies: A mixed methods study. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 2020; 62(2):159-166. DOI: 10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_294_19

22. Gupta S, Lal R, Rao R, Mishra AK, Ambekar A. The Pattern of Alcohol Use and Its Relationship with Consequences Among Problem Alcohol Users: A Community Based Cross-Sectional Study from India. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 2020; 62(2):152-158. DOI: 10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_194_19

23. Kathiresan P, Rao R, Joshi T, Bhad R, Bhatnagar S, Deb KS, Chadda RK. Chronic non-cancer pain and opioid addiction – diagnostic and management challenges. Indian Journal of Palliative Care, 2020. 26(4):544-547

24. Saini R, Rao R, Parmar A, Mishra AK, Ambekar A, Agrawal A, Dhingra N. Rates, knowledge and risk factors of non-fatal opioid overdose among People Who Inject Drugs in India: A community-based study. Drug and Alcohol Review. 2020 Jan;39(1):93-97. doi: 10.1111/dar.13016.

25. Dhagudu N, Gupta S, Bhad R, Rao R. Community‑based Management of Opioid Use Disorder: Role of Nursing Professionals and Paramedical Workers. Indian J Psy Nsg 2019; 16:43-8

26. Tripathi R, Rao R, Dhawan A, Jain R, Sinha S. Opioid and Sleep – A Review of Literature. Sleep Medicine, 2020 Mar;67:269-275. doi: 10.1016/j.sleep.2019.06.012.

27. Tripathi R, Dhawan A, Rao R, Mishra AK, Jain R, Sinha S. Assessment of subjective sleep problems in males with opioid dependence maintained on buprenorphine. Journal of Addiction Medicine, 2019. doi: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000000539

28. Rao R, Varshney M, Singh S, Agrawal A, Ambekar A. Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 and Addiction Treatment: Potential Pitfalls and Trepidations. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 2019;61:208-12. DOI: 10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_463_18

29. Quraishi R, Varshney M, Singh A, Singh D, Kumar M, Rao R, Jain R, Ambekar A. Use of Filter Paper to Measure Alcohol Biomarkers among Opioid-Dependent Patients on Agonist Maintenance Treatment: A Community-Based Study. Indian J Psychol Med 2019;Nov 11;41(6):529-534.

30. Modak T, Bhad R, Rao R. A rare case of physical dependence with psychedelic LSD – A case Report. J Subst Use. 2019. DOI: 10.1080/14659891.2019.1581286

31. Ghosh S, Jain R, Jhanjee S, Rao R, Mishra AK. Alcohol Biomarkers and their Relevance in Detection of Alcohol Consumption in Clinical Settings. International Archives of Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation,2019;1:1-8

32. Ambekar A, Rao R, Agrawal A, Kathiresan P. Research on Opioid Substitution Therapy in India: a brief, narrative review. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 2018;60(3):265-70

33. Modak T, Bhad R, Rao R. Utility of Aripiprazole in co-occurring problem gambling and toluene dependence: A case report. Journal of Substance Use 2019;24:117-19 DOI: 10.1080/14659891.2018.1523964

34. Singh J, Gupta R, Prajapati DC, Rao R. Use of opium containing herbal drug and associated mania. Asian Journal of Psychiatry (2018). 36, 36-37

35. Bagra I, Krishnan V, Rao R, Agrawal A. Does cannabis use influence opioid-related outcomes and quality of life among buprenorphine-maintained patients? - a cross-sectional, comparative study. Journal of Addiction Medicine (2018); 12(4):315-320. DOI: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000000406.

36. Parmar A, Patil V, Sarkar S, Rao R. An observational study of treatment seeking users of natural opiates from India. Substance Use and Misuse, 2017, Dec 8:1-7. DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2017.1400564.

37. Gupta S, Lal R, Rao R, Mishra AK, Ambekar A. Pattern of alcohol use among problem alcohol users in a community-based setting in India: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Substance Use, 2017: 130-135. DOI: 10.1080/14659891.2017.1366557

38. Dhawan A, Rao R, Ambekar A, Pusp A, Ray R. Treatment of Substance Use Disorders through the Government Health facilities: Developments in the ‘Drug De-Addiction Programme’ of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 2017;59(3):380-84

39. Rajhans P, Rao R. Book review: Demons: Our changing attitudes to alcohol, tobacco, & drugs. National Medical Journal of India, 2017;30(3):174-75

40. Rao R. The Journey of Opioid Substitution Therapy in India: Achievements and Challenges. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 2017; 59(1): 39-45.

41. Patil V, Tewari A, Rao R. New Psychoactive Substances: Issues and Challenges. J Mental Health Hum Behav 2016;21(2):98-104

42. Rao R, Ambekar A, Agrawal A, Pawar AKS, Mishra A, Khandelwal SK. Evaluation of a five-day training programme on Opioid Substitution Therapy in India, 2016. Drugs: Education, Prevention & Policy. DOI: 10.3109/09687637.2016.1167166

43. Rao R, Mandal P, Gupta R, Ramashankar P, Mishra AK, Ambekar A, Jhanjee S, Dhawan A. Factors affecting drug use during incarceration: a cross-sectional study of opioid-dependent persons from India. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 2015 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2015.08.009

44. Kuppuli PP, Bhad R, Rao R, Dayal P, Ambekar A. The mis-adventurous use of prescription opioids in chronic non-cancer pain: a case report. The National Medical Journal of India, 2015, 28(6):284-85.

45. Varshney M, Ambekar R, Lal R, Yadav D, Rao R, Mishra A. Brief interventions for harmful alcohol use in opioid-dependent patients on maintenance treatment with buprenorphine: a prospective study from India. Addictive Disorders and their Treatment, 2015. DOI: 10.1097/ADT.0000000000000076

46. Ambekar A, Rao R, Agrawal A, Goyal S, Mishra A, Kishore K, Mukherjee D, Albertin C. Pattern of Drug Use and Associated Behaviors Among Female Injecting Drug Users From Northeast India: A Multi-Centric, Cross-Sectional, Comparative Study. Substance Use and Misuse, 2015, 50(10): 1332-1340. DOI: 10.3109/10826084.2015.1013130

47. Ambekar A, Rao R, Mishra AK, Agrawal A. Types of Opioids injected – Does it matter? A multi-centric cross-sectional study of people who inject drugs. Drug and Alcohol Review, 2015, 34: 97-104

48. Ambekar A, Rao R, Pun A, Kumar MS, Kishore K. The trajectory of methadone maintenance treatment in Nepal. International Journal of Drug Policy, 2013. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2013.06.001

49. Ambekar A, Rao R, Agrawal A. India’s National Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Policy, 2012: A 20th century document in 21st Century. International Journal of Drug Policy, 2013;24:374-75

50. Rao R, Agrawal A, Kishore K, Ambekar A. Delivery models of opioid agonist maintenance treatment in South Asia: A good beginning. Bull World Health Organ 2013;91:150–153. doi:10.2471/BLT.12.111815

51. Chengappa M, Rao R, Kumar MS. The development of Methadone Maintenance Treatment in the Maldives. International Journal of Drug Policy, 2013;24(2):164-65 .

52. Rao R, Ambekar A, Yadav S, Sethi H, Dhawan A. Slow release morphine as a maintenance agent in opioid dependence syndrome: an exploratory study from India. Journal of Substance Use 2012,17(3):294-300

2. Books/ Manuals/Reports:

Editor / Associate editor / Author of books/manuals:

1. Rao R. One stop integrated model for women who use drugs in Punjab: An Implementation Document. Alliance India, New Delhi, 2020

2. Rao R, Kathiresan P. Assessment of Standards of Care in Services for People Who Use Drugs in India. Alliance India, 2020.

3. Ambekar A, Agrawal A, Rao R, Mishra AK, Khandelwal SK, Chadda R on behalf of the group of investigators for the National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India (2019). Magnitude of Substance Use in India. New Delhi: Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.

4. Rao R, Ambekar A, Agrawal A. Opioid Substitution Therapy under National AIDS Control Programme: Clinical Practice Guidelines for treatment with Methadone. National AIDS Control Organisation, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, 2017

5. Ambekar A, Rao R, Agrawal A, Varshney M. Methadone Maintenance Treatment under National AIDS Control Programme: Training Manual. National AIDS Control Organisation, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, 2016

6. Rao R, Arumugam V, Sharma C, Beddoe S, Peters T, Mehta A, Robertson J. Community Action on Harm Reduction in India: Impact Assessment, India HIV/AIDS Alliance, 2015

7. Ambekar, A., Kumar, R., Rao, R., Agrawal, A., Kumar, M., & Mishra, A. K. (2015). Punjab Opioid Dependence Survey. Retrieved from http://pbhealth.gov.in/scan0003%20(2).pdf

8. Rao R, Agrawal A, Ambekar A. Opioid Substitution Therapy under National AIDS Control Programme: Clinical Practice Guidelines for treatment with Buprenorphine. New Delhi: Department of AIDS Control, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, 2014

9. Dhawan, A., Rao, R., Ambekar, A., Chopra, A., Jain, R., Yadav, D., Ray, R. Methadone Maintenance Treatment in India: A feasibility and effectiveness Report. New Delhi: UNODC (ROSA) and NDDTC (AIIMS), 2014

10. Ambekar A, Rao R, Varshney M, Prashanth R, Dhawan A, Jain R, Ray R, Bhola S, Gupta N, Chopra A, Sethi H. Post Marketing Surveillance of Methadone in India – Report submitted to Drug Controller General (India), Central Drug Standards Control Organisation, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. New Delhi: National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, 2014

11. Ambekar A, Rao R, Dhawan A, Ray R. Quality Assurance of Opioid Substitution Treatment in India – A reference guide for mentors. NDDTC, AIIMS and National AIDS Control Organisation, 2013.

12. Rao R, Kumar M, Singh M. Evolution of Targeted Intervention programme for High Risk Groups in Punjab under National AIDS Control Programme-III – A documentary. Punjab State AIDS Control Society and Society for Promotion of Youth and Masses, 2013. DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.2159.5366

13. Ambekar A, Rao R. Training of General Physicians on Substance Use Disorders: A manual for facilitators. National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC), All India Institute of Medical Sciences, 2013.

14. Rao R, Ambekar A, Agrawal A. Opioid Substitution Therapy under National AIDS Control Programme: A situation analysis. Report prepared under Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Round 9 HIV-IDU Grant, New Delhi, 2012.

15. Kumar MS, Rao R, Chengappa M. Methadone Maintenance Treatment in the Republic of Maldives: Standard operating Procedure. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Regional Office for South Asia, 2012.

16. Rao R, Mittal A. Opioid overdose prevention and management for injecting drug users: standard operating procedures. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Regional Office for South Asia, 2012.

17. Ambekar A, Rao R, Mukherjee D, Kedia S. Counselling in Targeted Interventions for Injecting Drug Users – A Training module. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Regional Office for South Asia and Tata Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi, 2011

3. Author of chapters in books/manuals:

1. Rao R, Tripathi R. Stimulants and Sleep. In: Gupta R., Neubauer D.N., Pandi-Perumal S.R. (eds) Sleep and Neuropsychiatric Disorders. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-0123-1_40

2. Substance Use Disorders – An Introduction. In Kaloiya G et al. (Eds.). Basics of Addiction Psychology. New Delhi: National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre, AIIMS, 2019.

3. Rao R, Kathiresan P. Opioid Substitution Therapy – Past, Present and Future. In: Psychiatry Update, 21^st Mid-term CME, Indian Psychiatric Society, East Zone & National CME, Addiction Psychiatry sub-specialty section, Indian Psychiatric Society, 2018.

9. Presentations made at scientific meetings/ conferences/ workshops

1. Patient experience of take-home methadone compared to daily methadone maintenance treatment: A cross-sectional study from India. Poster presentation in the 2022 NIDA International Forum, from 9-10 June 2022.

2. Overdose prevention and management among People Who Inject Drugs. Invited lecture delivered at AIDSCON – 11 organised by Chandigarh State AIDS Control Society on 12 March 2022.

3. Chronic pain and opioid misuse. CME organised by Indian Psychiatric Society North Zone (online)

4. Basics of Research Methods in Addiction Science. Workshop conducted in ADDICON 2021, an online national conference organised by Addiction Psychiatry Society of India on 10-11 December 2021

5. From Sharabi to Devdas: How Bollywood portrays substances: A mixed-methods study. Symposium presented at ADDICON 2021, an online national conference organised by Addiction Psychiatry Society of India on 10-11 December 2021

6. Avenues for growth of addiction psychiatry in India: Recent Initiatives and advances. Symposium presented in the World Association of Social Psychiatry Asia Pacific Congress 2021

7. Addiction treatment services during COVID 19 pandemic- Experience from a Community Drug Treatment Clinic in Delhi, India. Symposium presented in the International Society of Addiction Medicine 2021 Congress on 21 November 2021

8. The unmet needs of wives of people Who Inject Drugs. Symposium presented in the National Conference of the Indian Association of Social Psychiatry 2021

9. Rates and knowledge of non-fatal Opioid Overdose among people who inject drugs in India. Poster presentation in ‘National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) International Forum’ held online from June 21 – 24, 2020

10. Mobile Methadone Dispensing: An innovative model for opioid agonist maintenance treatment delivery in India. Symposium presented at the International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM) congress, 2020 held online from November 12 – 14, 2020

11. Adapting digital technology for delivering opioid agonist maintenance treatment for post-pandemic world. Symposium presented at the International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM) congress, 2020 held online from November 12 – 14, 2020

12. Portrayal of psychoactive substances in Bollywood movies – a mixed-methods study. Symposium presented at the National Conference of Indian Association of Social Psychiatry held in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha from 29 November – 1 December 2019

13. Magnitude of Substance Use in India. Symposium presented at the Indian Psychiatric Society North Zone Conference in Amritsar, Punjab from 2 – 3 November 2019

14. Opioid Substitution Therapy: Canada versus India Experience. Symposium presented at the International Society of Addiction Medicine Annual meet in New Delhi from 13 – 16 November 2019

15. New Psychoactive Substances: An Emerging Challenge in Addiction Psychiatry (Symposium) presented at the Annual National Conference of Indian Psychiatric Society, 2019

16. Rao R, Gupta SK, Ramshankar P, Agrawal A, Ambekar A, Dhawan A. Factors affecting Long-term Retention on Opioid Agonist Maintenance Treatment in a Community Drug Treatment Clinic: A Retrospective Cohort Study from India. Poster presentation in the 28^th Annual meeting and scientific symposium of the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, held in San Diego, CA, USA from 7 – 10 December 2017

17. Bagra I, Rao R, Dhawan A, Agrawal A. A cross-sectional study of cannabis use among opioid dependent patients maintained on buprenorphine in a community-based drug treatment clinic. Oral presentation in International Society of Addiction Medicine Congress, at Montreal, Canada, 2016

18. Ambekar A, Singh T, Mishra AK, Rao R, Agrawal A. Factors associated with risk of transition to injecting among men using opioids through non-injecting routes: A multi-site study from North India. Poster presentation in International Society of Addiction Medicine Congress, at Montreal, Canada, 2016

19. Deb KS, Rao R, Kedia S. Psychosocial Rehabilitation in Resource Limited Settings. Symposium presented at the National Workshop on Psychosocial Rehabilitation organised by the World Association of Psychosocial Rehabilitation held in Dharan, Nepal from 1 – 2 April 2016

20. Rao R, Mandal P, Gupta R, Ramshankar P, Mishra A, Jhanjee S, Ambekar A, Dhawan A. Knowledge of drug related laws and legal rights among people who use drugs. Poster presented at the International Society of Addiction Medicine Congress at Dundee, UK, 2015

21. Rao R, Ambekar A, Pawar Aditya Singh, Agrawal A, Mishra A, Khandelwal SK. Impact of five-day training on opioid substitution therapy on knowledge and skills of various cadres of service providers. Poster presented at the International Society of Addiction Medicine Congress at Dundee, UK, 2015

22. Rao R, Ambekar A, Khandelwal SK. Policy and practice of harm reduction in India. Symposium presented at the International Society of Addiction Medicine Congress at Dundee, UK, 2015

23. Dhawan A, Ambekar A, Lenin Singh RK, Rao R. How to deliver methadone maintenance treatment for opioid dependence. Workshop presented at the Annual National Conference of Indian Psychiatric Society, Hyderabad, 2015.

24. Rao R, Pawar AKS, Agrawal A, Ambekar A, Khandelwal S. Can a five‐day training programme on Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) improve scores on knowledge and skills of different cadre of service providers? Analysis of routine programme data. Oral presentation at the Annual National Conference of Indian Psychiatric Society, Hyderabad, 2015.

25. Kuppili PP, Bhad R, Rao R, Dayal P, Ambekar A. Opioid dependence in somatisation disorder. Oral presentation Annual National Conference of Indian Psychiatric Society, Hyderabad, 2015.

26. Rao R. Research Study Designs. Symposium on “Basics of Medical Research” conducted at National Conference of Indian Association of Social Psychiatry, Mysore, November 2014

27. Ambekar A, Rao R, Agrawal A. National Scale Up Of Opioid Substitution Therapy For Injecting Drug Users In India: The Journey So Far And The Road Ahead. Symposium at the Annual National Conference of Indian Psychiatric Society, Pune, 2014.

28. Dhawan A, Rao R, Ambekar A. Methadone Maintenance Therapy in India. Symposium at the Annual National Conference of Indian Psychiatric Society, Pune, 2014.

29. Krishnan V, Rao R, Ambekar A, Agrawal A. Retention in Opioid Substitution Therapy: How do you define it and does it matter? Oral Presentation at the Annual National Conference of Indian Psychiatric Society, Pune, 2014.

30. Prashanth R, Ambekar A, Rao R. Safety Of Methadone For Treatment Of Opioid Dependence: Should India Be Concerned? Oral Presentation at the Annual National Conference of Indian Psychiatric Society, Pune, 2014.

31. Rao R. Injecting Drug Use and HIV. Invited lecture at Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine (Gujarat Chapter), March 2013.

32. Ambekar A, Rao R, Agrawal A. Principles and Practice of Harm Reduction in Substance Use Disorders – Symposium presented at the Annual National Conference of Indian Psychiatric Society (ANCIPS), 2013.

33. Rao R. Harm reduction for HIV prevention among Injecting Drug Users. Invited lecture at AIDSCON-2, a conference on HIV/AIDS organized by Chandigarh State AIDS Control Society, March 2013.

34. Rao R. Community response to changing pattern of substance use. Invited lecture at XIX Annual conference of Indian Association for Social Psychiatry, Chandigarh, November 2012.

35. Rao R. OST in South Asia – operational issues and supply chain management. Presentation at Project Steering Committee: “Prevention of transmission of HIV among Drug Users in SAARC countries” (Project RAS/H13), organised by United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Regional Office for South Asia, Colombo, 2012

36. Ambekar A, Kumar MS, Rao R, Agrawal A. Agonist maintenance treatment for opioid dependence. Facilitators for Workshop conducted at Annual National Conference of Indian Psychiatric Society, Kochi, 2012.

37. Rao R. OST: Procurement, supply chain and service delivery. Presentation at Opioid Substitution Therapy Regional workshop, organised by World Bank, South Asia and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Regional Office for South Asia, Maldives, 2011.

38. Speaker at Continued Medical Education organized by Indian Psychiatric Society and Indian Medical Association, Jalandhar Branch, Punjab on the topic of Addictive disorders at Jalandhar, Punjab on 7 – 8 May 2011

10. Investigator/ Co-investigator in funded projects along with year completed/ongoing

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

1. Assessment of rates and causes of mortality among people with opioid dependence: a longitudinal, cohort study. Supported by Indian Council of Medical Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India (ongoing)

2. Assessment of HIV, other Blood-borne Viruses, TB and Risk Behaviours among Prison Inmates in Gujarat. Supported by UNODC, Regional Office for South Asia (completed)

3. Rates and Pattern of Psychoactive Substance Use among Prison Inmates in India: Supported by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India (completed)

4. Developing and testing an online training programme for medical officers on treatment of substance use disorders: Supported by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India (completed)

5. Assessment of pattern and trends of Amphetamine type Stimulants use in Manipur and Mizoram: a cross-sectional, multi-site study. Supported by Alliance, India (completed)

6. Assessment of HIV-related risk behaviours and vulnerabilities among female spouse of male injecting drug users in Delhi – a cross-sectional, observational study. Supported by Alliance, India (completed)

7. Rates of non-fatal opioid overdose among people who inject drugs in Delhi: A cross-sectional study. Supported by Alliance, India (completed)

8. Portrayal of psychoactive substance use in Bollywood movies: a mixed methods study: supported by AIIMS, New Delhi (completed)

CO-INVESTIGATOR

1. Field Testing of the International Standards for the Treatment Drug Use Disorders (The Standards) in India (completed)

2. Service -based field testing of ICD-11: Public Health/Clinical Utility and Comparability with ICD-10 in India (completed)

3. Detection of New Psychoactive Substances among Substance Abuse Treatment Seekers in India: A multi-centric Study: Supported by the National Fund for Control of Drug Abuse (NFCDA), Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Government of India. (completed)

4. Developing and Implementing Training Mechanism for use of Essential Narcotic Drugs (ENDs) for treatment of Opioid Dependence: Supported by the National Fund for Control of Drug Abuse (NFCDA), Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Government of India. (completed)

5. National Survey to estimate extent and pattern of substance use in India: supported by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (completed)

6. Strengthening Drug De-addiction Programme (DDAP) through establishing Drug Treatment Clinics (DTCs) in India supported by DDAP, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (completed)

7. Developing and testing an online training programme on implementing opioid substitution therapy: supported by Public Health Foundation of India (completed)

8. Size estimation of Drug Dependent Population in the state of Punjab: supported by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (completed)

9. Methadone Maintenance Treatment in India: a multi-site feasibility and effectiveness study: supported by UNODC, Regional office for South Asia, New Delhi (completed)

10. Post Marketing Surveillance of Methadone: supported by Rusan Pharmaceuticals, India (completed)

11. National Technical Training Centre: Supported by Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria-Round 9, HIV-IDU project (completed)

11. Investigator/Co-investigator in non-funded projects along with year and title completed/ongoing

12. Thesis supervised for MD/ DM/PhD

- as guide (number only): 6

-as co-guide (number only): 12

12. Awards and Honours

• Delivered TILAK VENKOBA RAO ORATION held in Annual National Conference of Indian Psychiatric Society (ANCIPS), 2017

• Awarded CERTIFICATE OF COMMENDATION for paper titled “Pattern of Drug Use and Associated Behaviours among Female Injecting Drug Users from Northeast India: A Multi-Centric, Cross-Sectional, Comparative Study” at AIIMS, New Delhi in 2016

13. Any other relevant information