Shanta Dutta
Shanta Dutta | |
|---|---|
 Dutta in 2018 | |
| Born | Kolkata |
| Citizenship | Indian |
| Education |
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| Known for | Enteric and other infectious disease research |
| Spouse | A. Chattopadhyay |
| Children | 1 |
| Awards |
|
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Tropical Enteric Diseases, Infectious diseases, Medical Microbiology & Immunology |
| Workplaces | ICMR-National Institute for Research in Bacterial Infections |
Shanta Dutta is an Indian medical researcher of gastrointestinal diseases who served ICMR- National Institute for Research in Bacterial Infections (former ICMR-National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases) as the director during July 2016 to November 2024.[1] She joined the then ICMR- NICED in 1994 and researched infectious Diseases especially enteric disease (especially cholera and typhoid fever). Her research interests included prevention and control of acute diarrheal diseases, characterization of emerging pathogens, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), disease pathogenesis, developing alternative therapeutics and point of care in-vitro diagnostics for enteric infections, application of AI & Analytics.
She has been elected as a Fellow of West Bengal Academy of Science and Technology (FWAST) in 2017; National Academy of Sciences, India (FNASc) in 2019,[2] Fellow of National Academy of Medical Science (FAMS) in 2023, and awarded by ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) in 2014, IAAM (Indian Association of Applied Microbiologists) in 2017, ISCA (Indian Science Congress Association) in 2018, IPHA (Indian Public Health Association) in 2016 etc.
Education
Shanta Dutta completed her MBBS in 1986 from the Calcutta National Medical College. In 1992, she completed her MD studies in Medical Microbiology from Kasturba Medical College, Karnataka. In 2006, she obtained a Ph.D. in medical science from Kyushu University, Japan.[1]
Career
Dutta joined Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR-NICED) in August 1994 as Senior Research Officer (Scientist C) and rose to the post of Scientist G in September 2014. On 12 July 2016 she was selected as the Director & Scientist G at the National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, Kolkata. She has published more than 350 articles and several book chapters.[1] She has four patents on enteric vaccines and therapeutics. She was an active member of Research Advisory Committees (RACs) of various research organizations, member of National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) in cholera and typhoid subcommittees, member of WHO-Global Task Force on Cholera Control (WHO-GTFCC), member of WHO TRG (Technical Resource Group) for developing TPP (Targeted Product Profile) against typhoid and cholera Rapid diagnostic Tests (RDT) and technical guide for establishing Cholera Treatment Centre in remote places. She serves as one of the reviewing members of WHO SAGE Technical Working Group (TWG) on implementation of Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine.
During 2020, in COVID19 pandemic, she was instrumental to lead ICMR-NICED for conducting activities and services concerning the prompt diagnosis of suspected cases of COVID, training laboratory personnel, and distributing diagnostic kits to West Bengal and neighboring states. She spearheaded the research activities at NICED, took part in the nationwide serosurvey, in pre-market validation of the indigenous RTPCR kits for COVID diagnosis. In recognition to her leadership role during COVID pademic in 2020-2023 for early detection of cases, for taking part in nation wide COVID sero survey, conducting Phase III Covaxin trial and to acknowledge her contributions in controlling enteric diseases as a Public health responsibility, she has been awarded popular "Sera Bangali 2024" award in November 2024 and "DashaBhuja Bangali 2026" award in February 2026.
Personal life
She was born as one of twin sisters; her sister is a child specialist. Her spouse is a medical consultant and served State Govt. Medical College and Hospital as a Professor of Pathology.
On 30 June 2020, Shanta Dutta was tested positive for Corona virus.[3] She also suffered from pneumonia at that time and was admitted to ICU of a private hospital.[4] She recovered uncomplicated and was discharged from the hospital after a week. [5] She was again positive for COVID-19 during January 2022, which continued for a week,
References
- 1 2 3 "NICED : Scientist : Dr. Shanta Dutta". www.niced.org.in. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ↑ "Shanta Dutta profile". Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ↑ "Niced director shanta dutta's COVID-19 tested positive". Sangbad Pratidin (in Bengali). 30 June 2020.
- ↑ "করোনার সঙ্গে নিউমোনিয়ার হানা,বেসরকারি হাসপাতালে ভর্তি NICED অধিকর্তা শান্তা দত্ত". Hindustan Times (in Bengali). 2 July 2020. Archived from the original on 3 July 2020. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
- ↑ "এবার করোনার থাবা নাইসেডে, আক্রান্ত অধিকর্তা শান্তা দত্ত".