Scientist
International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Bangladesh
Academic qualification and current designation:
Dr M Munirul Islam, a physician currently working as a Scientist at the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) and working for more than 29 years at the same institute. He obtained his MBBS (medical degree) in 1995 from Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh and PhD in Nutrition and Designated Emphasis in International Nutrition in 2007 from the Institute for Global Nutrition (the then Program in International Nutrition), University of California, Davis, USA as a Fogarty Fellow.
Research interests and experience:
His primary area of research is focused on human nutrition and food security/safety which encompasses infant and young child feeding, micronutrient malnutrition, management of acute malnutrition, infectious diseases, microbiome, food and nutritional status, fortification and biofortification of rice, wheat and sweet potatoes. A few of his current and previous research are RCTs on supplementation of zinc in micronutrient (MN) powders in young, Bangladeshi children, acceptability and efficacy of locally developed Ready to Use Therapeutic Foods for management of severe acute malnourished (SAM) children and moderate acute malnutrition, dietary management of young infants suffering from SAM incluidng microbiota directed foods, maternal vitamin D supplementation and infant growth, establishing MN reference values in breast milk MN contents and so on. Also, bioavailability of zinc from zinc biofortified rice in young children using stable isotopes, etiology, risk factors and interactions of enteric infections and malnutrition and the consequences for child health and development.
Collaborators/Networks:
In connection to research, training and technical support primarily on human nutrition, he works closely in collaboration with different research institutes, universities, government organizations, international non-government organizations, international professional bodies, donor agencies and so on.
Publications/Policy formulations:
Dr Islam has published more than 100 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals, edited and formulated 4 book chapters, drafted national malnutrition management guidelines for Afghanistan and Lebanon, member of the technical committee for formulating and drafting of the national guidelines on facility based management of severe acute malnutrition and community based management of acute malnutrition in Bangladesh under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Bangladesh.
Mentorship experience:
He performs clinical responsibilities at the Dhaka Hospital under the Nutrition Research Division of icddr,b where he supervises the Clinical Fellows and Nurses and manages critically ill children and adults with malnutrition and infection. He is also required to participate in supervision and guidance of the medical professionals both inside and outside of icddr,b. He served as faculty on various international health topics including management of acute malnutrition and diarrhoeal diseases in Afghanistan, Lebanon, Myanmar, Uganda and Ethiopia. He is also an adjunct faculty at the James P Grant School of Public Health (JPGSPH), BRAC University, Bangladesh and Associate Professor (Adjunct), Department of Public Health, School of Health & Life Sciences, North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh as well.