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Academia

Dr Vaidehi A/P Ulaganathan

Head of Programme, Nutrition with Wellness | Department of Food Science and Nutrition

Academic Qualifications

PhD Clinical Nutrition
Master Nutritional Sciences
Bachelor Biomedicine (Hons)

Areas of Interest
Clinical Nutrition in Non-communicable Diseases
Nutrition and Cancer
Nutrigenetic and Nutrigenomic
Health and Wellness Coaching
Research

  1. Name of grant: FRGS
    Funder: MOE
    Project Title: Psychometric properties of [email protected] ans [email protected] approaches for investigating dieatry salt consumption and sources in diet of urban poor Malaysian population
    Code: FRGS/1/2020/skk06/UCSI/03/1
    Duration: 3 years
    Role: Principle Investigator
    Amount: RM 127,000
    Status: On-going
  2. Name of grant: REIG
    Funder: UCSI
    Project Title: Development of E-learning module to promote healthy-school food environment among adolescents in secondary school (SHINe-module)
    Code: REIG-fas-2020/008
    Duration: 2 years 6 months
    Role: Principle Investigator
    Amount: RM 38 500
    Status: On-going
  3. Name of grant: REIG
    Funder: UCSI
    Project Title: Development and evaluation of the Nutri-DIY-trolley app
    Code: REIG-fas-2022/040
    Duration: 2 years
    Role: Co-PI
    Amount: RM 44 500
    Status: On-going
  4. Name of grant: Product development grant (Industry grant)
    Funder: Maystar Beauty Sdn Bhd
    Project Ttle: Development, characterization and capsulation of hypocholesterolemia and anti-obesity polyherbal formulation (PHF) against multiple cholesterol metabolism targets
    Code: IND/FAS-2022/003
    Duration: 2 years
    Role: co-PI
    Amount: RM 363,000
    Status: On-going
  5. Name of grant: REIG
    Funder: UCSI
    Project Title: NuTeen Phase 2: Scale up of a school canteen intervention to increase implementation of a school Healthy Canteen Policy
    Code: REIG-FAS-2021/009
    Duration: 2 years
    Role: Co-PI
    Amount: RM 48 000
    Status: On-going
  6. Name of grant: REIG
    Funder: UCSI
    Project Title: Farm to Table Programme for the Improvement of Fruits and Vegetable Consumption among Primary School Children in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
    Code: REIG-FAS-2020/007
    Duration: 2 years
    Role: Co-PI
    Amount: RM 45,000
    Status: On-going
  7. Name of grant: NURI NUTRISI BANK RAKYAT
    Funder: Bank Rakyat
    Project Title: UCSI SHINE with NURI NUTRISI Bank Rakyat 2020 (SHINE with Aborigines)
    Role: PI
    Amount: RM40000
    Status: Completed
  8. Name of grant: NURI NUTRISI BANK RAKYAT
    Funder: Bank Rakyat
    Project Title: MY SHAPE 2.0 with NURI NUTRISI Bank Rakyat 2020 among primary school students
    Role: PI
    Amount: RM30000
    Status: Completed
  9. Name of grant: MSU SEED GRANT
    Funder: Management and Science University
    Project Title: MY SHAPE 1.0: Maternal and Child Health in Petaling District, Selangor
    Role: PI
    Amount: RM20000
    Status: Completed​

Publications

  1. Tay, J. E. F., Ulaganathan, V*., Kua, G. Y. L., Adan, M. A., & Lim, S. Y. (2022). Nutritional Status of Orang Asli in Malaysia. The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences: MJMS, 29(3), 17.
  2. Devindran, D., Ulaganathan, V*., Oeh, Z. Y., Tan, L. X., Kuralneethi, S., Eng, Z. Y. E., ... & Lim, S. Y. (2022). Association between Dietary Diversity and Weight Status of Aboriginal Primary School Children in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences: MJMS, 29(1), 101.
  3. Kuralneethi, S., Ishak, S. I. Z. S., & Ulaganathan, V. (2021). Association between dietary quality and growth of the aboriginal primary school children in Negeri Sembilan. British Food Journal.
  4. Ulaganathan, V., & Sann, L. M. (2021). Association of Circulating Nutritional Markers, Diets, Lifestyles, Workplace and Environmental Exposures With Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma In Malaysia. Current Developments in Nutrition, 5(Supplement_2), 283-283.
  5. Devindran, D., Ulaganathan, V., Oeh, Z.Y., Tan, L.X., Kuralneethi, S., Eng, Z.Y.E., Lim, L.S., Cheng, W.N.G., Tay, J.L., & Lim, S.Y. (2021).Association between Dietary Diversity and Weight Status of Aboriginal Primary School Children in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences (accepted) (IF:1.39, Q3):
  6. Tay, J.E.F., Ulaganathan, V., Kua, G.Y.L., Adan, M.A., Lim, S.Y. Nutritional Status of Orang Asli in Malaysia (2021). The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences (accepted) (IF:1.39, Q3):
  7. Kuralneethi, S., Sariman, S., & Ulaganathan, V. (2021). Gender and age differences in the relationship between calorie, macronutrients intake and growth status of school-aged Aboriginal children at Labu, Negeri Sembilan. British Food Journal.
  8. Vaidehi Ulaganathan, Shashikala Sivapathy, Mirnalini Kandiah (2020). Association between food habit and nutritional status of secondary school students in Kuala LUmpur Baseline Findings from Nuteen Project. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol. 66. S1-S6.
  9. Kulanthayan, K. M., Teow, H. F., Selvan, H. K. T., Yellappan, K., & Ulaganathan, V. (2020). Determinants of standard motorcycle safety helmet usage among child pillion riders. Transportation research part F: traffic psychology and behaviour, 74, 408-417.
  10. Samsidi, S., Hardinsyah, H., Kusharto, C. M., Sulaeman, A., Alisjahbana, B., & Ulaganathan, V. (2020). Synbiotic and nutrients supplement improved of Secretory Immunoglobulin A (sIgA) in treated pulmonary tuberculosis patients. Public Health, 23(S8), 1283-1291.
  11. Ulaganathan, V., & Zakaria, F. N. (2019). Association of Diet Diversity and Lifestyle Practices with Hypertension among Adults in Klang Valley. International Journal of Cardiology, 297, 25.
  12. Vaidehi Ulaganathan, Munn Sann Lye*, Su Peng Loh, Yoke Yeow Yap, Mirnalini Kandiah, Ban Eng Zhuan, Nurulassikin Sulong Abdul Rahman (2018). The prevalence of serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D deficiency in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a cross-sectional hospital-based study. International Journal of Science and Research, 7(1)
  13. Ulaganathan, V., & Kandiah, M. (2018). Atherogenic Dyslipidemia in Cardiometabolic Syndrome are Associated with Increased Risk for Colorectal Cancer in the Malaysian Population: A Hospital Based Case-Control Study. International Journal of Cardiology, 273, 21.
  14. Ulaganathan, V., Kandiah, M., & Shariff, Z. M. (2018). A case–control study on the association of abdominal obesity and hypercholesterolemia with the risk of colorectal cancer. Journal of Carcinogenesis, 17(1), 4.
  15. Ulaganathan, V., Kandiah, M., & Shariff, Z. M. (2018). A case-control study of the association between metabolic syndrome and colorectal cancer: a comparison of International Diabetes Federation, National Cholesterol Education Program Adults Treatment Panel III, and World Health Organization definitions. Journal of gastrointestinal oncology, 9(4), 650.
  16. Kandiah M*, Shashikala S, Tan CH, Ong YJ, Zalilah MS, Gan WY& Ulaganathan V (2017). Educational module for students: Creating a healthier nutrition environment in secondary schools ISBN 978-967-15219-0-8
  17. Kandiah M*, Shashikala S, Tan CH, Ong YJ, Zalilah MS, Gan WY& Ulaganathan V (2017) Educational module for teachers and parents: Creating a healthier nutrition environment in secondary schools ISBN 978-967-15219-2-2
  18. Kandiah M*, Shashikala S, Tan CH, Ong YJ, Zalilah MS, Gan WY& Ulaganathan V (2017). Educational module for canteen operators: Creating a healthier nutrition environment in secondary schools ISBN 978-967-15219-1-5
  19. Ulaganathan, V., Kandiah, M*, Zalilah, M. S., Faizal, J. A., Fijeraid, H., Normayah, K., ... & Othman, R. (2012). Colorectal cancer and its association with the metabolic syndrome: a Malaysian multi-centric case-control study. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 13(8), 3873-3877.

Current research:

  1. Population based survey on Nutrigenetic
  2. Interaction of obesity gene and diet-lifestyle factor: nutrigenetic approach
  3. Metabolotyping and risk of non-communicable diseases.
  4. Salt assessment and reduction and it association with health outcomes
  5. Digital health and e-health literacy via health app application emphasizing healthy purchase
  6. E-learning in healthy eating advocation

Awards and Recognitions

  1. First Place in the assessment on "Statistical Genetics" in the First N2RTU Workshop on Nutrigenetics, Nutrigenomics and Data Analysis for Precision Nutrition. This event was organised by the University of Reading, UK and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia, 2022
  2. First Place in the debate on "Personalised Nutrition" in the First N2RTU Workshop on Nutrigenetics, Nutrigenomics and Data Analysis for Precision Nutrition. This event was organised by the University of Reading, UK and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia, 2022
  3. Best E-poster IMPACHS 2022, Management and Science University
  4. TEACH 2021 award for Most Innovative Teaching & Learning 2022
  5. Best Oral  Presentation Award in the 1st International Scientific Conference on Body Composition (ISCBC) 2021.
  6. Women Excellence 2021 in the “4th International Conference on Food and Nutrition”, Singapore
  7. Global Nutrition Early Career Scholar Award for NUTRITION 2021 LIVE ONLINE. by Mondelēz International 
  8. Best undergraduate thesis by Nutrition Society of Malaysia
    For student: Oeh Zhee Yee
    Development and validation of semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire to assess school food intake and its association with weight status among Aboriginal children in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia 2021
  9. Junaida award during IMPACHS symposium 2019
  10. The Malaysian Indian Educational Development Association (TheMIND) award for the excellence in community service 2019
  11. Best Free Paper NHAM-CRM RESEARCH TRACK 2019
  12. Gold Medal (PERINTIS Pertanding Reka Cipta dan Innovasi IPTS) 2019
  13. Gold Medal for research presentation in conjunction of National World Cancer Day celebration 2018

Professional Affiliation

  1. Life Member of Nutritional Society of Malaysia (Malaysia)
  2. Ordinary member Malaysian Association for the Study of Obesity (MASO) (Malaysia)
  3. Professional member of American Nutrition Society (USA)
  4. Committee member Universal Society of Food and Nutrition (India)

Professional Contribution

  1. Invited speaker for Health Webinar Organized by Unitar (2022)
  2. Invited speaker for Health Talk during self-development camp SMK Seri Mutiara (2022)
  3. Secretary for 4th International Conference of Food and Nutrition (Virtual), Singapore (2021)
  4. Review Editor on the Editorial Board of Nutritional Epidemiology (2022 onwards)
  5. Editorial board member of International Journal of Agro Nutrifood Practices https://ijanp.com/editorial-board.php  (2021 onwards)
  6. Invited speaker for Plenary session for 4th International Conference of Food and Nutrition (Virtual), Singapore (2021)
  7. Invited speaker for Symposium session for Nutrition Society of Malaysia conference (2021) (Vitual) https://www.nsmconference.org.my/post-conference/
  8. Invited speaker for Food Acculturation by Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia.
  9. Journal reviewer :
    1. Malaysian Journal of Nutrition
    2. BMC Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome
    3. Int. Journal of Clinical Medicine Research
    4. Nutritional Epidemiology
  10. Trainer for SFFQ Workshop. 26th and 27th April 2018. Prescott Hotel, Kajang
  11. Invited as guest speaker for a talk entitled: Remaja jagalah makan dan badan in Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Abdul Jalil, Hulu Langat (15th September 2017).
  12. Conducted Hands-on Intermediate Statistical Analysis Workshop for post-graduates students in UCSI University (2012 – 2017).