Dr.sc.hum. Melani Ratih Mahanani, MD, MScIH

Dr. Melani Ratih Mahanani is a Staff Scientist/Postdoctoral Researcher in the Division Prevention of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases, Center for Prevention and Digital Health (CPD), Medical Faculty Mannheim at Heidelberg University. Having multicultural and multidisciplinary backgrounds in medicine (MD) from Indonesia, as well as in international health (MSc) and epidemiology (Dr. sc. hum) from Heidelberg University, Germany, she has dedicated her career to understanding the development of chronic conditions and to detect their potential risk factors.

Melani brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience in analysing health-related data and identifying patterns that help shape effective preventive measures. Her expertise in epidemiological research empowers her to explore the root causes of diseases and health disparities, enabling the development of targeted interventions to improve community well-being. Notably, Melani has achieved significant recognition for her work, securing research grants from renowned institutions German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst/DAAD) and German Alliance for Global Health Research (GLOHRA).

Before commencing her postdoctoral research in the division, Melani has contributed to the field of global health and cardiovascular research by shedding light on important issues such as arterial hypertension and statin use in low- and middle-income countries. The findings inform strategies and interventions aimed at improving cardiovascular health outcomes in vulnerable populations, with the potential to impact clinical practice and health policies globally.

Research Interests:

• Holistic chronic diseases prevention
• Long-term consequences of shocks during pregnancy on health and development of the offspring
• Determinants of health among population with migrant backgrounds
• Evaluation of health interventions
• Longitudinal data analysis
• Causal inference

Highlighted publications

• Steffen, H.M^†., Mahanani, M.R^†., Neuhann, F., Nhlema, A., Kasper, P., de Forest, A., Chaweza, T., Tweya, H., Heller, T., Chiwoko, J., Winkler, V^†. and Phiri, S^†. (2023). Blood pressure changes during tenofovir-based antiretroviral therapy among people living with HIV in Lilongwe, Malawi: results from the prospective LighTen Cohort Study. Clin Res Cardiol, pp.1-14.
• Neuhann, F., Kumwenda, T., Mahanani, M.R., Heller, T. and Steffen, H.M. (2022). Statin use in low-income and middle-income countries. Lancet Glob Health, 10(7), p.e954.
• Mahanani, M.R., Valkov, M., Agaeva, A., Kaucher, S., Pikalova, L.V., Grishchenko, M.Y., Zhuikova, L.D., Jaehn, P. and Winkler, V. (2022). Comparison of female breast cancer between Russia and Germany: A population-based study on time trends and stage at diagnosis. Cancer Epidemiol, 80(6), 102214.
• Mahanani, M.R., Kaucher, S., Kajüter, H., Holleczek, B., Becher, H. and Winkler, V. (2021). Colorectal Cancer among Resettlers from the Former Soviet Union and in the General German Population: Clinical and Pathological Characteristics and Trends. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 18(9), p.4547.
• Mahanani, M.R., Abderbwih, E., Wendt, A.S., Deckert, A., Antia, K., Horstick, O., Dambach, P., Kohler, S. and Winkler, V. (2021). Long-Term Outcomes of in Utero Ramadan Exposure: A Systematic Literature Review. Nutrients, 13(12), p.4511.
• Abderbwih, E., Mahanani, M.R., Deckert, A., Antia, K., Agbaria, N., Dambach, P., Kohler, S., Horstick, O., Winkler, V. and Wendt, A.S. (2022). The Impact of School-Based Nutrition Interventions on Parents and Other Family Members: A Systematic Literature Review. Nutrients, 14(12), p.2399.

Complete list of published work: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/melani%20ratih.mahanani.1/bibliography/public/