Centre for South Asian Studies

Research interests

My research primarily aims to reduce deaths from pesticide and plant self-poisoning in rural Asia, a significant cause of over 200,000 premature deaths annually and a major global suicide method. To achieve this, I conduct clinical trials in South Asian district hospitals to better understand the pharmacology and effectiveness of antidotes, and community-based controlled trials to identify effective public health interventions.

My work is supported by translational studies of antidotes in minipig models of poisoning at a large animal intensive care facility I established in Edinburgh. I also collaborate with sociologists and anthropologists to gain deeper insights into the socio-cultural aspects of self-harm, and work with the World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization to support the implementation of our findings.