Dejina Thapa

Biography

Dejina Thapa, PhD, nurse-researcher and policy analyst with extensive leadership experience in global health, medical education, and science policy. She currently works at the Policy Research Institute, a government think tank, where she leads multidisciplinary research to support evidence-informed public policy and provides technical input to the Office of the Prime Minister, ministries, and other government agencies.

Her expertise spans health systems strengthening, non-communicable diseases, implementation science, and health financing, while also extending to broader areas of public policy analysis and interdisciplinary research, including climate change, sociology, and administrative governance. She has also contributed to initiatives such as global research and development (R&D) spending analysis for Nepal, reflecting her engagement in science policy at both national and global levels.

Dejina has led several national and international projects, including a UNICEF-funded initiative, and has extensive experience managing large-scale research. She has also worked as a consultant at the Nepal Health Research Council, where she led a nationwide study across 50 hospitals to assess the availability and utilization of oxygen services in Nepal-an effort that contributed to strengthening health system preparedness and response.

Beyond her research and policy work, Dejina is a passionate educator and a strong advocate for community engagement. She has organized health awareness camps in rural areas of Nepal, aiming to improve health literacy and access to care among underserved populations.

Her global experiences have shown her that science can transcend borders, bringing people together and building bridges across cultures. Through international research, she believes we can shape better policies, foster peace, and drive meaningful progress for humanity.

Awards