Shamshad Karatela

Dr Shamshad Karatela is a Research Fellow in Planetary Health at Monash University, specializing in epidemiology and public health research. Her work focuses on addressing health inequities through interdisciplinary approaches, emphasizing environmental health, occupational health, and social determinants of health. She employs advanced quantitative methodologies including biomonitoring and longitudinal studies to evaluate risks from environmental contaminants and health disparities. Dr Karatela is actively involved in government advisory roles, contributing to reviews on synthetic turf safety and legislative submissions on disability rights. Her research has been published in high-impact journals like The Lancet and BMJ, demonstrating her commitment to translating evidence into actionable public health solutions.

Key research areas include chronic disease epidemiology, maternal and child health, and environmental exposure assessment. Methodologically, she utilizes biostatistics, multivariate analysis, and exposure assessment techniques. Recent work examines the health impacts of synthetic turf chemicals, secondhand smoke neurotoxicity, and digital media's role in adolescent sleep patterns across global populations.

Dr Karatela advocates for community-led research co-design, collaborating with healthcare professionals, patients, and policymakers to ensure research relevance. Her contributions align with UN Sustainable Development Goals targeting health equity and environmental sustainability. While currently accepting PhD students, no specific advisees are listed. Professional activities include peer-reviewed journal contributions and media engagements such as The Fifth Estate's feature on environmental valuation frameworks.