Nipun Shrestha

Dr Nipun Shrestha

Full time

School of Public Health

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

I am a research-focused epidemiologist and a trained medical doctor (Nepal) with exceptional track record. I am listed among the top 2% of researchers globally since 2022 in all fields of science, according to the Science-Wide Author Database of Standardized Citation Indicators, published annually by Elsevier. My major areas of research interests are advanced epidemiological methods, next generation evidence synthesis approaches, such as prospective meta-analysis, and individual participant data meta-analysis and guideline development. I am highly proficient in management of large observational/trial datasets and advanced systematic review methodologies. I have authored 18 systematic reviews, some of which have informed the development of international guidelines.

At University of Adelaide, I am currently working on a research project for the developing and implementing an Australian Motor Neurone Disease Guideline. Similarly as a post-doctoral research associate at University of Sydney, I was a core team member in individual participant data meta- analyses projects such as the iCOMP collaboration, which examines cord management in preterm infants, and the TOPCHILD collaboration which focuses on early childhood obesity prevention. While in a postdoctoral research associate role at University of Liverpool, I worked on a project for designing a community based mental health intervention for older adults in Colombia. In my PhD project, I designed a physical activity intervention for mental health professionals in Victoria and investigated whether such an intervention led to change in their attitudes and practices of recommending physical activity to their clients in routine clinical practice. During my PhD, I also worked on several projects that investigated inequities in burden of non-communicable diseases in Nepal and access to health care services for non-communicable diseases in Nepal.

  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2025 - ongoing Research Fellow University of Adelaide
    2022 - 2024 Research Associate University of Sydney
    2021 - 2022 Research Associate University of Liverpool
    2020 - 2021 Research Associate Victoria University

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    2016 - 2020 Victoria University Australia PhD
    2002 - 2009 Kathmandu University Nepal MBBS

  • Journals
    Year Citation
    2025 Mishra, S. R., Mehata, S., Khanal, V., & Shrestha, N. (2025). Tackling chronic kidney disease in Nepal: from evidence to action. Journal of Nephrology, 8 pages.
    DOI
    2024 Hunter, K. E., Aberoumand, M., Libesman, S., Sotiropoulos, J. X., Williams, J. G., Aagerup, J., . . . Seidler, A. L. (2024). The Individual Participant Data Integrity Tool for assessing the integrity of randomised trials. Research synthesis methods, 15(6), 917-939.
    DOI Scopus3
    2024 Hunter, K. E., Aberoumand, M., Libesman, S., Sotiropoulos, J. X., Williams, J. G., Li, W., . . . Seidler, A. L. (2024). Development of the individual participant data integrity tool for assessing the integrity of randomised trials using individual participant data. Research Synthesis Methods, 15(6), 940-949.
    DOI Scopus1
    2024 Hao, W., Wang, Q., Yu, R., Mishra, S. R., Virani, S. S., Shrestha, N., . . . Zhu, D. (2024). Reproductive factors and their association with physical and comprehensive frailty in middle-aged and older women: a large-scale population-based study. Human Reproduction Open, 2024(3), 13 pages.
    DOI Scopus1 Europe PMC1
    2024 Oja, P., Memon, A. R., Titze, S., Jurakic, D., Chen, S. T., Shrestha, N., . . . Pedisic, Z. (2024). Health Benefits of Different Sports: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Longitudinal and Intervention Studies Including 2.6 Million Adult Participants. Sports Medicine - Open, 10(1), 17 pages.
    DOI Scopus7 Europe PMC2
    2024 Giebel, C., Gabbay, M., Shrestha, N., Saldarriaga, G., Reilly, S., White, R., . . . Zuluaga, M. I. (2024). Community-based mental health interventions in low- and middle-income countries: a qualitative study with international experts. International Journal for Equity in Health, 23(1), 12 pages.
    DOI Scopus3
    2024 Li, M., Yu, R., Wang, X., Zhao, Y., Song, Q., Wang, Q., . . . Zhu, D. (2024). Association between ABO genotypes and risk of dementia and neuroimaging markers: roles of sex and APOE status. Frontiers in Neurology, 15, 10 pages.
    DOI
    2023 Fu, C., Hao, W., Ma, Y., Shrestha, N., Virani, S. S., Mishra, S. R., & Zhu, D. (2023). Number of Live Births, Age at the Time of Having a Child, Span of Births and Risk of Dementia: A Population-Based Cohort Study of 253,611 U.K. Women. Journal of Women's Health, 32(6), 680-692.
    DOI Scopus7 Europe PMC2
    2023 Seidler, A. L., Hunter, K. E., Barba, A., Aberoumand, M., Libesman, S., Williams, J. G., . . . Askie, L. (2023). Optimizing cord management for each preterm baby – Challenges of collating individual participant data and recommendations for future collaborative research. Seminars in Perinatology, 47(4), 8 pages.
    DOI Scopus2
    2023 Seidler, A. L., Libesman, S., Hunter, K. E., Barba, A., Aberoumand, M., Williams, J. G., . . . Garg, A. (2023). Short, medium, and long deferral of umbilical cord clamping compared with umbilical cord milking and immediate clamping at preterm birth: a systematic review and network meta-analysis with individual participant data. The Lancet, 402(10418), 2223-2234.
    DOI Scopus34 Europe PMC14
    2023 Seidler, A. L., Aberoumand, M., Hunter, K. E., Barba, A., Libesman, S., Williams, J. G., . . . Tarnow-Mordi, W. O. (2023). Deferred cord clamping, cord milking, and immediate cord clamping at preterm birth: a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis. The Lancet, 402(10418), 2209-2222.
    DOI Scopus31 Europe PMC14
    2022 Giebel, C., Shrestha, N., Reilly, S., White, R. G., Zuluaga, M. I., Saldarriaga, G., . . . Gabbay, M. (2022). Community-based mental health and well-being interventions for older adults in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Geriatrics, 22(1), 27 pages.
    DOI Scopus13 Europe PMC10
    2022 Atakan, M. M., Guzel, Y., Shrestha, N., Kosar, S. N., Grgic, J., Astorino, T. A., . . . Pedisic, Z. (2022). Effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and sprint interval training (SIT) on fat oxidation during exercise: a systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 56(17), 988-996.
    DOI Scopus31 Europe PMC14
    2022 Dong, C., Zhou, C., Fu, C., Hao, W., Ozaki, A., Shrestha, N., . . . Zhu, D. (2022). Sex differences in the association between cardiovascular diseases and dementia subtypes: a prospective analysis of 464,616 UK Biobank participants. Biology of Sex Differences, 13(1), 11 pages.
    DOI Scopus20 Europe PMC16
    2022 Fu, C., Hao, W., Shrestha, N., Virani, S. S., Mishra, S. R., & Zhu, D. (2022). Association of reproductive factors with dementia: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analyses of observational studies. EClinicalMedicine, 43, 16 pages.
    DOI Scopus29 Europe PMC17
    2022 Shrestha, N., Parker, A., Jurakic, D., Biddle, S. J. H., & Pedisic, Z. (2022). Improving Practices of Mental Health Professionals in Recommending More Physical Activity and Less Sedentary Behaviour to Their Clients: An Intervention Trial. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 43(3), 258-264.
    DOI Scopus1
    2022 Shrestha, N., Mishra, S. R., Ghimire, S., Gyawali, B., Marahatta, S. B., Maskey, S., . . . Adhikari, B. (2022). Health System Preparedness for COVID-19 and Its Impacts on Frontline Health-Care Workers in Nepal: A Qualitative Study Among Frontline Health-Care Workers and Policy-Makers. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 16(6), 2560-2568.
    DOI Scopus26 Europe PMC28
    2021 Shrestha, N., Pedisic, Z., Jurakic, D., Biddle, S. J. H., & Parker, A. (2021). Physical activity and sedentary behaviour counselling: Attitudes and practices of mental health professionals. PLoS ONE, 16(7 July), 16 pages.
    DOI Scopus6 Europe PMC2
    2021 Dhungana, R. R., Pandey, A. R., & Shrestha, N. (2021). Trends in the Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment, and Control of Hypertension in Nepal between 2000 and 2025: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. International Journal of Hypertension, 2021, 11 pages.
    DOI Scopus26 Europe PMC22
    2021 Mehata, S., Shrestha, N., Ghimire, S., Atkins, E., Karki, D. K., & Mishra, S. R. (2021). Association of altitude and urbanization with hypertension and obesity: Analysis of the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey 2016. International Health, 13(2), 151-160.
    DOI Scopus15 Europe PMC8
    2021 Gautam, S., Shrestha, N., Mahato, S., Nguyen, T. P. A., Mishra, S. R., & Berg-Beckhoff, G. (2021). Diabetes among tuberculosis patients and its impact on tuberculosis treatment in South Asia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 12 pages.
    DOI Scopus52 Europe PMC36
    2021 Shrestha, N., Gautam, S., Mishra, S. R., Virani, S. S., & Dhungana, R. R. (2021). Burden of chronic kidney disease in the general population and high-risk groups in South Asia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS ONE, 16(10 October), 19 pages.
    DOI Scopus30 Europe PMC13
    2021 Dhungana, R. R., Pedisic, Z., Pandey, A. R., Shrestha, N., & de Courten, M. (2021). Barriers, Enablers and Strategies for the Treatment and Control of Hypertension in Nepal: A Systematic Review. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, 8, 13 pages.
    DOI Scopus6 Europe PMC3
    2021 Kazmi, F., Shrestha, N., Booth, S., Dodwell, D., Aroldi, F., Foord, T., . . . Blagden, S. (2021). Next-generation sequencing for guiding matched targeted therapies in people with relapsed or metastatic cancer. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2021(10).
    DOI
    2020 Ghimire, U., Shrestha, N., Adhikari, B., Mehata, S., Pokharel, Y., & Mishra, S. R. (2020). Health system's readiness to provide cardiovascular, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease related services in Nepal: Analysis using 2015 health facility survey. BMC Public Health, 20(1), 15 pages.
    DOI Scopus42 Europe PMC39
    2020 Ghimire, U., Shrestha, N., Gyawali, B., Pradhan, P. M. S., & Mishra, S. R. (2020). Prevalence of American Heart Association defined ideal cardiovascular health metrics in Nepal: Findings from a nationally representative cross-sectional study. International Health, 12(4), 325-331.
    DOI Scopus15 Europe PMC12
    2020 Shrestha, N., Mishra, S. R., Ghimire, S., Gyawali, B., & Mehata, S. (2020). Burden of Diabetes and Prediabetes in Nepal: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Diabetes Therapy, 11(9), 1935-1946.
    DOI Scopus40 Europe PMC36
    2020 Shrestha, N., Mishra, S. R., Ghimire, S., Gyawali, B., Pradhan, P. M. S., & Schwarz, D. (2020). Application of single-level and multi-level modeling approach to examine geographic and socioeconomic variation in underweight, overweight and obesity in Nepal: findings from NDHS 2016. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 14 pages.
    DOI Scopus16 Europe PMC11
    2020 Pedisic, Z., Shrestha, N., Grgic, J., Kovalchik, S., Stamatakis, E., Liangruenrom, N., . . . Oja, P. (2020). Infographic. Is running associated with a lower risk of all-cause, cardiovascular and cancer mortality, and is more better? A systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 54(13), 817-818.
    DOI Scopus5 Europe PMC2
    2020 Pedisic, Z., Shrestha, N., Kovalchik, S., Stamatakis, E., Liangruenrom, N., Grgic, J., . . . Oja, P. (2020). Is running associated with a lower risk of all-cause, cardiovascular and cancer mortality, and is the more the better? A systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 54(15), 898-905.
    DOI Scopus143 Europe PMC64
    2019 Shrestha, N., Mehata, S., Pradhan, P. M. S., Joshi, D., & Mishra, S. R. (2019). A nationally representative study on socio-demographic and geographic correlates, and trends in tobacco use in Nepal. Scientific Reports, 9(1), 11 pages.
    DOI Scopus25 Europe PMC21
    2019 Wieland, L. S., Shrestha, N., Lassi, Z. S., Panda, S., Chiaramonte, D., & Skoetz, N. (2019). Yoga for treating urinary incontinence in women. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2019(2), 67 pages.
    DOI Scopus11 WoS16 Europe PMC8
    2019 Shrestha, N., Grgic, J., Wiesner, G., Parker, A., Podnar, H., Bennie, J. A., . . . Pedisic, Z. (2019). Effectiveness of interventions for reducing non-occupational sedentary behaviour in adults and older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. British journal of sports medicine, 53(19), 1206-1213.
    DOI Scopus64 Europe PMC37
    2019 Pedisic, Z., Shrestha, N., Loprinzi, P. D., Mehata, S., & Mishra, S. R. (2019). Prevalence, patterns, and correlates of physical activity in Nepal: Findings from a nationally representative study using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ). BMC Public Health, 19(1), 8 pages.
    DOI Scopus34 Europe PMC19
    2019 Joshi, D., Shrestha, S., & Shrestha, N. (2019). Understanding the antepartum depressive symptoms and its risk factors among the pregnant women visiting public health facilities of Nepal. PLoS ONE, 14(4), 13 pages.
    DOI Scopus21 Europe PMC14
    2019 Ghimire, S., Mishra, S. R., Sharma, A., Siweya, A., Shrestha, N., & Adhikari, B. (2019). Geographic and socio-economic variation in markers of indoor air pollution in Nepal: Evidence from nationally-representative data. BMC Public Health, 19(1), 15 pages.
    DOI Scopus27 Europe PMC10
    2019 Mishra, S. R., Ghimire, S., Shrestha, N., Shrestha, A., & Virani, S. S. (2019). Socio-economic inequalities in hypertension burden and cascade of services: nationwide cross-sectional study in Nepal. Journal of Human Hypertension, 33(8), 613-625.
    DOI Scopus19 Europe PMC18
    2019 Parry, S. P., Coenen, P., Shrestha, N., O'Sullivan, P. B., Maher, C. G., & Straker, L. M. (2019). Workplace interventions for increasing standing or walking for decreasing musculoskeletal symptoms in sedentary workers. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2019(11), 88 pages.
    DOI Scopus4 Europe PMC26
    2019 Mishra, S. R., Shrestha, N., Poudyal, I. P., Malla, M., Gyawali, B., Shrestha, A. D., . . . Neupane, D. (2019). May Measurement Month 2017: An analysis of blood pressure screening results in Nepal - South Asia. European Heart Journal, Supplement, 21(D), D83-D85.
    DOI Scopus10 Europe PMC10
    2018 Mehata, S., Shrestha, N., Mehta, R., Vaidya, A., Rawal, L. B., Bhattarai, N., & Mishra, S. R. (2018). Prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension in Nepal: Data from nationally representative population-based cross-sectional study. Journal of Hypertension, 36(8), 1680-1688.
    DOI Scopus36 Europe PMC28
    2018 Grgic, J., Dumuid, D., Bengoechea, E. G., Shrestha, N., Bauman, A., Olds, T., & Pedisic, Z. (2018). Health outcomes associated with reallocations of time between sleep, sedentary behaviour, and physical activity: A systematic scoping review of isotemporal substitution studies. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 15(1), 68 pages.
    DOI Scopus246 Europe PMC143
    2018 Shrestha, N., Kukkonen-Harjula, K. T., Verbeek, J. H., Ijaz, S., Hermans, V., & Pedisic, Z. (2018). Workplace interventions for reducing sitting at work. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2018(6), 186 pages.
    DOI Scopus63 Europe PMC73
    2018 Shrestha, N., Kukkonen-Harjula, K. T., Verbeek, J. H., Ijaz, S., Hermans, V., & Pedisic, Z. (2018). Workplace interventions for reducing sitting at work. COCHRANE DATABASE OF SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS, 2018(12), 184 pages.
    DOI
    2018 Mehata, S., Shrestha, N., Mehta, R. K., Bista, B., Pandey, A. R., & Mishra, S. R. (2018). Prevalence of the Metabolic Syndrome and its determinants among Nepalese adults: Findings from a nationally representative cross-sectional study. Scientific Reports, 8(1), 10 pages.
    DOI Scopus24 Europe PMC13
    2018 Rawal, L. B., Kanda, K., Mahumud, R. A., Joshi, D., Mehata, S., Shrestha, N., . . . Renzaho, A. (2018). Prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity and their associated risk factors in Nepalese adults: Data from a nationwide survey, 2016. PLoS ONE, 13(11), 14 pages.
    DOI Scopus61 Europe PMC45
    2017 Wieland, L. S., Shrestha, N., Lassi, Z. S., Panda, S., Chiaramonte, D., & Skoetz, N. (2017). Yoga for treatment of urinary incontinence in women. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2017(5), CD012668.
    DOI Scopus12 Europe PMC2
    2016 Shrestha, N., Pedisic, Z., Neil-Sztramko, S., Kukkonen-Harjula, K. T., & Hermans, V. (2016). The Impact of Obesity in the Workplace: a Review of Contributing Factors, Consequences and Potential Solutions. Current obesity reports, 5(3), 344-360.
    DOI Scopus43 Europe PMC26
    2016 Shrestha, N., Kukkonen-Harjula, K. T., Verbeek, J. H., Ijaz, S., Hermans, V., & Bhaumik, S. (2016). Workplace interventions for reducing sitting at work. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2016(3), 135 pages.
    DOI Scopus136 Europe PMC59
    2015 Shrestha, N., Ijaz, S., Kukkonen-Harjula, K. T., Kumar, S., & Nwankwo, C. P. (2015). Workplace interventions for reducing sitting at work. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2015(1), 89 pages.
    DOI Scopus154 Europe PMC39
    2014 Shrestha, N., Ijaz, S., Kukkonen-Harjula, K. T., Kumar, S., & Nwankwo, C. P. (2014). Workplace interventions for reducing sitting at work. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2014(1).
    DOI Scopus85

  • Conference Papers
    Year Citation
    2025 Fang, Z., Xuelin, Z., Nathan, A. M., Diana Marisol, A. -G., Shrestha, N., & Qiong, Z. (2025). Diagnostic Performance of Artificial Intelligence in Detecting Lymph Node Metastasis in Breast Cancer: Evidence from a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. In USCAP Annual Meeting Abstracts. Boston.
    2023 Seidler, A. L., Hunter, K. E., Barba, A., Aberoumand, M., Gyte, G., Shrestha, N., . . . Libesman, S. (2023). Should aggregate data be included where individual participant data are unavailable? Lessons from a large individual participant data meta-analysis. In Cochrane Colloquium Abstracts. London.
    2023 Kazmi, F., Shrestha, N., Foord, T., Liu, T. F., Heesen, P., Booth, S., . . . Blagden, S. (2023). 3O Are targeted therapies effective in the relapsed or metastatic cancer setting? A Cochrane meta-analysis. In ESMO Open Vol. 8 (pp. 101649). Elsevier BV.
    DOI
    2023 Shrestha, N., Williams, J. G., Hunter, K. E., Barba, A., Aberoumand, M., Libesman, S., . . . Seidler, A. L. (2023). Data sharing: experiences accessing individual participant data for a collaborative meta-analysis on umbilical cord management strategies at preterm birth. In Abstracts of the 27th Cochrane Colloquium. London.
    2023 Barba, A., Shrestha, N., Williams, J. G., Hunter, K. E., Aberoumand, M., Libesman, S., . . . Seidler, A. L. (2023). Consolidating tools for assessment of risk of bias for individual participant data meta-analysis: a case study. In Abstracts of the 27th Cochrane Colloquium. London.
    2021 Dhungana, R. R., Pandey, A. R., Shrestha, N., Pedisic, Z., & De Courten, M. (2021). HYPERTENSION TREATMENT AND CONTROL IN NEPAL: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF BARRIERS AND FACILITATORS. In JOURNAL OF HYPERTENSION Vol. 39 (pp. E345). ELECTR NETWORK: LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS.
    2020 Mishra, S. R., Sthresha, N., Gyawali, B., & Shrestha, A. (2020). NEPAL'S INCREASING BURDEN OF NON COMMUNICABLE DISEASES AND INJURIES, GLOBAL BURDEN OF DISEASE STUDY 1990-2017. In JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY Vol. 75 (pp. 3478). IL, Chicago: ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC.
    2018 Shrestha, N., Kukkonen-Harjula, K., Verbeek, J., Ijaz, S., Hermans, V., & Pedisic, Z. (2018). Effectiveness of workplace interventions for reducing occupational sedentary behaviour: an update of a Cochrane systematic review. In JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY & HEALTH Vol. 15 (pp. S152-S153). HUMAN KINETICS PUBL INC.
    2014 Shrestha, N., Ruotsalainen, J., & Verbeek, J. (2014). Crowdfunding for a systematic review. In Abstracts of the 22th Cochrane Colloquium. Hyderabad, India.

  • Theses
    Year Citation
    2020 Shrestha, N. (2020). Increasing Physical Activity and Reducing Sedentary Behaviour in Mental Health Professionals. (PhD Thesis, Victoria University).

  • Preprint
    Year Citation
    2023 Hunter, K. E., Aberoumand, M., Libesman, S., Sotiropoulos, J. X., Williams, J., Li, W., . . . Seidler, A. L. (2023). Development of the Individual Participant Data (IPD) Integrity Tool for assessing the integrity of randomised trials using individual participant data.
    DOI
    2020 Shrestha, N., Mishra, S. R., Ghimire, S., Gyawali, B., Marahatta, S. B., Maskey, S., . . . Adhikari, B. (2020). Health System Preparedness in Tackling the COVID-19 in Nepal: a Qualitative Study Among Frontline Healthcare Workers and Policymakers.
    DOI
    2020 Mishra, S. R., Shrestha, N., Gyawali, B., Vaidya, A., Schwarz, D., Neupane, D., . . . Shrestha, A. (2020). The changing patterns of Non-communicable diseases and injuries in Nepal from 1990-2017: A review of evidence from Global Burden of Disease Study 2017.
    DOI
    2020 Singh, A., Hussain, S., Mirchandani, D. A., Shrestha, N., & Antony, B. (2020). Adverse Drug Reactions in COVID-19 Patients: Protocol for a Living Systematic Review.
    DOI

  • Other Supervision Activities
    Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
    2022 - 2022 Principal Supervisor Scalability of TOPCHILD trials University of Sydney Master of Public Health Master Full Time Sally Zhijuan Zhang
    2019 - 2019 Co-Supervisor Diabetes among tuberculosis patient and it's on tuberculosis treatment in South Asia University of Southern Denmark Master of Health Sciences Master Full Time Sanju Gautam
  • Position: Full time
  • Phone: 83135331
  • Email: nipun.shrestha@adelaide.edu.au
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: 44-60 Rundle Mall - Rundle Mall Plaza, floor Level Four
  • Org Unit: Health Evidence Synthesis Recommendations and Impact
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