Healis Sekhasaria Institute for Public Health

What Healis Sekhasaria Institute for Public Health does

Healis Sekhasaria Institute for Public Health is a non-profit research organization registered under Section 25 of the Companies Act (1956) and headquartered in Navi Mumbai, India, founded on August 1, 2004. Its core mandate is population-based epidemiological research to elucidate risk factors for non-communicable diseases, with a primary specialization in tobacco control — including smokeless tobacco carcinogen analysis, product surveillance of gutka/khaini/mishri/naswar/panmasala, and longitudinal studies of adolescent tobacco use and policy impact. The institute translates research into policy through IEC materials (posters, quit booklets, self-guided manuals in Marathi and Hindi), school- and worksite-based interventions (notably the Tobacco Free Teachers-Tobacco Free Society program), and direct engagement with government bodies including the Maharashtra Departments of Health and Education and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.

The underlying platform consists of laboratory analytical capacity for tobacco carcinogen exposures, tobacco product and bio-specimen repositories, a research library of 950+ books and 600+ journals, and a web portal for tobacco carcinogen research. Healis supports an internship program and short courses for public health professionals, and is developing a Tobacco Research Course. Its business model is donation- and grant-based rather than commercial: revenue is sourced from individual donations (Indian 80G-eligible and foreign FCRA-compliant), CSR contributions under Schedule VII of the Companies Act, and research grants in partnership with international institutions including Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Tata Memorial Hospital, Johns Hopkins, University of Michigan, and The Union. End counterparties are government health and education departments, academic and research institutions, corporate CSR partners, and public health students — there are no traditional revenue-paying customers.

Name

Healis Sekhasaria Institute for Public Health

Legal name

Healis Sekhasaria Institute for Public Health

Website

https://healis.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Healis Sekhasaria Institute for Public Health is a non-profit research institute founded in 2004 and based in Navi Mumbai, India, that conducts population-based epidemiological research on tobacco control and non-communicable diseases, serving government health bodies, academic institutions, and corporate CSR partners through grants and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Health Research Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAJAKAN

Global Health Research, Evidence & Technical Assistance Organizations

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Global Health & Development Agencies (NGOs/Multilaterals)

SECONDARYBPAGACAA

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS)

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Health & Medical Nonprofits

SECONDARYHLACAOAM

Real-World Data (RWD) / Real-World Evidence (RWE) & Observational Research Platforms

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Digital Health & Health IT/Clinical Trials & Research Informatics (eCOA/ePRO/EDC)

Keywords

• Epidemiological research
• Tobacco control research
• Public health research
• Non-communicable disease prevention
• Capacity building

Headquarters

HQ city

Mumbai

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Healis accepts donations from Indian nationals and foreign nationals. Indian donations are eligible for 50% tax deduction under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act 1961. Foreign contributions are managed through FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) compliant accounts.
2. CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) Funding: Healis seeks CSR funds from corporations for promoting preventive healthcare under Schedule VII of the Companies Act. Focus areas include health (preventive healthcare), education, and environment. Contributions are eligible for inclusion under CSR spend and tax deduction under Section 80G.
3. Research Grants: The institute conducts funded research projects in partnership with international institutions, receiving grants for specific public health research initiatives on tobacco control and related health issues.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Healis conducts population-based epidemiological research with a focus on tobacco control and non-communicable diseases, generates evidence-based data for public health policy, and delivers capacity-building programs for public health professionals. The institute operates as a non-profit research organization offering research services, a tobacco carcinogen research web portal, internship programs, IEC materials, and CSR partnership opportunities for preventive healthcare implementation in India and other low-middle income countries.

Product overview

Healis Sekhasaria Institute for Public Health is a non-profit research organization operating as a single unified research institution rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The organization offers epidemiological research and capacity building services as its core product, complemented by a web portal for tobacco carcinogen research, educational offerings (Tobacco Research Course), CSR partnership opportunities, and an internship program. Additional offerings include IEC materials for tobacco control interventions. The portfolio centers on public health research, particularly tobacco control and non-communicable disease prevention in India and other low-middle income countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Research and Capacity Building Services Population-based epidemiological research services focused on non-communicable diseases, tobacco control, and public health evidence generation for policy translation. Targeted at government health departments, academic institutions, and public health bodies.
• Web Portal for Tobacco Carcinogen Research Web portal platform for the analytical capacity building study of tobacco carcinogen exposures in India, including assessment of smokeless tobacco products and their carcinogenic potential. For researchers and public health professionals studying tobacco-related cancers.
• CSR Implementing Partner Program Corporate Social Responsibility partnership program where Indian corporations can deploy CSR funds through Healis for preventive healthcare, education, and environmental sustainability initiatives, eligible for tax deduction under Section 80G. For corporate CSR teams and sustainability officers.
• Internship Program Hands-on internship program providing practical public health research experience in epidemiological studies and fieldwork for MPH, MSW, and medical students. For graduate students seeking applied research experience in public health.
• IEC Materials (Information, Education, and Communication) Information, Education, and Communication materials including posters, quit booklets, and self-guided manuals for tobacco control interventions such as the Tobacco Free Teachers-Tobacco Free Society (TFT-TFS) program, available in multiple languages. For schools, public health programs, and tobacco cessation initiatives.
• Tobacco Research Course Online educational course for enhancing skills of public health professionals in tobacco research topics. For public health professionals and researchers seeking specialized training in tobacco control research.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 300 peer-reviewed publications in public health and tobacco control
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SIGMA University, VadodaracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 January 2024SIGMA University and Healis signed an MoU to establish academic collaboration for joint research and academic programs in public health.
• MIT World Peace University (MIT-WPU), PunecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 January 2024MIT-WPU and Healis signed an MoU to establish academic collaboration. The partnership aims to work on areas of mutual interest in public health research and education.
• Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 September 2023BMC and Healis signed an MoU for joint collaboration in capacity building, research, data analysis, and other areas. This partnership focuses on strengthening public health initiatives in Mumbai through evidence-based research and policy development.
• Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health India Research CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. K. Vishwanath, Director of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health India Research Center and co-chair of iLEARNT, collaborates with Healis on ongoing and upcoming research projects.
• University of MinnesotacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeams from University of Minnesota visited Healis to discuss air pollution projects and tobacco carcinogen research. Collaborators include Dr. Stephen Hecht, Dr. Xianghua Luo, Prof. Irina Stepanov for tobacco carcinogen studies.
• Tata Memorial HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator on tobacco carcinogen research and oral/head and neck cancer studies. Dr. Pankaj Chaturvedi from Tata Memorial Centre participates in the research team.
• Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCE ACTREC collaborates with Healis and University of Minnesota on air pollution project methodology and protocols. Dr. Vikram Gota from ACTREC is part of the research team.
• Durban University of Technology, South AfricaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealis entered into collaboration with Durban University of Technology to identify complexities of occupational health and non-communicable diseases.
• Ahmedabad University (Bagchi School of Public Health)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Kaumudi Joshipura, Dean of Bagchi School of Public Health visited Healis to explore potential joint teaching programs and research collaborations.
• Department of Health & Dept of Education, MaharashtracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborators on ANANT MUSKAAN project - a multi-site implementation research on primary school-based tooth brushing and oral health education in Sindhudurg district.
• Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on assessment of gutka ban in India and campaign for strong and effective pictorial warnings on tobacco products.
• Harvard School of Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term collaboration on tobacco control interventions among school teachers, worksite tobacco control studies, and capacity building programs. Dr. Glorian Sorensen and Dr. Eve Nagler are key collaborators.
• University of MichiganminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Ritesh Mistry from University of Michigan collaborates on Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Tobacco Use and Tobacco Control Policy in India.
• Johns Hopkins University (JHU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Tobacco Pack Surveillance System (TPackSS) India project to monitor health warnings on tobacco products packaging.
• University of Waterloo, CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on International Tobacco Packaging and Health Warning Study and Impact of Health Warning Labels study in India and Bangladesh.
• International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Advancing Tobacco Control in four Districts of Maharashtra through Capacity Building, Training, Engagement and Advocacy project.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR): India's apex government body for biomedical and public health research. Comparable in epidemiological research mandate, though Healis operates as a smaller non-governmental complement.
• Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (Institute for Global Tobacco Control): Leading global academic center on tobacco control research and policy. Existing Healis collaborator via TPackSS India project, comparable in tobacco research scope though operating at much larger scale.
• Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: Top-tier global public health institution with significant tobacco-control and NCD research portfolio. Existing Healis collaborator; overlapping methodological and policy translation work but at vastly larger scale.

Direct peers

• Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI): India-based non-profit public health research and training organization. Highly comparable to Healis as a domestic NCD and public health evidence-generation nonprofit working with government and international collaborators.
• Centre for Chronic Disease Control (CCDC): India-focused non-profit conducting epidemiological research on chronic diseases and NCDs. Closely comparable mission, funding model (grants + donations), and policy translation orientation to Healis.
• International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union): Global non-profit addressing lung disease and tobacco control through research, capacity building, and advocacy. Directly comparable as an existing Healis collaborator with overlapping tobacco-control programmatic work.
• Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK): US-based non-profit focused on reducing tobacco use through policy advocacy and research. Existing Healis partner with highly aligned mission on tobacco-control evidence generation and policy translation.

Regional players

• ACTREC (Tata Memorial Centre): Indian cancer research center collaborating with Healis on air-pollution and tobacco studies. Comparable regional research capacity in oncology-adjacent NCD work.
• Tata Memorial Hospital (TMC): Premier Indian cancer hospital and research center collaborating with Healis on tobacco carcinogen and oral cancer studies. Comparable regional research footprint but focused on clinical oncology rather than population-level epidemiology.

Emerging players

• Smoke-Free Foundation (or analogous Southeast Asia tobacco research NGO): Network of regional tobacco-control research and policy organizations. Comparable emerging player focused on Asia-Pacific tobacco epidemiology and cessation research.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@healissekhasariainstitute
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/healis-sekhasaria-institute-for-public-health-922452178
• Xx.com/healissekhsaria
• Facebookfacebook.com/healis.sekhsaria.3

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Healis Sekhasaria Institute for Public Health