Two researchers from the Central University of Punjab—Dr. Rubal Kanozia, Head of the Department of Mass Communication and Media Studies and Founder of the Interventions Design & Effects Lab (IDEL), and his PhD Scholar and member of the IDEL Lab, Ms. Raktima Gupta—have achieved a significant academic milestone as their research study has been accepted for presentation at a prestigious international conference on health communication at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), Odense, Denmark, scheduled for 13–15 April 2026.
As India has rolled out the HPV vaccination nationwide programme, this research is expected to contribute meaningfully to the country’s commitment to preventive cancer care by addressing misinformation and bridging knowledge gaps in society. The research, titled “Perceived Barriers to HPV Preventive Care Among Sexual and Gender Minorities in India: A Qualitative Exploration,” underscores lack of awareness among communities, poor knowledge and misinformation about HPV, economic constraints, limited availability of inclusive healthcare services, and widespread misinformation in the public sphere as major barriers to HPV preventive care.
According to the researchers, the findings highlight the urgent need to address misinformation, improve knowledge about HPV and its vaccine, strengthen awareness campaigns, and sensitize healthcare professionals to ensure inclusive and equitable healthcare access. Prof. Raghavendra P. Tiwari, Vice Chancellor, Central University of Punjab, congratulated Dr. Rubal Kanozia and Ms. Raktima Gupta for their remarkable achievement.
He stated that the continuous acceptance of health communication research from the IDEL Lab reflects how social science research can thrive, address societal challenges, and contribute significantly to policy-making and global academic discourse.Dr. Rubal Kanozia informed that the IDEL Lab has been established as one of the first experimental labs in the country dedicated to conducting Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental research in the field of Mass Communication in India.
He credited this achievement to the inspiration, continuous mentorship, and unwavering support of the Honourable Vice Chancellor, Prof. Raghavendra P. Tiwari, under whose leadership such initiatives are fostering a vibrant and thriving research environment at the Central University of Punjab. Due to his continuous efforts, CU Punjab has also shown notable performance in international rankings.
Adding to this achievement, recent research studies on cancer misinformation from the IDEL Lab have also been accepted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), World Health Organization, further strengthening the university’s contribution to global public health research. Following this, the acceptance of the present study on misinformation about the HPV vaccine marks another significant international achievement for the research team and the institution.
Members of the IDEL Lab, including Ms. Ritu Arya (SRF), Mr. Naman Ghanghas, Mr. Robin Jindal, Mr. Ragendu R., and Mr. Amit Sharma, lauded this achievement. They reaffirmed that such accomplishments reflect a strong research culture and emphasized their continued commitment to contributing to meaningful research in public health communication by addressing misinformation, developing effective interventions, and testing them to bring about positive behavioural change in society.
This achievement highlights the growing academic excellence and global research engagement of the Department of Mass Communication and Media Studies, Central University of Punjab.