Journal of Multiple Sclerosis

Biography

I did my graduation in medical sciences and selected to get involved in teaching and learning of medical sciences at the same university from where I graduated. I started my own institute of teaching and learning of medical sciences in 1996. I taught physiology and pathology in particular and subjects like clinical pharmacology, microbiology and medicine for 19 years. My passion for research brought me to Aga Khan University (AKU), where I implemented my knowledge gained in 2 decades to research at AKU. I was fortunate to get very dedicated and professional mentor, Professor Naveed Khan at AKU. He crafted my covert research talents and taught me research methodologies on pathogenic eukaryotes. Knowing my medical sciences background, he introduced me to clinical faculty at AKU to help apply my medical sciences knowledge in clinical research. I am indebted to him and value his research skills and ethics, that I learned from him. I study and research Free-living amoebae and use them as model eukaryotic cells to understand complex human diseases like cancer and stem cells. Research on surface GPCRs on protist pathogens like Acanthamoeba, Naegleria fowleri and Cancer Stem cells are my research niche. My contribution to science include discovery of novel mechanism of actions of FDA approved drugs on Pathogenic eukaryotes and Cancer stem cells. My publications reflect the significance of creative ideas of translational significance. I am the recipient of the award of '​ Most productive researcher 2014'​ by AKU, department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences.I enjoy my status as researcher at AKU at present and have my group of FLA at Biological and Biomedical Sciences. I am also the PI of 'Prostate Cancer Stem Cells' group at AKU. I welcome collaborations with scientists from all over the world on topics of mutual interests and promotion of science.

Research Interest

Pakistan, the sixth most populous country in the world, has a disease burden higher than the average in the South Asia region. This underlines the need to come up with innovative and effective diagnostic, preventive and curative regimens specifically designed for the local population. Clinical trials are considered a necessity for tomorrow’s cures. University hospitals are fast establishing units to streamline, govern and promote their clinical trial activities. In Pakistan too, major global agencies, independent research units and pharmaceuticals have actively initiated and participated in multi-national, multi-centric clinical trials, particularly as technology has helped bridge communication needs. So far 44 multidisciplinary clinical studies have commenced at the Aga Khan University and an equal number expected to begin in the coming years. To cater to the changing needs and global trends, in 2011, the Aga Khan University opened doors to the Clinical Trials Unit — a state-of-the-art facility that offers a full spectrum of core and supporting administrative services to local researchers as well as global organisations.

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