Journal of Cell Science and Apoptosis
Open Access

Biography

I did my Bachelor of Pharmacy (1994-1998) and M.Phil. Pharmacy (Pharmacognosy, 1999-2001) from Gomal University Pakistan. Then after working in Abbot Labs Pakistan as industrial Pharmacist for a period of three years, I moved to United Kingdom for my PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Kingston University London (2007-2011). I was awarded ORS scholarship during my PhD research studies, working on “medicinal plants for their potential bioactive compounds for anticancer activity” which resulted in isolation of four novel pregnane glycosides. The chemical structure was elucidated using advanced chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques in addition to x-ray crystallography. During January-July 2012, I was designated as Post Doc. Research Associate in School of Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, London, working on “identification of molecular targets of flavonoids: A focus on ploycystin-2 ion channels in renal epithelial cells” Funded by the South West Academic Network, UK. My research work described how a flavonoid “Naringenin” influences cell surface receptors, ion channels, cell proliferation and epithelial fluid secretion in cyst formation. In September 2012, I moved to School of Biosciences and Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK as Post Doc. Research Fellow in cardiology (2012-2015), exploring the role of serine-threonine rich protein phosphatases (calcineurin) and its intracellular targets, regulation of gap junction conductance by calcineurin-dependent connexons. Using a Guinea pig model I was investigating a novel pathway involved in decreasing atrial gap junction conductance by intracellular phosphatases through phosphorylation of Cx-43 and Cx-40. From May 2015, I am appointed on a Post Doc Research BioBank position in the Centre for Experimental Medicine and Rheumatology (EMR), William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, UK. Where, currently I am managing the Tissue Biobank along with a team of research scientist in developing an in vitro organ culture model as an alternative to in vivo animal model for studying various drugs for development projects in rheumatoid arthritis.

Research Interest

To investigate the role of protein phosphatases, exploring intracellular targets and events going through phosphorylation. Rheumatoid arthritis, atrial fibrillation, exploring novel biomarkers (miRNA) in patients with coronary artery disease and cardiac arrhythmias, electrophysiology (Impedance: gap junction conductance in ventricular and atrial myocardium), natural product chemistry (chromatography, spectroscopy), ethno-pharmacology of herbal extracts and potent compounds for in-vitro as well as in-vivo biochemical evaluation (anticancer, anti-diabetic, smooth muscle contraction).