Faculty Profile

Dr Muhammad Sohail Afzal

Professor

School of Science

Department of Life Sciences

 : sohail.afzal@umt.edu.pk     : 3627   

Biography

I am Muhammad Sohail Afzal, I did my M.SC. in Biochemistry and Ph.D. in Virology and Immunology from the National University of Sciences and Technology, Pakistan in 2014. My research work was carried out at Institute Pasteur de Lille France in Dr. Jean Dubuisson Lab. I did my Post-doctoral fellowship at SKMCH&RC in Cancer Genetics. My areas of research interest are Public Health, Epidemiology and Molecular Biology of viral-mediated infectious diseases, population genetics focusing on the role of host factors in predisposition and therapy response during infectious diseases. I have pulished around 200 publications with over 13000 citations and over 3000 impact factor. I have supervised 50+ master and 05 BS-level theses.

Interest Areas

  • Virology and Immunology
  • Infectious Disaeses
  • Epidemiology and Public Health
  • Metabolic Disorders

Projects

  • Identification of risk factors leading to early onset of diabetes mellitus and genetic characterization of monogenic diabetes in Pakistan. NRPU-HEC. November 2021. PKR 9.278 Million. CO-Principal Investigator
  • SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and sero-epidemiologic studies among general public in Lahore, Pakistan. GCU-Lahore, August 2021. PKR 0.2 Million. CO-Principal Investigator
  • Open label randomized control trial to assess the efficacy and safety of dual anticoagulant i.e. rivaroxaban plus aspirin and clopidogrel plus aspirin in patients suffering from acute coronary syndrome. August, 2021. PKR 1.1 Million. CO-Principal Investigator
  • Analysis of the host immune factors resulting in varied disease progression due to COVID-19 infection. ORIC-UMT, September 2021. PKR 0.106 Million. Principal Investigator
  • COVID-19 and deadly impact of co-morbidities in COVID suspected and confirmed patients. From Umer Shoaib Surgical Hospital, Lahore in June 2021. PKR 0.1 Million. June, 2021. Principal Investigator
  • Exploring the Risk factors for severity in COVID-19 patients in Pakistan. From EMRO, WHO in August 2020. USD 13000. CO-Principal Investigator
  • Seroprevalence of COVID-19 among high risk groups
  • Molecular Characterization of Begomoviruses infecting cultivated and non-cultivated Plants in Punjab and KPK

Professional Experience

Name of Organization Designation Start Date End Date
SKMCH&RC, Lahore Post-Doctoral Fellow (Post-PhD) 01-01-2015 30-08-2015
SKMCH&RC, Lahore Research Associate (Post-PhD) 03-09-2014 31-12-2014
Institute Pasteur Lille, France Research Associate (Pre-PhD) 01-12-2011 31-05-2012

Selected Publications (Impact Factor)

Publication Type Title Journal Name Impact Factor Year of Publication
International Publications with impact factor (2.0 and above) Molecular Characterization of Begomoviruses infecting cultivated and non-cultivated Plants in Punjab and KPK Lancet Infect Dis 36.400 2025
International Publications with impact factor (2.0 and above) GBD 2021 Diarrhoeal Diseases Collaborators. Global, regional, and national age-sex-specific burden of diarrhoeal diseases, their risk factors, and aetiologies, 1990-2021, for 204 countries and territories: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 Lancet Infect Dis. 36.400 2025
International Publications with impact factor (2.0 and above) GBD 2021 HAP Collaborators. Global, regional, and national burden of household air pollution, 1990-2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Lancet. 98.400 2025
International Publications with impact factor (2.0 and above) GBD 2021 Asthma and Allergic Diseases Collaborators. Global, regional, and national burden of asthma and atopic dermatitis, 1990-2021, and projections to 2050: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 Lancet Respir Med 38.700 2025
International Publications with impact factor (2.0 and above) GBD 2021 Adolescent BMI Collaborators. Global, regional, and national prevalence of child and adolescent overweight and obesity, 1990-2021, with forecasts to 2050: a forecasting study for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 Lancet 98.400 2025
International Publications with impact factor (2.0 and above) GBD Epilepsy Collaborators. Global, regional, and national burden of epilepsy, 1990-2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 Lancet Public Health 25.400 2025
International Publications with impact factor (2.0 and above) Risk Factors for the Development of Early Onset Diabetes in Population of Sindh Province, Pakistan Biomedicines 3.900 2025
International Publications with impact factor (2.0 and above) GBD 2021 Adult BMI Collaborators. Global, regional, and national prevalence of adult overweight and obesity, 1990-2021, with forecasts to 2050: a forecasting study for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 Lancet 98.400 2025

Educational Qualifications

Degree Name & Area Year University City,Country
PhD - Virology & Immunology National University of Science & Technology Pakistan
MPhil - Virology & Immunology National University of Science & Technology Pakistan

Academic Positions

Position Start Date End Date
Professor 01-05-2025 Present
Associate Professor 20-04-2018 30-04-2025
Assistant Professor 01-09-2015 19-04-2018

Professional Memberships

  • American Society of Microbiology
  • World Society of Virology
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