Department of Life Sciences

Research Group Title

Genetic & Metabolic Disorders

Area of Research

Biochemistry, Molecular Biology

Theme of Research / Goals

Metabolic syndrome, Myocardial infarction, Human molecular genetics

Faculty Members

Dr. Mohammad Perwaiz Iqbal, Dr. Muhammad Sohail Afzal, Muhammad Khurram

Collaborating UMT Departments

Department of Chemistry, Department of Mathematics, School of Food and Agricultural Sciences

Collaborating National Institutes

Aga Khan University, Karachi; Shalimar Medical and Dental College, Lahore; Gulab Devi Hospital, Lahore; National Skills University, Islamabad. Riphah University.

Collaborating International Institutes

University of Lausanne, Switzerland; China Medical University Tai Chung, Taiwan.

Names of Active Senior Students

Khadija Zulfiqar.

Names of Alumni

Rameen

Short Description of the Research Theme

Our research group is dedicated to investigating the genetic causes underlying rare inherited disorders prevalent in the Pakistani population. By employing advanced techniques such as exome sequencing and genome sequencing, we aim to identify and characterize the genetic variants responsible for these disorders. This research theme seeks to elucidate the unique genetic architecture and diversity within the Pakistani population, thereby contributing to a comprehensive understanding of rare diseases and facilitating the development of targeted diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

SDGs Covered

SDG 3: Good health and well-being

List of 5 Relevant Publications

Iqbal MP, Sajjad T, Iqbal SP, Khurram M. Metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) and factors influencing its prevalence in a population in North-West Lahore. Pak J Med Sci. 2025 May;41(5):1452-1458.

Abbas, E.; Fawwad, A.; Siddiqui, I.A.; Afzal, M.S.; Ansar, M.; Saqib, M.A.N.; Shahid, S.M. Risk Factors for the Development of Early Onset Diabetes in the Population of Sindh Province, Pakistan. Biomedicines 2025, 13, 1107.

Hassan D, Shakil Ur Rehman S, Khalid S, Tipu I, Husnain M. Developing lifestyle intervention program for pre-hypertensive patients; consensus building using a modified Delphi approach. PLoS ONE, 2024: 19(10): 1-17.

Yousuf FA, Azam I, Tareen AK, Kazmi KA, Muhammad JS, Iqbal MP. Association of the BB genotype of the ABO gene with the risk of acute myocardial infarction in hospital-based study. Pak J Med Sci. 2023;39 (1):133-138.

Adnan, I Tipu. Exploring the impact of combined Body Mass Index and Glycated Haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels on pre-diabetes risk. Riphah Journal of Allied Health Sciences, 2025.