Department of Life Sciences

Research Group Title

Infectious Disease & Epidemiology

Area of research

Microbiology, Biochemistry

Theme

Virology, Human Health, Bacteriology,

SDGs covered

SDG 3: Good health and well-being

Faculty Members

Dr. Muhamad Sohail Afzal,  Dr. Imran Tipu, Dr. Rana Muhammad Mateen, Mr. Muhammad Khurram, Miss Anam Amir, Miss Nabiha Naeem.

Name of Students

Rameen, Khadija Zulfiqar

Description

Epidemiological studies are essential in understanding the patterns, causes, and effects of diseases within populations. These studies investigate various factors, including the distribution and determinants of diseases, risk factors, and the impact of interventions. By examining large populations over time, epidemiologists can identify trends, assess risk factors, and inform public health policies. These studies generate valuable data for understanding the burden of diseases, evaluating the effectiveness of preventive measures, and identifying high-risk groups. They provide crucial evidence for public health interventions, policy-making, and disease prevention strategies, ultimately aiming to improve population health and well-being.

National Collaborators

 COMSATS, Islamabad, School of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, LCWU.

International Collaborators

Rockefeller University, USA; INSERM, France; COVID Human Genetic Effort (an international consortium).

Relevant Publications

1. 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. 2025 Mar 8;405(10481):785-812.

2. Matuozzo, D., Talouarn, E., Marchal, A. Tipu. I, et al. Rare predicted loss-of-function variants of type I IFN immunity genes are associated with life-threatening COVID-19. Genome Medicine. 2023 15, (22): 1-25. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13073-023-01173-8.

3. Ahmed H, Kilinc SG, Celik F, Kesik HK, Simsek S, Ahmad KS, Afzal MS, Farrakh S, Safdar W, Pervaiz F, Liaqat S, Zhang J, Cao J. An Inventory of Anthelmintic Plants across the Globe. Pathogens. 2023 Jan 13; 12(1):131. Doi: 10.3390/pathogens12010131. PMID: 36678480; PMCID: PMC9866317.

4. R. Sharma, M. Abbasi-Kangevari, R. Abd-Rabu, H. Abidi, E. Abu-Gharbieh, J. M. Acuna, et al. Global, Regional, and National Burden of Colorectal Cancer and its risk factors, 1990-2019: A systematic analysis for Global Burden of Disease 2019. GBD Collaborative Study. The Lancet: Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 7(7):627-647. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-1253 (22)00044-9.

5. K. B. Tran, J. J. Lang, K. Compton, R. Xu, A. R. Acheson, H. J. Henrikson, et al.The global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010-19: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. GBD 2019 Cancer Risk Factors Collaborators. Lancet. 2022 Aug 20; 400(10352):563-591. Doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(22)01438-6.