Nimra Khurram

Cost effective assembly of metastatic breast cancer risk associated SNPs

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is famous for its ability to exponentially amplify specific regions of the DNA molecule. Assembly PCR is a process that precisely joins two or more PCR products with the help of tailor made primers. The customized primers have complementary extensions which enables PCR products of first round to be assembled in subsequent cycles. In application, different and distant genomic regions of the DNA could be assembled in one PCR product. This technique, named as ‘Targeted SNP Assembly’ (TSA), would help in screening and diagnosis of diseases related to multiple single nucleotide polymorphs (SNPs). A multi-factorial disease such as breast cancer is found to be associated with many SNPs present on different loci. We successfully assembled (in pairs) four metastatic breast cancer (MBC) related SNPs to confirm the use of our technique as an application to molecular diagnostics. Further, we have developed a susceptibility index based on allelic frequencies and the genomic context of SNP. Together with the data generated by TSA we have evolved a disease susceptibility index (DSI) which would provide a disease risk-assessment for genetic diseases before the signs and symptoms appear.

Future Scope of Project A Biotech company that focuses on bringing cost-effective and time-saving diagnostic technology for the early detection of different genetic diseases in Pakistan. The goal is to deliver personalized medicine to Pakistani people in the most affordable of ways. Furthermore, also educate the general public on proactive approach to tackling health related issues rather than a reactive one.

Personal Details

Education

Masters in Quantitative and Systems Biology
University of California Merced, California, USA
MS Level Coursework in Healthcare Biotechnology
National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan
Bachelors of Science (Honors) Biotechnology
Forman Christian College (A Chartered University), Lahore, Pakistan

Professional Experience

Science Teacher at The City School
Former Science Communicator at Khwarizmi Science Society (2019-2020)
Former Human Resource Manager and Writer at Spectra Magazine (2019-2020)

Contact

Email: nimrakhurram5796@gmail.comLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/nimra-khurram-8b9662117
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nimra_Khurram

Lahore Science Mela 2019 Logo

Research Interests

Oncology
Synthetic Biology
Genetics & Genomics
Epigenetics

Research Skills

DNA/RNA Extraction
Primer designing
Optimization of PCR reactions
Gel Electrophoresis

Bioinformatic Tools

Databases

NCBI
UCSC Genome Browser
Ensembl Genome Browser

Alignment Softwares

Serial Cloner
ImageJ
BLAST

Awards & Achievements

Professor E.J Sinclair Medal (Gold Medal)

For securing the highest CGPA amongst the graduating class in the University session ending 2019

Dr. J.H Orbison Medal (Gold Medal)

For securing the highest CGPA the graduating class in the Faculty of Natural Sciences in the University session ending 2019

Chaudhry Ahmed Saeed Medal (Gold Medal)

For securing the highest CGPA the graduating class in the Bachelor of Science (Hons) Biotechnology in the University session ending 2019

1st Prize in Dengue Fever Art Poster Competition at IPH, Lahore, Pakistan
1st Prize in FCC-Innovative Idea Competition (2019) at FCCU, Lahore, Pakistan
3rd Prize in Business Idea Competition in Life Sciences (2019) at Government College University, Lahore, Pakistan
3rd Prize in poster competition in a short course on CancerbioC (2019) at University of The Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
3rd Prize in poster competition at 1st International Conference on Natural Sciences (2018) at Govt. Postgraduate College Women, Gulberg, Lahore, Pakistan

Posters

Publications

Magazines & Newspaper Articles

‘A Glimpse into the Cosmos with Dr. Nahar’ (September 19, 2020 Scientia)

https://scientiamag.org/a-glimpse-into-the-cosmos-with-dr-nahar/

‘Demystifying Coronavirus : Myth and Misinformation’ (March 23, 2020 Spectra Magazine)

https://spectramagazine.org/news/demystifying-covid-19-myths-and-misinformation/

‘Coronavirus : Fear, Fright and Fatality’ (February 13, 2020 Spectra Magazine)

https://spectramagazine.org/news/coronavirus-fear-fright-and-fatality/

‘Neonatal care of preterm babies with artificial placenta’ (October 23, 2019 Technology times)

https://www.technologytimes.pk/care-of-preterm-babies-with-artificial-placenta/

‘Neuroprosthetics: a future for human and machine’ (September 24, 2019 Technology times)

https://www.technologytimes.pk/bionic-hand-shared-future-human-machine/

‘Phage game: allies of the post antibiotic era’ (August 19, 2019 Technology times)

https://www.technologytimes.pk/phage-game-post-antibiotic-era/

‘3D bio-printing of organs : Science-fiction or reality?’ (July 11, 2019 Technology times)

https://www.technologytimes.pk/3d-bio-printing-organs-science-fiction-reality/

Science Outreach

Interview at "Meet a Scientist" series by Sciencefuse, 22nd August 2020.
Content development and moderator for Muslim Women in Science & Technology: Stories from Around the World.
Audio recording (in Urdu) and video editing for Oxford Children's Encyclopedia online series(Episodes: 5, 7, 10, 11, 13, 15 & 17).
Khwarizmi Science Society representative at Children Literature Festival 2020, Children Library Complex, Lahore, Pakistan.
Organizer at Lahore Science Mela 2019, Ali Institute of Education , Lahore, Pakistan

Memberships

Executive Member of Khwarizmi Science Society (KSS)
Member of International Society of Muslim Women in Science (ISMWS)