Metabolic Syndrome Research 

My research focuses on metabolic syndrome and its impact on general, reproductive, and feto-maternal health. I aim to identify genetic and non-genetic factors unique to the Pakistani population, addressing gaps in global knowledge for precision medicine. My team has identified population-specific biomarkers in benign obesity and documented epigenetic changes in offspring of diabetic mothers, with potential for early intervention and reversal through lifestyle modification.

I have presented this work at international conferences, including the International Diabetes Federation conference, and established collaborations within AKU and with external institutions including the University of Karachi, Mohammad Ali Jinnah University, and Jinnah Sindh Medical University.

I have mentored master’s, PhD, and undergraduate students and trained research associates in advanced molecular biology techniques. I have successfully secured intramural and extramural grants as PI, published in high-impact journals, authored reviews and books, and presented findings nationally and internationally. I received NIH training scholarships in genetics and genomics in 2017 and 2020.

I have mentored students, staff, and junior faculty toward skill acquisition and completion of PhD degrees. Several of my mentees are now established at reputable institutions globally and have earned awards at national and international scientific conferences. 

My research impact is reflected in being named among the Top 2% of scientists worldwide from 2013 to 2025, receiving the Mid-Career Researcher Award in 2023, and election as Fellow of the International Union of Physiological Sciences in 2025.