DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY

Prof. Dr. Nakhshab Choudhry
MBBS, DCP, MPhil, PhD(Biochemistry)

Professor & Chairman Department of Biochemistry
nakhshabchoudhry@kemu.edu.pk
042-99214687

Prof. Nakhshab Ch.

INTRODUCTION OF DEPARTMENT

The Department of Biochemistry is currently chaired by Prof. Dr. Nakhshab Choudhry who is a medical graduate with PhD in the subject of Biochemistry. The department was first established in King Edward Medical College, Lahore on 29th April, 1980 as a separate entity and Prof. Abdus Salam was its founding head. In 1990, University of the Punjab awarded status to the subject to be separately examined in MBBS degree program thereafter. Biochemistry encompasses molecular genetics, protein science and metabolism. Over the last decades of the 20th century, biochemistry has become successful through these three disciplines at explaining living processes. Almost all areas of the life sciences are being uncovered and developed by biochemical methodology and research.

Undergraduate students of MBBS are being trained in the subject of Medical Biochemistry with this belief that understanding biochemical basis of diseases may help in the practice of clinical medicine. Students have to focus not only on accumulation of factual knowledge of the subject but also on the development of ideas & relationships that will be helpful in their clinical practice. Moreover, undergraduate & postgraduate students are being taught molecular & biochemical basis of genetics considering the current era as genomic era of molecular medicine.

Department of Biochemistry has been recognized for PhD (Biochemistry) by PM&DC & accredited for FCPS-II training in Biochemistry by CPSP. Efforts are being made to uplift the standard of teaching and research in the subject of medical Biochemistry so as to produce the graduates (MBBS, BDS, DPT, BSc Nursing & Allied Health Sciences) and post-graduates (MPhil, FCPS, PhD) at par with modern era of genomic medicine. Postgraduate students of this department are facilitated and enabled to carry out their research projects in the field of biochemistry & molecular genetics employing required equipment already in working state.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Goals:

  • To enable undergraduate students to critically evaluate & interpret biochemical basis of biological processes.
  • To provide postgraduate students with the ability to master discovery & translation of new knowledge concerning the molecular basis of life through interdisciplinary research and training.
  • To produce aspiring molecular life scientists who can make discoveries in the field of health to prevent, diagnose or treat diseases.

Objectives:

  • To make medical, dental & Allied health undergraduate students understand fundamental concepts of biochemistry and to enable them to apply those concepts to the practice of medicine.
  • To provide teaching assistance to nursing undergraduate students in the subject of biochemistry.
  • To provide an advanced understanding of the core principles of Biochemistry and their molecular basis to the postgraduate students, and to enable them to acquire a specialized knowledge and understanding of integral aspects through assignments and research project.
  • To develop psychomotor skill in undergraduate students for practical work based on principles of various conventional & specialized lab investigations, instrumentation analysis.
  • To introduce students to modern methods of biochemical experimentation and employing those methods to promote research at postgraduate level in the field of clinical & molecular Biochemistry.
FACULTY

List of Faculty Members

Name

DesignationQualification

Contact Information

Prof. Dr. Nakhshab ChoudhryProfessor & ChairmanMBBS, DCP, MPhil, PhD(Biochemistry)nakhshabchoudhry@kemu.edu.pk
Dr. Shakil AhmedAssociate ProfessorMBBS, MPhil(Biochemistry)drshakilahmedkemu@gmail.com
Dr. Noor-ul-Ain WaheedAssistant ProfessorMBBS, MPhil(Biochemistry), CMT(UHS)drnoorwaheed@yahoo.com
Dr. Syed Faisal Hassan ShahAssistant ProfessorMBBS, MPhil(Biochemistry)faisalshah70@hotmail.com
Dr. Amna IhsaanAssistant ProfessorMBBS, MPhil(Biochemistry)dramnaihsan@hotmail.com
Dr. Syed Asif Latif ShahSenior DemonstratorM.B.B.S(KEMC)drsyed3@gmail.com
Dr. Sumbul AshrafDemonstratorM.B.B.S
Dr. Ammara Niaz AwanDemonstratorM.B.B.Sammaraniaz120@gmail.com
Dr. Asma AtifDemonstratorM.B.B.Sasmaatif82@gmail.com
Dr. Irsa AsifDemonstratorM.B.B.Sirsaasif@ymail.com
Dr. Sehrish LodhiDemonstratorM.B.B.S,
M.Phil(Genetics & Mol.Biology)
sehrishnadyme@yahoo.com
Dr. Rijha AhmedDemonstratorM.B.B.Srijaahmed@hotmail.com
Dr. Mushayyada RathoreDemonstratorM.B.B.Smaishirathore@gmail.com
Ms. Amber NawabBiochemistM.Phil (Biochemistry)chaudaryamber@yahoo.com
EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES

• MBBS
• BDS
• Doctor of Physiotherapy
• BSc Vision & Allied Health Sciences
• BSc Nursing
• MPhil (Biochemistry)
• FCPS (Biochemistry)
• PhD (Biochemistry)

RESEARCH

Title of research project

Status

Choudhry N, Sarmad S, Waheed NA, Gondal AJ. Estimation of serum matrix metalloproteinases among patients of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Pak J Med Sci. 2019; 35(1):252-256. doi: https://doi.org/doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.1.68Published
Iftikhar U, Choudhry N. Serum levels of androgens in acne & their role in acne severity. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences. 2019;35(1):146-150. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.1.131Published
Iftikhar U, Choudhry N, Asghar A, Bashir B, Ahmad  FJ, Nadeem M.  Correlation of Insulin-Like Growth Factor with Acne Severity. APMC 2017; 11(4):328-32.Published
Association of eNOS gene G894T polymorphism with Diabetic NephropathyWork completed
Association of M235T polymorphism in angiotensinogen gene with diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetic patientsWork completed
Association of A1166C polymorphism in angiotensin II type 1 receptor gene with diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetic patientsWork completed
Endothelin-1 G5665T gene polymorphism and its association with Diabetic NephropathyCurrent Project
Association of serum NADPH Oxidase -1 & Ferritin levels with Parkinson’s DiseaseCurrent Project
Association of Insulin like Growth Factor -1 with sex hormones in patients of Acne VulgarisCurrent Project
Association of Matrix Metalloproteinase‑ 3 & 9 polymorphisms with Coronary Artery DiseaseCurrent Project
Determination of levels of aflatoxin M1 in cow’s milk –whether safe for human consumption?Current Project
Comparison of serum IL-4 & IL-10 levels in patients of early-onset pre-eclampsia and normal pregnant femalesCurrent Project
Association of EGFR serum levels and mutations with squamous cell carcinoma of head and neckCurrent Project
Association of Matrix Metalloproteinase -2 polymorphism with Myocardial InfarctionCurrent Project
Estimation of serum TSH and Anti-thyroid antibodies as biomarkers of malignancy in cold nodule patientsCurrent Project
Comparison of urinary levels of kidney injury biomarkers before and after Extracorporeal Shockwave LithotripsyCurrent Project
Comparison of levels of urinary KIM-1 before and after percutaneous coronary intervention for early diagnosis of contrast induced acute kidney injuryCurrent Project
Association of IL4 VNTR polymorphism with pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia in Pakistani populationCurrent Project
PROJECTS / DEPARTMENTAL EXTENSION /SPECIAL FEATURES

Equipment for techniques

Status

Western blottingInstalled
Gel electrophoresisInstalled
ELISAProcured & now undergoing installation process
Safety cabinetProcured & now undergoing installation process
Bioanalyzers Installed
Nanodrop Undergoing procurement process
Large size Gel electrophoresis Undergoing procurement process
Large refrigerated centrifugeUndergoing procurement process
more freezers of -30oc & – 80 oc Undergoing procurement process
HEALTH SERVICES / STATE OF ART FACILITIES

Besides routinely used laboratory equipment , Biochemistry lab is equipped with following working instruments :

  • Microlab 300 — a semi-automated clinical chemistry analyzer which is used to perform tests on serum, plasma, or urine samples to determine concentrations of analytes (e.g., cholesterol, electrolytes, glucose, calcium) and to assay certain therapeutic drugs.
  • Thermal cycler or PCR machine — used for isolation of DNA fragments, forensic analysis – to analyze extremely small amounts of sample, detection of infectious agents, diagnosis of genetic diseases, study of mutations & polymorphisms, testing of genetic carriers, isolation and amplification of tumor suppressors, assistance in DNA sequencing etc.
  • Real time PCR—used for estimation of the amount of a given DNA sequence present in a sample that is often applied to quantitatively determine levels of gene expression.
  • High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) — used for quantitativeanalysis of the sample components e.g for drug analysis & nutrient analysis in samples.
  • Genetic analyzer/DNA sequencer — an automated system capable of sequencing DNA or analyzing fragments for a variety of applications. Knowledge of DNA sequences of genes and other parts of the genome of organisms has become indispensable for basic research studying biological processes, as well as in applied fields such as diagnostic or forensic research. The advent of DNA sequencing has significantly accelerated biological research and discovery.