TITLE MARCH 2012 - Pakistan Academy of Sciences

Proceedings of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences 49 (1): 63-66 (2012)
Copyright © Pakistan Academy of Sciences
ISSN: 0377 - 2969
Pakistan Academy of Sciences
Citations
Citations of Newly Elected Fellows of PAS
The following two eminent scientists were elected Fellows of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences during
2011:
Dr. Rumina Hasan
Dr. Rumina Hasan (MBBS, PhD, FRC Path) is
currently a Professor in the Department of
Pathology & Microbiology at the Aga Khan
University (AKU), Karachi and Honorary
Professor at the London School of Hygiene and
Tropical Medicine UK. She was instrumental in
establishing the clinical mycobacterial laboratory
at AKU; one of the few laboratories, performing
M. tuberculosis culture and drug sensitivity in
Pakistan. Dr. Hasan's research interests include
antimicrobial resistance. She conducted the
baseline studies for determining M. tuberculosis
genogroups prevalent in Pakistan and their
relationship to drug resistance. This work is now
being taken forward to explore genetic markers
associated with pathogenesis amongst strains
prevalent in this region. Her work has also
addressed the issue of M. tuberculosis drug
resistance at a community level in particular
evaluation of risk factors.
Dr. Hasan's research group has explored
molecular basis of antimicrobial resistance in
bacterial organisms other than tuberculosis and has
worked towards development of systems to reduce
spread of resistant organisms in nosocomial
settings. The antimicrobial resistance work is
being taken forward to investigate resistance in
fungal organisms. Her work on antimicrobial
resistance has led to the establishment of a
national task force to address the issue of
antimicrobial resistance at a national level.
In addition to research activity, Dr. Hasan has
been involved in training. She initiated clinical
microbiology residency outside the armed forces;
to date 9 residents have passed their FCPS
professional exam. She has also supervised 3 PhD
students as primary supervisor, 2 of whom have
completed.
Dr. Muhammad Iqbal
Dr. Muhammad Iqbal is the Director General,
Centre for Applied Molecular Biology, Lahore.
Prior to this, he was the Chief Scientific Officer
and Head, Food and Biotechnology Research
Center at PCSlR, Labs Complex, Lahore. He is an
internationally known scientist for his pioneering
work towards the development of novel
immobilization technique developed by using
indigenous low-cost agro-waste materials. This
innovative immobilization technique has now
become an essential tool for biotechnological
research in the field of fermentation,
bioremediation and biosorption and is being used
worldwide for the entrapment of microalgae,
fungi, yeasts, bacteria and plant cells.
Dr. Iqbal has published 76 research papers in
top ranking international and national journals
with cumulative Impact Factor of 101.45 (JCR-
2009, USA). The importance of his work can also
be judged by more than 900 world-wide citations
by Scopus/web of Science. Three of his research
papers have been ranked ISI 1 st and 5th among the
top 10 most cited papers during last five years
(Scopus/Science Direct). He has also been
honored with Extraordinary Career Accomplishment
Award Letter by Web of Science, USA.
Dr. Iqbal obtained his BSc (Hons) in 1979 and
MSc (2nd position) in 1980, both in Botany, from
the University of Karachi and MPhil (1 st position)
in Plant Physiology from Quaid-i-Azam
University, Islamabad in 1985. His PhD is in
Microbial Biotechnology from the University of
Sheffield, UK in 1990. He is the recipient of three
prestigious international Research awards;
Overseas Research Students (ORS) Award, UK
(1986-89) Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
Fellow, Germany (1996-98); and Fulbright Senior
Research Fellow, USA (2006-07). In national