Abu Hazafa
Abu Hazafa presenting his PhD thesis defence at the University of Salerno
PhD thesis defence, University of Salerno, December 2025
Portrait of Abu Hazafa

Open to research positions

Abu Hazafa, PhD

Computational and Translational Oncology Researcher

PhD, University of Salerno, Italy Glasgow, United Kingdom

I am a translational oncology researcher with a PhD in Translational and Clinical Medicine from the University of Salerno, Italy (final grade 110/110). My work combines computational analysis of large cancer datasets with hands-on laboratory research. During my PhD I ran four projects in parallel, covering multi-omics biomarker discovery, cancer pharmacogenomics, drug-response studies in head and neck cancer cell lines, and mitochondrial gene expression in breast cancer.

On the computational side, I build prognostic gene signatures and survival models from TCGA and GEO data in R and Python, using differential expression, LASSO-Cox modelling, nomograms, immune infiltration analysis and pathway enrichment. In the lab, I work with cell culture, RT-qPCR, western blotting, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence and patient-derived PBMCs. I am looking for a postdoctoral or clinical research role where I can connect molecular findings with clinically useful outcomes.

Email me Download CV Publications
Citations
2,000+
h-index
22
i10-index
28
Publications
31

Listed among the world's top 2% of scientists (Elsevier / Stanford University) in 2024 and 2025. Metrics from Google Scholar, 2026.

News

  • Became a registered member of the Human Cell Atlas.

  • Based in Glasgow and seeking postdoctoral and clinical research opportunities in oncology.

  • Defended my thesis on EMT and DDR prognostic signatures and was awarded the PhD in Translational and Clinical Medicine by the University of Salerno, with a final grade of 110/110.

  • Listed for the second year running among the world's top 2% scientists (Elsevier / Stanford University, Pharmacology & Pharmacy).

  • Earned the SITC–G Certificate in Cancer Immunotherapy, and joined the European Association for Cancer Research (early-career member) and the American Association for Cancer Research.

  • Joined the Biochemical Society as a postgraduate member.

  • Attended useR! 2025, the international conference of the R community.

  • Attended the Jean Monnet Summer School on the European Union and Global Health, and completed STEMCELL Technologies live training on human intestinal organoids.

Show earlier news

  • Took part in the SITC Cancer Immunotherapy Winter School.

  • Attended the ISSCR 2024 Annual Meeting in Hamburg, Germany.

  • Named for the first time in the Elsevier / Stanford University list of the world's top 2% scientists.

  • Completed Immunology: Innate Immune System from Imperial College London.

  • Attended the Evolution of Cancer Pharmacology conference of the Italian Society of Pharmacology in Salerno.

  • Started research in molecular pharmacology in the lab of Prof. Valeria Conti at the Ospedali Riuniti San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi d'Aragona, Salerno.

  • Joined the lab of Prof. Antonello Petrella (Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno) for drug-response studies in head and neck cancer cell lines.

  • Began my PhD at the University of Salerno, awarded the sole fully funded scholarship in the call.

Research vision

I want to understand how cancer cells change their identity and their DNA repair capacity, and how these changes decide who relapses and who responds to treatment.

I am currently working on two computational projects. The first is a cross-cancer study of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and DNA damage response (DDR) gene programmes in six solid tumours, which links high-risk signatures to immune evasion, genomic instability and predicted drug response. The second is an integrative analysis of mitochondrial genome alterations and mitochondrial gene expression in breast cancer subtypes.

Next, I want to find out how EMT and DNA repair work together to drive resistance to chemotherapy, radiotherapy and targeted drugs such as PARP inhibitors, and how mitochondrial metabolism supports these resistant cell states. My approach combines bioinformatics and computational biology (multi-omics integration, survival modelling, immune deconvolution, network analysis and machine learning) with laboratory validation, so that computational signatures become testable biomarkers and treatment hypotheses.

  • Current EMT and DDR signatures in six cancers Pan-cancer prognostic modelling, immune evasion and drug response. Manuscript in preparation.
  • Current Mitochondrial genome alterations in breast cancer mtDNA changes, mitochondrial gene expression and metabolic risk phenotypes. Manuscript in preparation.
  • Next EMT–DNA repair crosstalk in therapy resistance Which resistant cell states combine mesenchymal features with altered DNA repair, and how to target them.
  • Next From bulk to single-cell and spatial data Locating high-risk EMT, DDR and mitochondrial programmes within tumours using single-cell and spatial datasets.

Research interests

Bioinformatics and computational biology

Reproducible R and Python pipelines for large cancer datasets: survival modelling, network analysis, machine learning and data integration.

Cancer genomics and multi-omics

Integrating transcriptomic, mutational, copy-number and clinical data from TCGA and GEO to understand tumour behaviour across cancer types.

EMT and DNA damage response

How epithelial-mesenchymal transition and DNA repair programmes shape high-risk disease, therapy resistance and treatment vulnerabilities.

Mitochondrial genomics and cancer metabolism

Mitochondrial DNA alterations, mitochondrial gene expression and metabolic reprogramming across breast cancer subtypes.

Prognostic biomarkers and pharmacogenomics

Gene signatures, risk scores and nomograms for patient stratification, and genetic predictors of drug response and toxicity, such as DPYD.

Tumour immunology

Immune infiltration, immune evasion and immunotherapy response in high-risk tumour phenotypes.

Research experience

  1. Doctoral Researcher

    Nov 2022 – Nov 2025

    Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry (DIPMED), University of Salerno, Fisciano, Italy · Supervisor: Dr Federica Papaccio

    • Designed and ran four computational and translational oncology projects in parallel, coordinating work across the study streams (details under Projects).
    • Built 12 LASSO-selected EMT and DDR prognostic signatures (90 gene entries across six TCGA cancer types) with survival analysis, nomograms and immune deconvolution in R; C-index reached 0.75 or higher for both signatures in TCGA-BRCA.
    • Analysed mitochondrial DNA alterations and MitoCarta gene expression across breast cancer subtypes using machine learning clustering in Python.

  2. Researcher in Molecular Pharmacology

    Jan 2024 – Oct 2025

    Lab of Prof. Valeria Conti, Ospedali Riuniti San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi d'Aragona, Salerno, Italy

    • Studied the plasma UH2/U ratio as a predictive biomarker of fluoropyrimidine toxicity and its association with DPYD polymorphisms.
    • Performed RT-qPCR SNP genotyping, Sanger sequencing, DNA/RNA isolation and PBMC extraction from patient samples.

  3. Researcher in Cell Culture and Molecular Biology

    Jul 2023 – Dec 2023

    Lab of Prof. Antonello Petrella, Department of Pharmacy (DIFARMA), University of Salerno, Fisciano, Italy

    • Profiled single-agent and combination drug responses in HNSCC cell lines (SCC-154, CAL-27) targeting CHAF1a/CHAF1b, at 24, 48 and 72 hours.
    • Used western blotting, MTT and LDH assays, wound-healing assays, immunofluorescence, confocal microscopy, flow cytometry and transfection.

  4. Lab Technologist

    Jan 2021 – Dec 2021

    Medsol Clinical Labs, Islamabad, Pakistan

    • Ran diagnostic assays across the haematology, biochemistry, immunology, microbiology and histopathology sections.

  5. Research Associate (Remote)

    Aug 2018 – Oct 2021

    International Society of Engineering Science and Technology (ISEst), Nottingham, UK

    • Wrote and reviewed research articles, and trained researchers in EndNote, OriginLab, SPSS and Microsoft Office.

Projects

PhD thesis Nov 2022 – present

EMT and DDR prognostic signatures across six cancers

A pan-cancer study of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and DNA damage response genes in BRCA, COAD, LUAD, LUSC, PAAD and STAD.

  • Developed 12 LASSO-selected prognostic signatures from TCGA training data and validated them externally in independent GEO cohorts.
  • Integrated survival modelling, LASSO-Cox regression, nomograms, immune-infiltration profiling, pathway enrichment, mutational analysis, pharmacogenomic prediction, CMap analysis and WGCNA.
  • Nomograms predicted 1, 3 and 5-year overall survival better than individual clinical variables. C-index was 0.75 or higher for both signatures in TCGA-BRCA and 0.65 to 0.74 in most other cohorts, supported by calibration, DCA, NRI, IDI and AIC.
  • High-risk groups showed an immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment and genomic instability, and risk scores were linked to predicted drug sensitivity (IC50) in cancer cell lines.

TCGA · GEO · LASSO-Cox · Nomograms · Immune deconvolution · CMap · WGCNA

Manuscript in preparation

Computational Jan 2025 – present

Mitochondrial genome alterations in breast cancer

An integrative analysis of mitochondrial alterations and their prognostic significance in TCGA-BRCA, across luminal, triple-negative and HER2-positive subtypes.

  • Integrated transcriptomic, clinical, PAM50 subtype, somatic mutation, mtDNA copy-number and survival data.
  • Applied limma-voom, Cox and LASSO-Cox modelling, Kaplan-Meier, ROC and C-index analysis, WGCNA, ssGSEA, TMB and ITH profiling, and machine learning clustering in Python.
  • Built a three-gene mitochondrial signature that stratified overall survival across Luminal A, Luminal B and Basal tumours.
  • Found that mitochondrial changes in breast cancer are mainly transcriptional and metabolic (fatty-acid oxidation and peroxisomal lipid metabolism) rather than mutational.

limma-voom · LASSO-Cox · ssGSEA · WGCNA · PAM50 · Python

Manuscript in preparation

Clinical pharmacology Jan 2024 – Oct 2025

Fluoropyrimidine pharmacogenomics

Pre-treatment biomarkers of 5-FU and capecitabine toxicity in cancer patients.

  • Evaluated the plasma UH2/U ratio as a predictor of fluoropyrimidine toxicity.
  • Genotyped DPYD polymorphisms by RT-qPCR and related genotype to UH2/U phenotype and clinical toxicity.
  • Processed patient blood for DNA/RNA isolation and PBMC extraction in a hospital research setting.

DPYD · SNP genotyping · RT-qPCR · PBMCs

Wet lab Jul 2023 – Dec 2023

Drug-response profiling in head and neck cancer

Epigenetic and targeted drug combinations in HNSCC cell lines SCC-154 and CAL-27.

  • Tested 5-azacytidine, vemurafenib, metformin and olaparib alone and in combination (including metformin with olaparib) over 24, 48 and 72 hours, targeting CHAF1a/CHAF1b-mediated chromatin remodelling.
  • Characterised effects with MTT/LDH assays, migration assays, apoptosis flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, confocal microscopy, western blotting and siRNA transfection.

Cell culture · Flow cytometry · Western blot · Confocal

M.Phil research Apr 2020 – Dec 2020

Nano-biopesticides from plant extracts

Pesticidal and antimicrobial activity of natural products formulated as nanosuspensions.

  • Prepared nanosuspensions by anti-solvent precipitation, optimised with Response Surface Methodology.
  • Characterised extracts and formulations by Zeta-sizer, FT-IR and HPLC.

RSM · Nanoformulation · HPLC · FT-IR

Published in Chemosphere (2022)

Analysis code for the computational projects is available on request.

Publications

31 publications, including 8 as first author. Complete and up-to-date lists are on Google Scholar and ORCID.

In preparation

  • Cross-cancer epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and DNA damage response (DDR) signatures define high-risk phenotypes associated with immune evasion. Hazafa A, et al.
  • Mitochondrial DNA alterations and MitoCarta gene expression profiles across breast cancer molecular subtypes. Hazafa A, et al.

Published

2023

  1. Explorations of CRISPR/Cas9 for improving the long-term efficacy of universal CAR-T cells in tumor immunotherapy. Naeem M, Hazafa A, Bano N, Ali R, Farooq M, Razak SIA, Lee TY, Devaraj S. Life Sciences 316:121409 DOI
  2. Pathogenetic mechanisms of liver-associated injuries, management, and current challenges in COVID-19 patients. Naeem M, Bano N, Manzoor S, Ahmad A, Munawar N, Razak SIA, Lee TY, Devaraj S, Hazafa A. Biomolecules 13(1):99 DOI
  3. Green inspired synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using Silybum marianum (milk thistle) extract and evaluation of their potential pesticidal and phytopathogens activities. Jahan N, Rasheed K, Rahman KU, Hazafa A, Saleem A, Alamri S, Iqbal MO, Rahman MA. PeerJ 11:e15743 DOI

2022

  1. Inhibitory effect of polyphenols (phenolic acids, lignans, and stilbenes) on cancer by regulating signal transduction pathways: a review. Hazafa A, Iqbal MO, Javaid U, Tareen MBK, Amna D, Ramzan A, Piracha S, Naeem M. Clinical and Translational Oncology 24(3):432–445 DOI
  2. A review of twenty years of research on the regulation of signaling pathways by natural products in breast cancer. Naeem M, Iqbal MO, Khan H, Ahmed MM, Farooq M, Aadil MM, Jamaludin MI, Hazafa A, Tsai WC. Molecules 27(11):3412 DOI
  3. Exploring the anticancer activities of novel bioactive compounds derived from endophytic fungi: mechanisms of action, current challenges and future perspectives. Kousar R, Naeem M, Jamaludin MI, Arshad A, Shamsuri AN, Ansari N, Akhtar S, Hazafa A, Uddin J, Khan A, Al-Harrasi A. American Journal of Cancer Research 12(7):2897–2919 PubMed
  4. Pathological features and neuroinflammatory mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 in the brain and potential therapeutic approaches. Sodagar A, Javed R, Tahir H, Razak SIA, Shakir M, Naeem M, Yusof AHA, Sagadevan S, Hazafa A, Uddin J, Khan A, Al-Harrasi A. Biomolecules 12(7):971 DOI
  5. Evaluation and optimization of nanosuspensions of Chrysanthemum coronarium and Azadirachta indica using Response Surface Methodology for pest management. Hazafa A, Jahan N, Zia MA, Rahman KU, Sagheer M, Naeem M. Chemosphere 292:133411 DOI
  6. Fungal proteases as emerging biocatalysts to meet the current challenges and recent developments in biomedical therapies: an updated review. Naeem M, Manzoor S, Abid MUH, Tareen MBK, Asad M, Mushtaq S, Ehsan N, Amna D, Xu B, Hazafa A. Journal of Fungi 8(2):109 DOI
  7. Nano-biopesticides as an emerging technology for pest management. Hazafa A, Murad M, Masood MU, Bilal S, Khan MN, Farooq Q, Iqbal MO, Shakir M, Naeem M. In: Insecticides: Impact and Benefits of Its Use for Humanity. IntechOpen (book chapter) DOI
  8. Supercritical water oxidation of phenol and process enhancement with in situ formed Fe2O3 nano catalyst. Al-Atta A, Sher F, Hazafa A, Zafar A, Iqbal HMN, Karahmet E, Lester E. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 29(41):61896–61904 DOI
  9. Effects of zeolite-based nanoparticles on the biodegradation of organic materials. Sher F, Hazafa A, Rashid T, Bilal M, Zafar F, Mushtaq Z, Nisa ZU. In: Biodegradation and Biodeterioration at the Nanoscale. Elsevier, pp. 579–601 (book chapter) DOI

2021

  1. Humanin: a mitochondrial-derived peptide in the treatment of apoptosis-related diseases. Hazafa A, Batool A, Ahmad S, Amjad M, Chaudhry SN, Asad J, Ghuman HF, Khan HM, Naeem M, Ghani U. Life Sciences 264:118679 DOI
  2. Treatment of lymphomas via regulating the signal transduction pathways by natural therapeutic approaches: a review. Batool A, Hazafa A, Ahmad S, Khan HA, Abideen HM, Zafar A, Bilal M, Iqbal HM. Leukemia Research 104:106554 DOI
  3. Comparative study of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) and sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.): evaluation of proximate composition, polyphenol content, mineral and antioxidant activities. Arshad A, Iqbal H, Siddiqa A, Zulfiqar T, Tareen MBK, Amna D, Shakir M, Hazafa A, Naeem M, Lorenzo JM, Domínguez R. Applied Sciences 11(24):11844 DOI
  4. Comparative effect of inoculation of phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria and phosphorus as sustainable fertilizer on yield and quality of mung bean (Vigna radiata L.). Bilal S, Hazafa A, Ashraf I, Alamri S, Siddiqui MH, Ramzan A, Qamar N, Sher F, Naeem M. Plants 10(10):2079 DOI
  5. Green synthesis and evaluation of calcium-based nanocomposites fertilizers: a way forward to sustainable agricultural. Khan O, Niazi MBK, Shah GA, Hazafa A, Jahan Z, Sadiq M, Sher F. Journal of the Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences 20(8):519–529 DOI
  6. Synergistic effect of urease and nitrification inhibitors in the reduction of ammonia volatilization. Hussain A, Jabeen Z, Afsheen N, Rafiq H, Huma Z, Rahman KU, Naeem M, Hazafa A. ChemRxiv (preprint) DOI
  7. Fully solar powered Doncaster Sheffield Airport: energy evaluation, glare analysis and CO2 mitigation. Sher F, Hazafa A, Marintseva K, Rasheed T, Ali U, Rashid T, Babu A, Khzouz M. Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments 45:101122 DOI
  8. Synthesis of zeolite supported bimetallic catalyst and application in n-hexane hydro-isomerization using supercritical CO2. Al-Rawi UA, Sher F, Hazafa A, Bilal M, Lima EC, Al-Shara NK, Jubeen F, Shanshool J. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering 9(4):105206 DOI
  9. Design and feasibility study of novel paraboloid graphite based microbial fuel cell for bioelectrogenesis and pharmaceutical wastewater treatment. Rashid T, Sher F, Hazafa A, Hashmi RQ, Zafar A, Rasheed T, Hussain S. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering 9(1):104502 DOI

2020

  1. The role of polyphenol (flavonoids) compounds in the treatment of cancer cells. Hazafa A, Rehman KU, Jahan N, Jabeen Z. Nutrition and Cancer 72(3):386–397 DOI Among the journal's most-cited articles
  2. CRISPR/Cas9: a powerful genome editing technique for the treatment of cancer cells with present challenges and future directions. Hazafa A, Mumtaz M, Farooq MF, Bilal S, Chaudhry SN, Firdous M, Naeem H, Ullah MO, Yameen M, Mukhtiar MS, Zafar F. Life Sciences 263:118525 DOI
  3. The broad-spectrum antiviral recommendations for drug discovery against COVID-19. Hazafa A, Rahman KU, Haq IU, Jahan N, Mumtaz M, Farman M, Naeem H, Abbas F, Naeem M, Sadiqa S, Bano S. Drug Metabolism Reviews 52(3):408–424 DOI
  4. New insights on possible vaccine development against SARS-CoV-2. Chaudhry SN, Hazafa A, Mumtaz M, Kalsoom U, Abbas S, Kainaat A, Bilal S, Zafar N, Siddique A, Zafar A. Life Sciences 260:118421 DOI
  5. Evaluation and detoxification of aflatoxins in ground and tree nuts using food grade organic acids. Jubeen F, Sher F, Hazafa A, Zafar F, Ameen M, Rasheed T. Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology 29:101749 DOI
  6. Catalytic activity of Pt loaded zeolites for hydroisomerization of n-hexane using supercritical CO2. Al-Rawi UA, Sher F, Hazafa A, Rasheed T, Al-Shara NK, Lima EC, Shanshool J. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 59(51):22092–22106 DOI
  7. Biocomposite of sodium-alginate with acidified clay for wastewater treatment: kinetic, equilibrium and thermodynamic studies. Kausar A, Sher F, Hazafa A, Javed A, Sillanpää M, Iqbal M. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 161:1272–1285 DOI
  8. The effect of variable operating parameters for hydrocarbon fuel formation from CO2 by molten salts electrolysis. Al-Juboori O, Sher F, Hazafa A, Khan MK, Chen GZ. Journal of CO2 Utilization 40:101193 DOI
  9. Formulation of zeolite supported nano-metallic catalyst and applications in textile effluent treatment. Rashid T, Iqbal D, Hazafa A, Hussain S, Sher F, Sher F. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering 8(4):104023 DOI

2019

  1. The health impacts of fasting during Ramadan. Hazafa A, Rehman K, Jabeen Z. Journal of Nutrition, Fasting and Health 7(3) DOI

Education

  1. PhD in Translational and Clinical Medicine

    Nov 2022 – Dec 2025

    University of Salerno, Scuola Medica Salernitana, Italy · Final grade 110/110

    PhD programme in Translational Medicine in Development and Active Ageing (XXXVIII cycle), curriculum in Translational and Clinical Medicine. Supervisor: Dr Federica Papaccio.

    Thesis: Identification of Novel Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) and DNA Damage Repair (DDR)-Related Prognostic Gene Signatures as Predictive Biomarkers in Six Cancer Cohorts.

    Coursework: statistics for clinical and basic research, computer science for research, multi-omics disciplines, translational research methods, methodology of research studies, analytical instruments and biomarkers in biomedical research, and intellectual property and patents.

    Awarded the only fully funded PhD scholarship in the call (tuition, stipend, accommodation, meals and health insurance).

  2. M.Phil in Biochemistry

    Sep 2018 – Dec 2020

    University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan

    Research on plant-extract nano-biopesticides (see Projects).

  3. M.Sc in Biochemistry

    Sep 2016 – Aug 2018

    University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan

  4. B.Sc in Zoology, Botany and Chemistry

    Jun 2014 – Aug 2016

    University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

Skills

Computational and data

Programming
  • R (RStudio)
  • R Markdown
  • Python
  • NumPy
  • Pandas
  • scikit-learn
  • PyTorch
  • Biopython
  • Matplotlib
  • Seaborn
  • Jupyter
  • Bash/Shell scripting
  • Git/GitHub
  • MySQL
Bioinformatics pipelines
  • RNA-seq analysis (limma, edgeR)
  • Differential expression analysis
  • Survival analysis (Kaplan-Meier, Cox PH, timeROC)
  • LASSO-Cox regression
  • Nomograms
  • Immune profiling (ssGSEA, CIBERSORTx, ESTIMATE, TIDE)
  • Gene-set enrichment (clusterProfiler, GSVA, fgsea, msigdbr)
  • GO and KEGG pathway analysis
  • Drug-sensitivity (IC50) prediction
  • CMap analysis
  • Mutation analysis (maftools, MutationalPatterns)
  • WGCNA
  • PCA
  • t-SNE
Omics databases
  • TCGA
  • GEO
  • GTEx
  • NCBI
  • cBioPortal
  • KEGG
  • STRING
  • Ensembl
  • LD-Link
  • Human Protein Atlas
  • Roadmap Epigenomics
Visualisation
  • ggplot2
  • ComplexHeatmap
  • patchwork
  • pheatmap
  • Cytoscape
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • OriginPro
  • GraphPad Prism
Reproducibility
  • Zenodo (DOI archival)
  • Jupyter Notebooks
  • Reproducible workflow documentation

Laboratory and clinical

Molecular techniques
  • DNA/RNA isolation
  • RT-qPCR
  • PCR
  • SNP genotyping
  • Sanger sequencing
  • Western blotting
  • Immunoblotting
  • Protein extraction
  • Proliferation assays
  • SDS-PAGE
  • Agarose gel electrophoresis
Cell culture and imaging
  • 2D/3D mammalian cell culture
  • PBMC isolation and cryopreservation
  • MTT/LDH assays
  • Migration and invasion assays
  • Transfection (Lipofectamine)
  • Immunofluorescence
  • Confocal microscopy
Analytical instruments
  • HPLC (Waters)
  • FT-IR
  • Zeta-sizer
  • ÄKTA pure chromatography (Cytiva training)
Flow cytometry
  • Cell surface staining
  • Intracellular staining
  • Apoptosis detection
Clinical research
  • Oncology/haematology clinical trials
  • Clinical trial processes
  • Clinical trial design (SITC training)
  • Patient-derived sample processing

Writing, software and languages

Scientific writing
  • Original research articles
  • Review articles
  • Systematic review workflows
  • Peer review (200+ manuscripts)
  • Grant writing (NIH/NIAID training)
  • Academic presentation
  • Zotero
  • EndNote
Project management
  • Diploma in Project Management (2024)
  • Coordinating parallel research projects
Microsoft Office Suite
  • Word
  • Excel
  • PowerPoint
  • Outlook
  • Project
Languages
  • English (C1, certified 2024)
  • Urdu (native)
  • Punjabi (native)
  • Italian (A2)

Training, conferences and seminars

Conferences
7
Schools
3
Courses
23
Webinars and seminars
65+

Certificates and courses

  • Knowledge and Prevention of Risks in Research Laboratories and Healthcare Facilities, DIPMED, University of Salerno Nov 2025
  • SITC–G Certificate in Cancer Immunotherapy (8 modules, 17 CPD hours), Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer Oct 2025 Certificate
  • Introduction to Statistics for the Life Sciences, Biochemical Society Oct 2025
  • Live Virtual Human Intestinal Organoid Training Course (6.5 P.A.C.E. contact hours), STEMCELL Technologies Jun 2025 Certificate
  • Cell-based Immunotherapies (0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit), American Society of Clinical Oncology Apr 2024 Certificate
  • Immunology: Innate Immune System, Imperial College London (Coursera) Apr 2024 Verify
  • Diploma in Project Management (assessed through written assignments and projects), eLearning College Apr 2024
  • Genomic Databases: A Beginner's Guide, The Jackson Laboratory Mar 2024
  • How to Be a Better Supervisor for Students in Health Services (1 CE credit), American Psychological Association Mar 2024
  • DisasterReadyPRO Learning Program, Cornerstone OnDemand Foundation Feb 2024
  • Unconscious Bias in Medicine (1 CME), Stanford Medicine Feb 2024
  • English Language, level C1 (100 hours), University of Salerno Feb 2024
  • Workplace Safety Training for Low-Risk Workers, University of Salerno Feb 2024
  • On-Demand Human Intestinal Organoid Course, STEMCELL Technologies 2024
  • Italian Language, level A1 (25/30), University of Salerno Jun 2023
  • Hands-on instrument training in HPLC (Waters), real-time PCR and ÄKTA, University of Salerno, and ÄKTA pure system online training, Cytiva Jun 2023
  • Financial Literacy Training Program, National Financial Literacy Program for Youth, Pakistan Dec 2020
  • The Science of Medicines (90% average test score), Monash University (FutureLearn) Jul 2020 Verify
  • Case Study: Online Disaster Response Simulation, DisasterReady.org May 2020
  • Entrepreneurship 1: Developing the Opportunity, Wharton, University of Pennsylvania (Coursera) Aug 2019 Verify
  • Medical Neuroscience, Duke University (Coursera) Mar 2019 Verify
  • Introduction to Forensic Science, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (Coursera) 2019 Verify
  • 4th National Hands-on Training Workshop on PCR, Molecular Care, Department of Biochemistry, University of Agriculture Faisalabad Apr 2017

Conferences and symposia

  • Innovate Pharma Summit 2025, Agilent Oct 2025
  • useR! 2025, the international R user conference Aug 2025
  • The Laboratory of the Future 2025, Technology Networks Jan 2025
  • ISSCR 2024 Annual Meeting, International Society for Stem Cell Research, Hamburg, Germany Jul 2024
  • Evolution of Cancer Pharmacology, Italian Society of Pharmacology, Salerno, Italy Mar 2024
  • 2nd International Conference of Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Biomaterials, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan Dec 2018
  • International Symposium on Health and Nutrition (ISHN-2K17), University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan Oct 2017

Summer and winter schools

  • Jean Monnet Summer School: The European Union and Global Health (EU4GH), University of Salerno Jun 2025
  • SITC Cancer Immunotherapy Winter School (virtual): tumour immunology, biomarker validation, clinical trial design and combination therapies Feb 2025
  • Spring School on Transferable Skills (2 ECTS), University of Naples Federico II May 2024

Seminar and webinar series

  • Academic English (3 lectures), DIPMED, University of Salerno: medical academic communication, abstract and article writing, academic presentation skills Jan 2025
  • Healthcare Communication (3 seminars), DIPMED, University of Salerno: doctor-patient communication, the medical consultation, patient-centred communication role plays Dec 2024
  • Intellectual Property Rights Are Innovators' Best Friends, doctoral seminars, University of Salerno Jan and Dec 2024
  • Springer Nature webinar series (4 webinars): writing a scientific paper, research data, how journals operate, AI and scientific writing May 2025 Certificates
  • The Diary of a Scientist, BioMed X Jun 2025
  • Finding the Cure for Cancer Through Research (4 talks), AIRC: pancreatic cancer heterogeneity, metabolic reprogramming in renal cell carcinoma, haematological malignancies and host immunity, immunometabolic dysfunction in cancer 2024–2025
  • NIAID Grant Writing (6 webinars), US National Institutes of Health: early-career funding, F, K and DP2 applications, research strategy, peer review Feb–Jul 2024
  • Is Research Impact Predictable? (2 webinars), Clarivate Apr–May 2024

Webinars

2025 16 webinars
  • Translational Cancer Research: When Innovation Meets the FutureGlobal Research & Innovations Talks
  • Accelerating Scientific Breakthroughs with an AI Co-ScientistGlobal Research & Innovations Talks
  • Modular, Interoperable and Extensible Topological Data Analysis in RR Consortium
  • Unlocking the Power of Spatial Omics with AI: Computational Science in Immuno-oncologySITC
  • Organoid Models in Development and DiseaseISSCR
  • IARC–ESMO Webinar: Nutrition, Diet and CancerInternational Agency for Research on Cancer
  • Neoadjuvant Clinical Trial Design Virtual SummitSITC
  • Cell Culture Fundamentals: Best Practices for Better Cell CultureCorning
  • Generating 3D Cell Culture Models Using Permeable SupportsCorning
  • Lessons from the CIMAC-CIDC Network: Computational Science in Immuno-oncologySITC
  • Targeting KRAS Mutations in Pancreatic Cancer: Insights from Mouse Models and Clinical ProspectsMedChemExpress
  • Exploring the Untranslated: RNA Sequencing Basics and the Power of lncRNANovogene
  • ACI: A Focus on Gastrointestinal CancersSITC
  • Advancing Immunotherapy Research with PBMC-Engrafted NSG ModelsThe Jackson Laboratory
  • Key Challenges in Cancer Research: Insights from the CRUK Grand Challenges Funding SchemeAIRC
  • Understanding and Managing Cell Culture ContaminationCorning
2024 12 webinars
  • Streamlining Hepatic Differentiation: An Optimised Approach Using iPSCs for Organoid ProductionWiley
  • Targeted Tumor ImmunotherapyJoVE
  • Catching Cancer in a Drop of BloodDrug Discovery News
  • Understanding Regulation of Cell States and FatesISSCR
  • Unraveling the Secrets of Cytometry: From Panel Design to Cytometry MasteryThermo Fisher Scientific
  • AI-Enabled Tumor StudiesJoVE
  • Reserve Cell, Recurrence Post-treatment and Implications for Cervical Screening (1 CME)International Papillomavirus Society
  • Revolutionizing Drug Discovery: DEL and Micromapping TechnologyMerck
  • HPV Test for Cervical Cancer Screening (1.5 CME)International Papillomavirus Society
  • It's Personal: Organoids Leading the Charge in Precision MedicineScience/AAAS
  • Contamination Control and Retention of Critical Components in Culture Media PreparationBitesize Bio
  • Liquid Biopsy as a Tool to Screen and Monitor HPV-Associated CancersInternational Papillomavirus Society
2023 10 webinars
  • From Flat to Functional: Tools and Techniques for Working with Spheroids and OrganoidsCorning Life Sciences
  • Another Dimension: How 3D Organoids Are Transforming Cancer ImmunotherapyScience/AAAS
  • Retaining Cell Viability and Morphology in iPSCs: Vital Tools for ResearchBioTechniques
  • BOLD Innovation That Matters: Translating Science into Meaningful Therapies (Episode IV)WuXi AppTec
  • Translating Discoveries into Clinical Practice in Colorectal CancerAIRC
  • Curious to Know More About Patient-Derived Organoids?Hub Organoids
  • Rethinking 3D Cell Culture: Advanced Cell Cultures from iPSCs and OrganoidsSartorius
  • Leading Role of Academic Research in the Fight Against Breast CancerAIRC
  • Challenges in 3D Cell Culture and Their Phenotypic AnalysisBitesize Bio / Microscopy Focus
  • Lab Essentials: Proper Pipetting TechniquesBioTechniques

Earlier workshops, seminars and outreach

2017–2020 10 activities, mostly at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad
  • Ambassador, recognised for personal and leadership developmentFuture Leaders Model United Nations
  • Ambassador, Agri Fiesta 2019The Educator Forum, UAF
  • Basics of Microsoft OfficeThe Agrarian Society, UAF
  • International Day of Forests seminar and tree plantation campaignHashoo Foundation and YPARD, UAF
  • Community Action for Disaster Response (CADRE) orientation coursePunjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122), UAF
  • Project writing workshop: research proposals, CV writing in LaTeX and scholarship applicationsPakistan Society of Plant Breeders and Geneticists, UAF
  • Stress and anger management training courseAbacus International HSE Services
  • Seminar: How to Develop a Winning Scholarship ApplicationSociety of Engineers and Technologists, UAF
  • Career Counselling for Better Future and DevelopmentUAF Young Peace and Development Corps and Nishat Group
  • Training session on communication skillsChief Minister Youth Mobilisation Committee, Government of Punjab

Honours and awards

  • Top 2% Scientists, Elsevier / Stanford University single-year list, Pharmacology & Pharmacy 2024 and 2025 Certificate
  • Fully funded PhD scholarship (sole position), University of Salerno 2022
  • Elsevier recognition for an open-access article linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2020–2022
  • Star of UAF Award for outstanding academic achievement, University of Agriculture Faisalabad 2019
  • Medal of Leadership, Best Being Services, for survey work during the 2018 General Elections in Pakistan 2019
  • Youth Ambassador Award 2018, Best Being Services 2019

Memberships

  • Human Cell Atlas, registered member 2026–present Certificate
  • European Association for Cancer Research (EACR), early-career member 2025–present
  • American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 2025–present
  • Biochemical Society, postgraduate member 2025–present
  • Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) 2025–present
  • American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2024–present
  • American Physiological Association (APA) 2023–2025
  • Institute of Research Engineers and Doctors (IRED), associate member 2019–2022
  • International Society of Engineering Science and Technology (ISEST), associate member elected 2018

Professional service

  • Early Career Editorial Board Member, Oncology Research (Tech Science Press) Feb 2024–Feb 2026
  • Early Career Editorial Board Member, Experimental Results (Cambridge University Press)
  • Peer reviewer for more than 200 manuscripts in oncology, cell biology, biochemistry, molecular biology and pharmacology journals Elsevier and Wiley certificates Springer certificate
  • Reviewer team member, Journal of Drug Delivery & Therapeutics 2021
  • External thesis examiner, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, for two M.Sc Biochemistry theses 2024–2025

Journals I have reviewed for

  • Cancers
  • Clinical and Translational Oncology
  • Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology
  • Computers in Biology and Medicine
  • Journal of Translational Medicine
  • Nutrition and Cancer
  • Oncology Research
  • Human Cell
  • Journal of Cellular Physiology
  • Advances in Medical Sciences
  • Heliyon
  • International Journal of Molecular Sciences
  • Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics
  • Chemico-Biological Interactions
  • Phytomedicine
  • Journal of Ethnopharmacology
  • Journal of Herbal Medicine
  • Journal of Drug Delivery & Therapeutics
  • Journal of Chemotherapy
  • World Journal of Gastroenterology
  • World Journal of Clinical Cases
  • Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology
  • Biological Research
  • Hereditas
  • Bioengineering
  • Future Medicinal Chemistry
  • Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
  • ACS Food Science & Technology
  • Frontiers in Veterinary Science

Contact

I welcome enquiries about postdoctoral and research positions, collaborations and peer review.

abuhuzaifavirk [at] gmail [dot] com

Glasgow, United Kingdom · References available on request.

Cite this paper