Dr Imran Mohammed

Biography

Biography

Imran obtained an undergraduate qualification in Pharmacy (B.Pharm., with Distinction) from the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad, India. He moved to the UK for postgraduation and in 2005  completed an M.Sc. in Pharmacology (with Merit class) from Sheffield Hallam University, where he learnt the potential of biomedical research for drug discovery. His first research position as a Research Assitant at the University of Nottingham (UoN) was successful and led him to pursue a career in medical research. In 2006, Imran was awarded a Ph.D. studentship grant by the Fight for Sight (an eye research charity organisation) for doctoral studies at UoN under the supervision of Professor Harminder S. Dua and Dr. Andy Hopkinson. In April 2010, he was awarded a Ph.D. degree with a prestigious "Andrew Hendry Endowed Postgraduate Research Prize" for research excellence. Imran was keen to acquire specialised skills relevant to developing and studying preclinical murine model systems of ocular diseases, which led him to the USA. He completed Postdoctoral training (2010 to 2014) in the laboratory of Professor Wen-Chao Song at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), Philadelphia, PA, where he was awarded a prestigious "Biomedical Postdoctoral Prize" for research achievements. Between 2014 to 2015, Imran briefly explored a teaching position at Qassim University, KSA as an Assistant Professor of Immunology. Later in 2015, he was offered an eponymous position at Nottingham to work as an Elizabeth C. King senior scientist. Because of his continuous success at securing grant funding and publishing high-impact research articles, in 2018, he was promoted to an independent Senior Research Fellow post. In 2022, Imran joined Cardiff University (CU) as a Lecturer/Assistant Professor in the School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, where his laboratory investigates the immunopathology of corneal infection with a key interest in the development of synthetic host defence peptides as a novel therapy for its treatment.

Educational and Professional Qualifications

Qualification	Major	Dates
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)       University of Nottingham, UK	Ocular Immunology	11/2006 – 04/2010
Master of Science (M.Sc.)         Sheffield Hallam University, UK	Pharmacology and Biotechnology	10/2004 - 09/2005
Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm.)    Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, India	Pharmacy	10/1999 - 09/2003

Honours and awards

• Founders Cup for Best Research - 103rd Oxford Ophthalmological Congress (2019)
• PDPR appraisal rating #1 – University of Nottingham (2017)
• Poster First Prize – 21st Nottingham Eye Symposium (2017)
• Elizabeth C. King eponymous Research Fellowship – University of Nottingham (2015)
• AUM Life-Tech Postdoctoral Award - University of Pennsylvania (2013)
• Nottingham First Prize - 14th Nottingham Eye Symposium (2010)
• Andrew Hendry Endowed Post-Graduate Award - University of Nottingham (2010)
• First Prize - 1st Translational Research Day - University of Nottingham (2009)
• David Meyer Research Prize - 13th Nottingham Eye Symposium (2009)
• Best Scientific Paper Award – Asia-ARVO meeting (2009)
• Travel Fellowship Award – Asia-ARVO meeting (2009)
• Graduate School Travel Award - University of Nottingham (2009)
• Merit – MSc programme; Sheffield Hallam University (2005)
• Distinction – B. Pharm programme; JNT University (2003)
• Distinction – Board of Intermediate Education, Hyderabad (1998)
• Distinction – Board of Secondary Education, Hyderabad (1996)

Professional memberships

a) Academic / professional membership:

1. British Society for Immunology (2021 – present)
2. Oxford Ophthalmological Society (2019 – present)
3. School Research Review Committee – University of Nottingham (2018 – 2022)
4. School Safety Committee – University of Nottingham (2017 – 2022)
5. School Mentorship Scheme – University of Nottingham (2017 – 2022)
6. British Infection Association (2016 – present)
7. International Complement Society (2010 – 2014)
8. Biomedical Postdoctoral Association, University of Pennsylvania (2010 – 2014)
9. Society of Mucosal Immunology (2009 – 2011)
10. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (2008 – present)
11. American Association for the Advancement of Science (2007 – 2008)

b) Licensure:

1. Home Office Animal Project License Holder (PPLh), UK
2. Home Office Animal Personal License (PIL A+B), UK
3. Licensed User – Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee, University of Pennsylvania, USA
4. Registered Pharmacist – Telangana State Pharmacy Council, India

Academic positions

Years	Position	Organisation
2022 - present	Lecturer (Assistant Professor)	School of Optometry & Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, UK
2018 - 2022	Senior Research Fellow	Academic Ophthalmology, University of Nottingham, UK
2015 - 2018	Elizabeth C. King Senior Research Scientist	Academic Ophthalmology, University of Nottingham, UK
2014 - 2015	Assistant Professor (teaching track)	College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, KSA
2010 - 2014	Postdoctoral Researcher	School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, USA
2006 - 2010	PhD Scholar	Div of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Nottingham, UK
2005 - 2006	Research Assistant	Div of Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, University of Nottingham, UK

Speaking engagements

Invitation as a guest or key-note speaker

• The good, the bad, and the ugly’ of conventional antibiotics for the management of microbial keratitis. 24th Nottingham Eye Symposium, UK (Jan 2019)
• Cathelicidin-derived peptide improves therapeutic potential of vancomycin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The 103rd Oxford Ophthalmological Congress, UK (July 2019)
• Antibiofilm and antibacterial Host defence peptides. 23rd Nottingham Eye Symposium, UK (Jan 2018)
• W1206R mutation in mouse factor H causes retinal thrombosis and ischemic retinopathy. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD (May 2017)
• Combination of Factor H Mutation and Properdin Deficiency Causes Subretinal and Sub-RPE Deposition. Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting, Seattle, WA (May 2016)
• Interleukin-1 beta modulates Ribonuclease-7 expression at the human ocular surface via MAPK but not NF-kB signalling pathways.Asia- Association of Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (Asia-ARVO), Hyderabad, India (January 2009)
• Expression of Ribonuclease-7, an antimicrobial peptide, on the human ocular surface. 14th International Congress of Mucosal Immunology (ICMI), Boston, MA (July 2009)
• RNase-7 expression mediated by IL-1 beta in human ocular surface cells via multiple signalling pathways. European Association for Vision and Eye Research (EVER) conference, Portoroz, Slovenia (October 2007)

Published conference abstracts

• Ting DSJ, Said DG, Nubile M, Mastropasqua L, Barathi VA, Beuerman R, Lakshminarayanan R, Mohammed I* and Dua HS*. Hybrid derivative of cathelicidin (LL-37) and human beta-defensin against gram-positive bacteria: A novel approach for the treatment of bacterial keratitis. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 2021;62(8):402-402 (*Equal contribution – Corresponding authors)
• Song D, Ueda Y, Mohammed I, Bhuyan R, Miwa T, Gullipalli D, Zhou L, Dunaief JL and Song WC. Factor H mutation W1206R causes retinal thrombosis and ischemic retinopathy in mice. Molecular Immunology. 2018;102:216
• Mohammed I*, Song D*, Ueda Y, Zhou L, Bhuyan R, Miwa T, Song WC and Dunaief JL. W1206R mutation in mouse factor H causes retinal thrombosis and ischemic retinopathy. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 2017;58(8):2962-2962 (*Joint-first)
• Mohammed I*, Song D*, Miwa T, Wlliams A, Gullipali D, Sato S, et al. Combination of Factor H Mutation and Properdin Deficiency Causes Subretinal and Sub-RPE Deposition. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 2016;57(12). (*Joint-first)
• Mohammed I, Song D, Miwa T, Wlliams AL, Gullipali D, Sato S, et al. Subretinal and sub-RPE deposition in mice with combined factor H mutation and properdin deficiency. Immunobiology. 2016;221(10):1190.
• Mohammed I*, Ueda Y*, Song D, Gullipalli D, Zhou L, Sato S, Wang Y, Miwa T, Dunaief JL, and Song, WC. Systemic thrombophilia and hemolytic uremic syndrome caused by a factor H point mutation in mice. Molecular Immunology. 2014;61(2):210-92. (*Joint-first)
• Song D, Li Y, Mohammed I, Song Y, Hadziahmetovic M, Song W, et al. Knockout Of Membrane-associated Complement Inhibitors Cd55 And Cd59 Reduces Retinal Light Damage. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 2012;53(14):1233-.
• Lesher A, Miwa T, Sato S, Mohammed I, Song W-C. Role of properdin in systemic AP complement consumption caused by Crry deficiency. Immunobiology. 2012;217(11):1201.
• Otri AM, Abedin A, Mohammed I, Panjwani N, Hopkinson A, Dua HS. Expression pattern of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in acanthamoeba keratitis. Acta Ophthalmologica. 2008;86:0-.
• Mushtaq F, Mohammed I, Tint NL, Hopkinson A, Dua HS. Antimicrobial peptides expression in activated human corneal keratocytes. Acta Ophthalmologica. 2008;86:0-.
• Mohammed I, Abedin A, Hopkinson A, Dua HS. RNase-7, Novel Antimicrobial Peptide of the Ocular Surface With Vigorous Microbicidal Activity. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. 2008;49(13):507-.
• Mohammed I, Abedin A, Hopkinson A, Dua HS. RNase-7 expression mediated by IL-1 beta in human ocular surface cells via multiple signalling pathways. Acta Ophthalmologica. 2008;86:
• Abedin A, Otri M, Mohammed I, Hopkinson A, Dua HS. Profile of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) at the ocular surface. Acta Ophthalmologica. 2008;86:0-.
• Abedin A*, Mohammed I*, Dua HS. Antimicrobial peptides on the ocular surface in health and disease. Acta Ophthalmologica.2007;85:0-.(*Joint-first)

Committees and reviewing

Journal editorial board:	Associate Editor - Frontiers in Microbiology Associate Editor - Frontiers in Ophthalmology Associate Editor – Translational Medicine Communications
Reviewing for grant bodies	BBSRC – Responsive mode – UK Fight for Sight - UK Lions Clubs – Eye Health Program - Australia
Reviewing for scientific journals:	Frontiers in Immunology Future Microbiology Scientific Reports Antibiotics Biomolecules Eye Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences British Journal of Ophthalmology PLoS One BMC Ophthalmology

Publications

We are currently unable to retrieve the list of publications. Visit our institutional repository.

Teaching

Undergraduate Teaching

Module/s	Course and Organisation	Role	Years
Studying science and skills (OP0306)	BSc Optometry and Vision Sciences program (1st year) School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, UK	Module leader and lecturing	2022 - present
From Cells to Systems (OP1205)	BSc Optometry and Vision Sciences program (1st year) School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, UK	Co-supervising laboratory practical sessions	2022 - present
Ocular Pharmacology (OP2205)	BSc Optometry and Vision Sciences program (2nd year) School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, UK	Co-supervising laboratory practical sessions	2022 - present
Introduction to Sensory Neurosciences (A13ISN)	BMedSci/MB BCh program (3rd year) School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, UK	Selected lecturing each semester	2017 - 2022
General Immunology (PHG 218) Molecular Pharmacology (PHG 225)	PharmD program (2nd year) College of Pharmacy, Qassim University, KSA	Module leader and lecturing	2014 -2015

The main focus of my laboratory is to study the host-pathogen interactions during corneal infection, especially investigating the pathobiology resulting from the interaction of immune cells with bacterial biofilms in the cornea. In addition, our aim is to investigate the pharmacological efficacy and safety of synthetic host-defence peptides as an alternative therapy for the treatment of corneal infection.

We utilise a preclinical mouse model of corneal infection for studying the host-pathogen interactions and testing novel therapeutics. Also, appropriate in-vitro, ex-vivo, and in-silico model systems are well-established for initial safety screening and efficacy studies.

Potential for collaborations and hosting of fellowships:

My laboratory is open for academic/industrial collaborations and hosting potential postdoctoral/PhD fellowships in the following areas of research:

• Anti-infective agents: Development and testing
• Corneal infections: Dissecting disease pathology and testing novel therapeutics
• Antimicrobial resistance: Their relevance to the severity of disease and ineffectiveness of available therapeutics
• Anti-biofilm agents: Development and testing
• Host-pathogen interactions: mainly involved during microbial keratitis and biofilm infections
• Complement activation pathways: their dysregulation and association with corneal disease pathologies
• Host-defence peptides: Redesign, development, and testing

Current collaborators:

• Miguel Camara - Professor of Microbiology and Co-director of National Biofilms Innovation Centre (University of Nottingham)
• Luisa-Martinez Pomares - Associate Professor of Immunology (University of Nottingham)
• Harminder S. Dua - Head and Professor of Ophthalmology (University of Nottingham)
• Winfried M. Amoaku - Associate Professor of Ophthalmology (University of Nottingham)
• Naing Latt Tint - Consultant Ophthalmologist (University of Edinburgh)
• Beth Mills - UKRI Future Leader Fellow (University of Edinburgh)
• Chandra Verma - Senior Principal Investigator (A*Star Bioinformatics Institute, Singapore)
• Rajamani Lakshminarayanan - Head and Principal Investigator (Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore)
• Wen-Chao Song - Professor of Pharmacology (University of Pennsylvania, USA)

Supervision

I am interested in supervising PhD students in the areas of:

• Antimicrobial peptides (Host-defence peptides): Development and testing in ex-vivo and in-vivo model systems
• Developing alternative therapies to combat Antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
• Novel therapies for the management of corneal infection (microbial keratitis)
• Anti-biofilm agents
• Studying pathobiology of microbial keratitis: Investigating the role of complement activation pathways in disease severity

Past projects

PhD research supervision

Name of student and funding source	Award date and Institution name	Role	Current status*
Darren S.J. Ting (MRC Clinical Research Training Fellowship)	2022 – University of Nottingham	Co-supervisor (60%)	Locum Cornea Consultant at Birmingham, UK
Noha Ghoz (self funded)	2021 – University of Nottingham	Co-supervisor (25%)	Locum Medical Retina Consultant at East Grinstead, West Sussex, UK
Andrew Ross (UK- Egypt Channel student; self funded)	2020 – University of Nottingham	Co-supervisor (25%)	Cornea Fellow at Cambridge, UK
Saeif Al-Taan (self-funded)	2019 – University of Nottingham	Co-supervisor (25%)	Locum Cornea Consultant at Southport, UK
Mohamed Kenawy (UK- Egypt Channel student; self funded)	2018 – University of Nottingham	Co-supervisor (25%)	Cornea Consultant and Prviate Practice at Alexandria, Egypt

* Current status as of 2022

MSc research supervision

• I have supervised the following MSc research students as lead supervisor.

Name of student	Course and Institution	Award date	Comment
Nafeesa Akhtar	MSc Immunology & Immunotherapeutics University of Nottingham	2020
Ruba Bakheet	MSc Immunology and Allergy University of Nottingham	2019	Awarded 'Best Project Prize'
Richard Mohan	MSc Clinical and Molecular Microbiology University of Nottingham	2019
Rukhsar Akhtar	MSc Microbiology and Immunology University of Nottingham	2018	Awarded 'Best Project Prize'
Sanita Krievane	MSc Microbiology and Immunology University of Nottingham	2018
Shahed Al-Ghorayed	MSc Immunology and Allergy University of Nottingham	2017

UG research supervision

• I have supervised 13 BMedSci/MBBCh research projects during my two tenures (2006-2010 and 2015-2022) at the School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, UK.

Name of student and Award date	Role	Comment
Waqas Ali (2022)	Lead supervisor	Awarded distinction. Published the literature review relevant to the potential of host defence peptides for COVID-19 infection in the 'Antibiotics' journal
Isobel Lewis (2020)	Co-supervisor (50%)
Megan Stephens (2020)	Co-supervisor (50%)
Natnaree Sihobhan (2020)	Co-supervisor (50%)
Jessica Cairns (2020)	Co-supervisor (25%)	Collected clinical data relevant to microbial keratitis, which was published as a co-author in the 'British Journal of Ophthalmology'
Venessa Widanaralalage Don (2019)	Co-supervisor (50%)
John O. Britton (2018)	Co-supervisor (50%)	Awarded Vice chancellor medal. Published his laboratory findings relevant to the discovery of elastin in cornea in the 'American Journal of Ophthalmology'
Anjali Dias Samarawickrama Yapa (2018)	Co-supervisor (50%)	Demonstrated the specific markers of novel corneal nerve corpuscles. Findings published as a co-author in the 'British Journal of Ophthalmology'
Fady Anis (2017)	Co-supervisor (50%)	Awarded Vice chancellor medal. Collected immunohistological data relevant to the discovery of novel corneal nerve corpuscles in limbus region of cadaver human corneal tissue rims. Data published in the 'British Journal of Ophthalmology'
Ciara Deal (2009)	Co-supervisor (50%)
Emily Edmondson (2009)	Co-supervisor (50%)	Awarded distinction
Fizza Mushtaq (2008)	Co-supervisor (50%)
Paul Dhillon (2008)	Co-supervisor (50%)