Research Activities

Working Facilities

The Department has three well established Labs and centers namely Main Physiology Lab, Resource Lab for Molecular & Cell Biology and Centre of Research in Endocrinology and Reproductive Sciences. Currently, the laboratories are well-equipped with modern research facilities for DNA studies, proteomics, immunoassay, radioimmunoassay, DNA sequencing analysis, Karyotyping, and blood and tissue chemistry. Instruments like Immunofluorescence and inverted research microscopes, HPLC, bone profiler, Horizontal and Vertical electrophoresis, and biosafety laminar flow cabinets are continuously used for various research experiments.

The Department also possesses a good-sized departmental library.

Research activities:

Being an integral part for the award of MPhil and PhD degrees, all students undertake research in different fields of Physiology. Major research interest of Physiology & Cell Biology Department are:

Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Insulin Resistance
Bone Health and Nutrition
COPD and Respiratory disorders
Ovarian cancer transcriptomics and proteomics
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Transcriptomics/Proteomics
PCOs and Endometriosis
HCV/Dengue Pathogenesis and related Physiological Issues
Reproductive Biology of Male Gamete
Vitamin D Prevalence, genetics and association with different metabolic disorders

Regenerative Medicine

Research funding

The research work performed at Department of Physiology is funded by different agencies like HEC, PMRC and PSF in addition to University of Health Sciences, Lahore.

1. Research Projects sponsored by Higher education commission, Pakistan (HEC)

Exploring efficacy of gene editing in reversing the debilitating effects of ?-Thalassemia.
Association of adipokines, FGF21 and their genetic variants with bone mineral density in post-menopausal women
A study of genetic variations in cytokines and TLRs genes and their expression level in association with dengue pathogenesis.
Serum Vitamin D Level and VDR polymorphism (Fok-1, and BSM-1) in type 1 Diabetics of local population.
Serum Somatostatin 1GF-1 and insulin Resistance in Patients of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and in Healthy Females.
Correlation between homocysteine, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Folate and Bone Health in Postmenopausal Pakistani Women.
Serum Vitamin D Level and VDR polymorphism (Fok-1, and BSM-1) in type 1 Diabetics of local population.
Arsenic and lead in serum and breast milk in female agricultural farm workers of Bahawalpur.
Endometriosis and its association with TP53 gene (Codon 72) polymorphism in Lahore.
Comparative Study of Serum Anti-Citrullinated Protein Antibody and Rheumatoid Factor for Diagnosing Rheumatoid Arthritis Boys.
Role of Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Antibody and Anti-Mutated Citrullinated Vimentin Antibody in Diagnosing Rheumatoid Factor Negative Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients.

2. Projects sponsored by Pakistan Medical research council (PMRC)

Early Onset of Renal Function Decline and Its Correlation with Serum Uric Acid in Diabetic Nephropathy
Serum Hyaluronic Acid as Biomarker of Disease Severity in Osteoarthritis.
Effect of Breast and Bottle Feeding on Bone Growth in Prepubertal Children.

Successful PhD Candidates

Dr. Zaima Ali: Placental specific microRNAs related to genes expressed in angiogenesis and apoptosis in pre-eclamptic and normotensive women (Degree awarded in 2020).
Dr. Sundus Tariq: Association of adipokines, FGF21 and their genetic variants with bone mineral density in post-menopausal women� (Degree awarded 2020).
Dr. Uzma Zafar: Genetic variant and hormone levels in metabolic syndrome� (Degree awarded in 2019).
Dr. Adeela Shahid: Genetic Variants in the Leptin, Leptin Receptor and FTO Genes in Obese Pakistani Population (Degree awarded in 2012)
Sobia Rana: Expression of Circadian Clock and Cell Cycle Genes in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (Degree awarded in 2012)
Muhammad Imran: Molecular Markers of Susceptibility to Prion Diseases in Local Humans and Domesticated Bovids (Degree awarded in 2012)

Introduction