Research Supervision Capacity
About Me
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal is a leading researcher in Molecular Biology and Human Genetics. He earned his PhD from the National Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology, (NCEMB), University of the Punjab, Lahore in 2010. His doctoral work led to the discovery of a novel locus RP51 and identification of the TTC8 gene as a cause of non-syndromic autosomal recessive Retinitis pigmentosa in the Pakistani population.
Dr. Iqbal joined The Islamia University of Bahawalpur soon after his PhD, where he has been actively engaged in teaching and research. He developed and teaches advanced courses in Human Molecular Genetics and leads a research group investigating genetic disorders such as hereditary vision loss, hearing impairment, and intellectual disability—conditions especially prevalent in South Punjab due to high consanguinity. His work extends into the community through genetic counseling, aiming to reduce the recurrence of inherited disorders in families through education and support.
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal has also gained international recognition. He was awarded training fellowships by the National Human Genome Research Institute NIH, USA in 2019 and the University of Geneva, Switzerland in 2021, where he advanced his skills in genome data analysis and built global collaborations. Through his research, teaching, and outreach, Dr. Iqbal is playing a vital role in improving genetic literacy and reducing the burden of genetic diseases in underserved regions of Pakistan.
Contact Info
Research Publication
1. Parveen, Razia and Iqbal, Muhammad and Khan, Shahbaz and Rashid, Abdur and Frederiksen, Helen Nabiryo and Oreshkov, Sergey and Mustafa, Ghulam and Naeem, Muhammad Asif and Baig, Hafiz Muhammad Azhar and Ansar, Muhammad. 2026. “Expanding the Genetic Landscape of Congenital Stationary Night Blindness Through the Analysis of Consanguineous Pakistani Families.” MDPI AG 17. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes17050539
2. Sagheer, Areeba and Iqbal, Muhammad and Sagheer, Duaa and Sagheer, Areesha and Madnee, Muhammad and Makki, Hussain Ahmed and Ali, Intazar and Nurrochmat, Nugraha Akbar. 2026. “Harnessing Nanotechnology for Environmental Sustainability: Applications.” Truly Science Publishing 2. https://doi.org/10.65896/ijsaes.v2i1.25
3. Ejaz S, Raashid A, Hameed Y, Abdullah I, Imtiaz N, Iqbal M, Khurshid M, Malik WN. 2026. “A report of novel inactivating missense mutations of BRCA1 detected in patients with acute myeloid leukemia.” J Med Case Rep 16. doi: 10.1186/s13256-025-05048-x.
4. Malka, Samantha and Biswas, Pooja and Berry, Anne-Marie and Sangermano, Riccardo and Ullah, Mukhtar and Lin, Siying and D’Antonio, Matteo and Jestin, Aleksandr and Jiao, Xiaodong and Quinodoz, Mathieu and Sullivan, Lori and Gardner, Jessica C. and Place,. 2024. “Substitution of a single non-coding nucleotide upstream of TMEM216 causes non-syndromic retinitis pigmentosa and is associated with reduced TMEM216 expression.” Elsevier BV 111. 10.1016/j.ajhg.2024.07.020
5. Umair, Muhammad. 2024. “A NOVEL MISSENSE MUTATION (C.1982A>C) IN FCHSD1GENE CAUSESAUTOSOMAL RECESSIVE EARLY ONSET PARKINSON’S DISEASE IN ACONSANGUINEOUS PAKISTANI FAMILY.” Green Publication 31. https://doi.org/10.53555/jptcp.v31i5.6155
6. Shah, M. Z. and Mustafa, G. and Iqbal, M. and Qasim, M. and Abbas, K. and Umair, M. and Baig, H. M. A. 2024. “Prevalence of Gram positive bacteria in the affected individuals of Otitis media with effusion from the indigenous population of Southern Punjab.” FapUNIFESP (SciELO) 84. https://doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.267874
7. Khalid, Ayisha and Afzal, Samina and Abbas, Farhan and Afzal, Iftikhar and Iqbal, Muhammad and Ahmad, Sarfraz and Ansari, Siddique Akber and Alkahtani, Hamad M. and Chohan, Tahir Ali and Khurshid, Umair and Saleem, Hammad and Cespedes-Acuna, Carlos Leonar. 2023. “Phytochemical.” Elsevier BV 158. 10.1016/j.sajb.2023.05.003
8. Rasool, Iqra Ghulam and Zahoor, Muhammad Yasir and Ahmed, Irfan and Iqbal, Muhammad and Shafqat, Shehla and Anjum, Aftab Ahmad and Shehzad, Wasim. 2022. “Description of novel variants in consanguineous Pakistani families affected with intellectual disability.” Springer Science and Business Media LLC 45. 10.1007/s13258-022-01219-y
9. Azhar Baig, Hafiz Muhammad and Ansar, Muhammad and Iqbal, Afia and Naeem, Muhammad Asif and Quinodoz, Mathieu and Calzetti, Giacomo and Iqbal, Muhammad and Rivolta, Carlo. 2021. “Genetic Analysis of Consanguineous Pakistani Families with Congenital Stationary Night Blindness.” S. Karger AG 65. 10.1159/000520895
10. Rasool, Iqra Ghulam and Zahoor, Muhammad Yasir and Iqbal, Muhammad and Anjum, Aftab Ahmad and Ashraf, Fatima and Abbas, Hafiz Qamar and Baig, Hafiz Muhammad Azhar and Mahmood, Tariq and Shehzad, Wasim. 2021. “Whole exome sequencing revealed novel variants in consanguineous Pakistani families with intellectual disability.” Springer Science and Business Media LLC 43. 10.1007/s13258-021-01070-7
11. Harris, Holly K. and Nakayama, Tojo and Lai, Jenny and Zhao, Boxun and Argyrou, Nikoleta and Gubbels, Cynthia S. and Soucy, Aubrie and Genetti, Casie A. and Suslovitch, Victoria and Rodan, Lance H. and Tiller, George E. and Lesca, Gaetan and Gripp, Karen. 2021. “Disruption of RFX family transcription factors causes autism.” Elsevier BV 23. 10.1038/s41436-021-01114-z
12. Anosha Ali Khan and Yar Muhammad Waryah and Muhammad Iqbal and Hafiz Muhammad Azhar Baig and Muhammad Rafique and Ali Muhammad Waryah and Admin. 2020. “P.arg102ser is a common Pde6? mutation causing autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa in Pakistani families.” Pakistan Medical Association 71. 10.47391/JPMA.256
13. Waryah YM, Iqbal M, Sheikh SA, Baig MA, Narsani AK, Atif M, Bhinder MA, Ur Rahman A, Memon AI, Pirzado MS, Waryah AM. 2019. “Two novel variants in CYP1B1 gene: a major contributor of autosomal recessive primary congenital glaucoma with allelic heterogeneity in Pakistani patients.” Int J Ophthalmol 18. 2019.01.02
14. Ejaz, Samina and Hashmi, Fatima Bashir and Malik, Waqas Nazir and Ashraf, Muhammad and Nasim, Faiz ul-Hassan and Iqbal, Muhammad. 2018. “Applications of Venom Proteins as Potential Anticancer Agents.” Bentham Science Publishers Ltd. 25. 10.2174/0929866524666180614102104
15. Bhinder MA, Zahoor MY, Sadia H, Qasim M, Perveen R, Anjum GM, Iqbal M, Ullah N, Shehzad W, Tariq M, Waryah AM. 2018. “SE33 locus as a reliable genetic marker for forensic DNA analysis systems.” The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK-ULAKBIM) - DIGITAL COMMONS JOURNALS 48. 10.3906/sag-1801-21
16. Imran M., Iqbal M., Sufyan A., Ejaz S., Zahoor MY., Adnan M., Shah MZ., Rehman A. 2017. “Studying combined effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy on blood cell counts in lung cancer patients.” Pure Appl. Biol 6. doi #
17. Shaikh, Hina and Waryah, Ali M. and Narsani, Ashok K. and Iqbal, Muhammad and Shahzad, Mohsin and Waryah, Yar M. and Shaikh, Naila and Mahmood, Amber. 2017. “Genetic Testing of Non-familial Deaf Patients for CIB2 and GJB2 Mutations: Phenotype and Genetic Counselling.” Springer Science and Business Media LLC 55. 10.1007/s10528-017-9828-3
18. Ali, Intazar and Zhang, Shuai and Iqbal, Muhammad and Ejaz, Samina and Cui, Jin-jie. 2017. “Trypsinized Cry1Fa and Vip3Aa have no detrimental effects on the adult green lacewing Chrysopa pallens (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae).” Springer Science and Business Media LLC 52. 10.1007/s13355-017-0483-2
19. 30.Imran M., Khalid M., Qaiser M N., Iqbal M., Ali B. 2017. “PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON KOCHIA PROSTRATA.” Int J Agric Appl Sci 9. doi #
20. Muhammad Ashraf, Hafiz Muhammad Nauman Shabbir, Muhammad Munawar Hayat, Jameel Rahman, Samina Ejaz, Muhammad Iqbal, and Faiz-ul-Hassan Nasim. 2017. “HPLC Method for Simultaneous Determination of Entecavir and Tenofovir in Human Spiked Plasma and Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms.” .Chem.Soc.Pak. 39. doi #
21. Ashraf M, Ghalloo BA, Hayat MM, Rahman J, Ejaz S, Iqbal M, Nasim FH. 2017. “Determination of nitrate in biological fluids by HPLC.” Pak J Pharm Sci 30. PMID: 28603123.
22. Ijaz, Sadaqat and Zahoor, Muhammad Yasir and Imran, Muhammad and Ramzan, Khushnooda and Bhinder, Munir Ahmad and Shakeel, Hussain and Iqbal, Muhammad and Aslam, Asim and Shehzad, Wasim and Cheema, Huma Arshad and Rehman, Habib. 2017. “Genetic analysis of fructose-1.” Walter de Gruyter GmbH 30. 10.1515/jpem-2017-0188
23. Ali, I and Zhang, S and Muhammad, M S and Iqbal, M and Cui, J-J J-J. 2017. “Bt Proteins Have No Detrimental Effects on Larvae of the Green Lacewing.” Springer Science and Business Media LLC 47. 10.1007/s13744-017-0526-y
24. Ullah I, Kabir F, Iqbal M, Gottsch CB, Naeem MA, Assir MZ, Khan SN, Akram J, Riazuddin S, Ayyagari R, Hejtmancik JF, Riazuddin SA. 2016. “ Pathogenic mutations in TULP1 responsible for retinitis pigmentosa identified in consanguineous familial cases.” Mol Vis 16. PMID: 27440997
25. Zahoor, M.Y., Imran, M., Zaheer. Z., Mahmood, T., Rasheed, M.I., Ashraf, K., Iqbal, M., Shehzad, W. 2016. “Mitochondrial DNA D-loop sequence based phylogeny of Pakistani buffalo (BUBALUS BUBALIS).” J. Anim. Plant Sci 26. doi #
26. Bhinder, M. A., Iqbal, M., Shahbaz, M.., Zahoor, M. Y., Shehzad, W. 2015. “Avian Biodiversity of Bajwat Wetland, District Sialkot. Pakistan.” J. Anim. Plant Sci 25. doi #
27. Naeem, Muhammad Asif and Chavali, Venkata R. M. and Ali, Shahbaz and Iqbal, Muhammad and Riazuddin, Saima and Khan, Shaheen N. and Husnain, Tayyab and Sieving, Paul A. and Ayyagari, Radha and Riazuddin, Sheikh and Hejtmancik, J. Fielding and Riazuddin, S. 2012. “GNAT1 Associated with Autosomal Recessive Congenital Stationary Night Blindness.” Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) 53. 10.1167/iovs.11-8026
28. Iqbal, Muhammad. 2011. “Association of Pathogenic Mutations in <emph type=“ital”>TULP1</emph> With Retinitis Pigmentosa in Consanguineous Pakistani Families.” American Medical Association (AMA) 129. 10.1001/archophthalmol.2011.267
29. Riazuddin, S. Amer and Iqbal, Muhammad and Wang, Yue and Masuda, Tomohiro and Chen, Yuhng and Bowne, Sara and Sullivan, Lori S. and Waseem, Naushin H. and Bhattacharya, Shomi and Daiger, Stephen P. and Zhang, Kang and Khan, Shaheen N. and Riazuddin, Sheik. 2010. “A Splice-Site Mutation in a Retina-Specific Exon of BBS8 Causes Nonsyndromic Retinitis Pigmentosa.” Elsevier BV 86. 10.1016/j.ajhg.2010.04.001
30. Riazuddin SA, Zulfiqar F, Zhang Q, Yao W, Li S, Jiao X, Shahzadi A, Amer M, Iqbal M, Hussnain T, Sieving PA, Riazuddin S, Hejtmancik JF. 2006. “ Mutations in the gene encoding the alpha-subunit of rod phosphodiesterase in consanguineous Pakistani families.” Mol Vis 26. PMID: 17110911
Research and Development Projects
1. Synergizing Long-Read Sequencing and Consanguinity to Uncover Coding and Non-Coding Drivers of Multiple Malformation Syndrome
(2026-04 - 2030-03)
AB
2. International Travel and Training Grant
(2025-10 - 2025-10)
International Travel and Training Grant
3. Genetic Analysis of Retinitis Pigmentosa in consanguineous Families from southern Punjab, Pakistan
(2021-04 - 2023-03)
Genetic Analysis of Retinitis Pigmentosa in consanguineous Families from southern Punjab, Pakistan
4. International Travel and One Month Training Grant
(2019-08 - 2019-09)
International Travel and One Month Training Grant from National Institute of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
5. Research Grant # PM-IPFP?HRD/HEC/2011/2261
(2011-06 - 2012-07)
Start up Research Grant from HEC
The Islamia University of Bahawalpur was established in the year 1975 by upgrading historical institute of the Jamia Abbasia.
