Prof. Idrees obtained his Ph. D. in Molecular Biology/Virology and then worked for his post-doctoral research at Division of Viral Hepatitis, Coordinating Centre for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta USA. As recognition of tremendous contribution in the field of Molecular Biology/Virology, The Royal College of Pathologists London-UK awarded him with Fellowship of the College in 2015 upon the recommendation of Exam Committee and College Council. Dr. Idrees currently holds a senior faculty position of Meritorious Professor (BPS-22) at the Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB). Prof. Idrees has been affiliated with CEMB and the Centre for Applied Molecular Biology (CAMB), University of the Punjab, for over 25 years. During this time, he has held positions ranging from Research Officer to Professor and Director. He also served as Vice Chancellor of Hazara University from July 28, 2016, to July 28, 2019, and most recently led the University of Peshawar as its 24th Vice Chancellor from December 12, 2020, to December 11, 2023.

Dr. Idrees has over 25 years of extensive experience in academics, research, administration, and financial management. Early in his career, Prof. Idrees established a cutting-edge PCR-based diagnostic laboratory at CAMB, providing accessible and accurate diagnostics for infectious and genetic diseases. This initiative not only generated over Rs. 500 million in revenue but also spearheaded the development of indigenous molecular diagnostic kits for diseases such as HBV, HCV, M. tuberculosis, dengue, and SARS-CoV-2. His team performed more than 40,000 free PCR tests for hepatitis patients under the PM’s Hepatitis Prevention Program, delivering services valued at over Rs. 113 million. Additionally, he founded a state-of-the-art Molecular Virology Division at CEMB, significantly advancing scientific and clinical research through modern molecular techniques. He has been a member of various university Senates, Syndicates, Academic Councils, and other academic bodies, serving in leadership roles such as Chairman and Convener. His contributions extend to the development of molecular diagnostics facilities, research programs, and modern academic disciplines, making significant impacts in virology and public health. His scientific interests lie in basic and applied research using advanced molecular techniques. He established a state-of-the-art Molecular Virology Division at a public university and has authored more than 260 research papers in national and international journals, with an overall impact factor exceeding 1018 and citations surpassing 8,000. He also serves as an editor for several international scientific journals and has successfully mobilized funding worth over Rs. 3 billion from national and international agencies.

Prof. Idrees has been instrumental in restructuring organizations and launching academic programs. In 2015, he played a pivotal role in developing internationally acclaimed teaching and research initiatives in Applied Molecular Biology and Forensic Sciences. At Hazara University, he spearheaded the approval and launch of ten market-oriented academic disciplines. His contributions have been recognized with numerous accolades, including the TWAS “Best Young Scientist of the Year Award in Biology” (2009), the PAS Gold Medal in Emerging Technologies (2017), and the PCST Research Productivity Awards (2011–2017). Most recently, he received the Academic Excellence Awards from the APSUP in 2022 and 2023 for his exceptional contributions to academia and higher education in Pakistan. He has contributed to the development of guidelines for managing viral diseases and has played key roles in national quality assurance and accreditation processes. Dr. Idrees’s international engagements include collaboration with leading researchers and institutions, participation in global scientific events, and extensive training in leadership and governance. His achievements in institutional financial management and developmental projects have set benchmarks in the higher education sector. Through his tireless efforts, he continues to advance the fields of molecular biology and virology while contributing to the broader landscape of higher education and research in Pakistan.

Publications in year 2023 (Impact Factor 46.46)

1. Aftab A, Afzal S, Idrees M. Patient with Suspected COVID-19 Infection Tests Negative in Nasopharyngeal Swabs but is Confirmed by Laboratory Tests and Chest CT Scan: A Case Report. Pakistan Journal of Zoology. Feb 2023; Vol. 55, Iss. 1, Pages 1-500. ISSN:0030-9923
2. Wahid B, Kumari B, Saifullah KM, Idrees M. The History and Current Killings of Polio Vaccinators in Pakistan: A Need for Targeted Surveillance Strategy. Asia Pac J Public Health. March 2023; 35 (2-3):183-188.
3. Rabia N, et al. Idrees M. Structural Analysis and Epitope Prediction of S2 Domain of SARS-CoV-2, Conservation Analysis amongst Major Variants. Viral Immunology; 2023 Mar;36(2):110-121. doi: 10.1089/vim.2022.0101. Epub 2023 Jan 10.
4. Shah SZ, Jabbar B, Mirza MU, Waqas M, Idrees M. et al. An Immunoinformatics Approach to Design a Potent Multi-Epitope Vaccine against Asia-1 Genotype of Crimean–Congo Haemorrhagic Fever Virus Using the Structural Glycoproteins as a Target. Vaccines 2023, 11(1), 61; https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines11010061. IF4.961
5. Almas I, Afzal S, Idrees M, Shahid M, Amin I, Malik K. Quasispecies analysis through NGS and Identification of Escape mutation in a family infected with Hepatitis B Virus: A study from Lahore, Pakistan. Pakistan. Journal of Zoology. 8 JUN 2023; 55(6).
6. Shahid M, Idrees M, Rasul A, Amin I, Afzal S. Identification of Predictive Factors in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients with Non-Infected Individuals: A Comparative Analysis. PAK J ZOOL 8 FEB 2023; 55(3): ISSN:0030-9923
7. Khan R, Ali A, Bibi S, Rafique S, Idrees M, Halim SA, Waqas M, Bahadar H, Uddin J, Khan A, Al-Harrasi A. Expression Profiling of the Tripartite Motif Family Genes in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients. ACS Omega 07 JUL 2023; 8: 25370-25377.
8. Ali A, Waqar M, Akram A, Rafique S, Rehman G, Idrees M, Halim SA, Waqas M, Uddin J, Gojayev A, Khan A, Al-Harrasi A. Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2: Insights into the epidemiology of the pandemic. J. Infect. Public Health. August 2023;16:1256-61.
9. Chudhary HF, Ali A, Bibi S, Waqas M, Rafique S, Idrees M, Halim SA, Abdellattif MH, Khan A, Al-Harrasi A. Transcriptional Analysis of TP53 Gene in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients Treated with Sofosbuvir, Daclatasvir, Pegylated Interferon, and Ribavirin. ACS Omega April 11 2023; 8 (16):14784-14791.
10. Noor F, Nawaz R, Ahad A, Ajmal A, Abrar S, Shahid M, Sarwar A, Naz A, Mehmood U, Idrees M. Structural Analysis and Epitope Prediction of S2 Domain of SARS-CoV-2, Conservation Analysis Among Major Variants. Viral Immunol 13 Mar 2023;36(2):110-21.
11. Ahmed S, Vajeeha A, Idrees M, Hussain A, Munir R, Zaidi G, Zahid K, Ahmed R, Fatima Z, Rafique S, Achakzai NM. Genotypic distribution of human papillomavirus and phylogenetic analysis of E6 and E7 gene of HR-HPV variants isolated from Pakistani population. Medicine (Baltimore) 13 Jan 2023;102(2): e32651. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000032651.
12. Riaz HA, Nishwa DE, Fatima A, Wahid B, Ali A, Kumari B, Idrees M. Risk of adverse outcomes following treatment with direct acting antiviral drugs in HCV infected patients with liver cirrhosis. Heliyon 13 May 2023; 9(5):e16169.
13. Nawaz R, Arif MA, Idrees M, An ncRNA transcriptomics-based approach to design siRNA molecules against SARS-CoV-2 double membrane vesicle formation and accessory genes. BMC Infectious Diseases. 12 Dec 2023; 12;23(1):872. doi: 10.1186/s12879-023-08870-0. ISSN: 1471-2334
14. Shahid M, Amin I*, Rabia R, Samia Afzal S, Rasul A, Khan MU , Fatima Arshad Butt and Idrees M. A Comparative Analysis of Baseline Variables in Responder and Non-Responder Groups of Chronic Hepatitis C patients. Pakistan J. Zool., 28 Jul 2023; 53: 1-4. DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.pjz/20230119060159. ISSN:0030-9923

15. Hussain U, Sami AJ, Rafique S, Idrees M. Methanolic Extract of Neem Plant Inhibits NS3 and NS5A Nonstructural Proteins of

HCV 3A Genotype. Pakistan J. Zool., 14 March 2023; vol. 55(3), pp 1183-1191, 2023. ISSN:0030-9923

16. Munir R, Rafique S, Amin I, et al. Idrees M. Potential role of recombinant capsid protein of dengue virus serotype 2 in the development of an in-house ELISA based detection of infection. Pakistan Journal of Zoology, 20 Jun 2023; 53: PP 1-9. ISSN:0030-9923
17. Bibi S, Nisar S, Rafique S, Waqas M, Idrees M. Harnessing Nature’s Gifts: Salix nigra and Its Potential for Combating Hepatitis C Virus (HCV). ACS Omega 30 Oct 2023; 8: 42987−42999.

Publications in year 2024 (Impact Factor 31.851)

18. Minhas S, Kashif M, Nisar H, Idrees M. Whole-genome analysis and evolutionary characterization of cervical and oral human papillomavirus 16. Experimental Biology and Medicine Jan 2024; X: 1–9. DOI: 10.1177/15353702231211861.
19. Ullah S, Naveed M, Ali A, Bibi S, Idrees W, Idrees M. Assessment of ubiquitin specific Peptidase-18 gene in peripheral blood of chronic hepatitis C patients treated with direct-acting

antiviral drugs. 30 JAN 2024; Heliyon 10 (2): e24581.

20. Minhas S, Kashif M, Nisar H, Idrees M. Exploring the Concordance between High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Infections in Cervical and Oral Sites among Females: A Cross-Sectional Study in Punjab, Pakistan. 2024; JCO Global Oncology. April 25 2024; 10:e2300408. doi: 10.1200/GO.23.00408.
21. Amin I, Rafique S, Ali A, Idrees M. et al. Improving Access to Anti-HDV Testing: Development and Validation of an Affordable In-House ELISA Assay. ACS Omega April 5, 2024, 9, 15, 17137–17142.
22. Zahra N, Rafique S, Naveed Z, Idrees M. Regulatory pathways and therapeutic potential of PDE4 in liver pathophysiology. Life Science, 21 March 2024; 122565;
23. Mahud T, Idrees M, Rafique S. The Factors Associated With Mutant Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Positivity in Patients

With Lung Cancer: A Study From a Tertiary Care

Center in Pakistan.18 Sep 2024; Cureus 16(9): e69631. DOI 10.7759/cureus.69631.

24. Nawaz, R, Ahmad M, Raza MS, Idrees M, Coincidence of HCV and chronic kidney disease-a systematic review and meta-analysis. Oct 16, 2024; BMC Public Health, Volume 24, article number 2842.
25. Nawaz R, Husnain A, Arif mA, Idrees M. Computational prediction of a phage cocktail active against multidrug-resistant bacteria. 13 Nov 2024; F1000Research 2024, 13:1292.
26. Almas, I., Tariq, S., Amin, I. Idrees M. Molecular epidemiology and genetic characterization of hepatitis B virus in two major provinces of Pakistan. Archives of Virology 169, 239 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-024-06163-8.