Director CEMB, Dr. Moazur Rahman, Visits Leading UK Research Institutes for Collaborative Discussions

Director of the Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), Prof. Moazur Rahman, embarked on a significant visit to the United Kingdom from February 15 to March 2, 2025. During his visit, he met with esteemed scientists and researchers at various prestigious institutions to foster collaborations and discuss advancements in vaccine research and structural biology. Dr. Moazur Rahman visited The Pirbright Institute, where he engaged in discussions with Dr. Munir Iqbal, Head of the Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease Group and a visiting professor at the Royal Veterinary College, London. He also met with Dr. Don King, Head of the Vesicular Disease Reference Laboratory Group and leader of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) World Reference Laboratory for Foot-and-Mouth Disease (WRLFMD). Their discussions centered around vaccine research and potential collaborative efforts in combating infectious diseases in livestock. During his visit to The Pirbright Institute, Dr. Moaz also gave a presentation on vaccine development as well as on agricultural and health research activities of CEMB. At the University of Bristol, Dr. Moazur Rahman held productive meetings with Prof. Shahriar Behboudi, Professor in Correlates of Immune Protection at the Bristol Veterinary School, to explore research initiatives focusing on poultry vaccines. His visit to the University of Liverpool included in-depth discussions with Prof. Samar Hasnain, Max Perutz Professor of Molecular Biophysics at the Institute of Systems, Molecular & Integrative Biology, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences. Prof. Hasnain, with over 40 years of experience in Synchrotron Radiation research, exchanged insights with Dr. Moazur Rahman on potential structural biology research projects. Additionally, he met with Dr. Raheela Awais, Senior Lecturer and Programme Director for the integrated Master of Biological Sciences (MBiolSci), who also serves as an Advisor to the UK Commonwealth Scholarship Commission. Discussions were further extended with Dr. Svetlana Antonyuk, Reader at Biochemistry, Cell, and Systems Biology at the University of Liverpool. Dr. Moaz also delivered a presentation at the University of Liverpool on vaccine development and the agricultural and health research activities of CEMB. Dr. Moazur Rahman concluded his UK visit at Lancaster University, where he engaged with Prof. Muhammad Munir, Professor in Virology and Viral Zoonoses, to discuss ongoing and future research collaborations in virology. This visit underscores CEMB’s commitment to international collaboration and advancing scientific research through partnerships with globally renowned institutions.