Dr. Kausar Malik is working as Professor in Molecular Biology at the Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), University of the Punjab. She made the history to become first ever first Professor/Director, promoted to Grade-22 on best performance & Seniority in CEMB, by Board of Governors of CEMB, University of the Punjab, Lahore. She has excellent academic record having M.Sc zoology with distinction, specialization in Biochemistry and title of M.Sc thesis was “Effect of Feeding Rapeseed meal on the Biochemistry of the Liver of the Japanese Quail”, PhD (Molecular biology) from CEMB-PU & title of thesis was “Molecular Characterization of Bacillus thuringiensis delta endotoxin receptor” Novel receptor was discovered from major devastating cotton crop pest Helicoverpa armigera (Ammerican bollworm), Post-Doc in Applied Molecular Biology. She has 35 years of diversified, vast teaching/research/administrative experiences and served as Director at CEMB, University of the Punjab, Lahore. She has specialization in research areas like Molecular biology/biotechnology, Toxicology, Immunology, Entomology, biochemistry, Microbiology & Nano-biotechnology, more than 200 publications with impact factor 170; more than 40 as 1st author & as corresponding author in HEC recognized ISI indexed Thomson Reuter JCR Journals, 4 book chapters, 18 books Written which were published internationally. She had won 4 Gold medals & accomplishment certificate awarded by honorable education minister 1997 and Punjab University Performance evaluation awards. I her career,she got Innovation award 2012 & received appreciation letter from ORIC-PU on the development of Biosensor (Dipsticks) for quick on-spot detection of transgenic Bt-Crops. She is productive scientist of Pakistan by Pakistan Council for Science & Technology, filed 8 patents, 11 Genbank (NCBI) submissions. Supervised several PhD/MS research theses, taught several courses & designed new teaching courses at PhD/MS/BS (Hons) levels. Being the pioneer employee of CEMB & among the founders of biotechnology/molecular biology. Established diverse research labs (Entomology, GMO detection, Immunology, Molecular medicine/Medical Biotechnology), has several Inventions & Discoveries & served 2 organizations (CEMB, LCWU) very well. As senior researcher of research projects at CEMB, established protein purification technologies, manual sequencing (Sanger`s method) & discovered 10 new type II restriction endonucleases isoschizomers (from indigenous bacteria) which are cited in REBASE-New England Biolab USA. First time developed Bacteriophage DNA isolation manually and Antibodies (polyclonal, monospecfic) production in CEMB. Prepared Molecular tools such as Restriction enzymes, Taq polymerase, Lambda Hind III Marker, T7 phage DNA, Antibodies, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Proteins, in bulk & Bioassays performed for researchers so contributed in research work of CEMB theses for two decades. Screened thousands locally isolated Bt & discovered novel Bt isolates to use genes for development of insect resistant Bt crops (double gene cotton varieties of CEMB). Found novel indigenous Bt isolates having Insecticidal crystal proteins to control major pests of rice & cotton crops (US patent 6150156: on novel research). First time in Asia, performed Genetically modified (GM) crops detection by developed economically suitable biotoxicity assays for pest control, immunoassays, Biosensor (Dipsticks) for Bt-Crops quick detection, analyzed all Bt-transformed plants & managed insectory. Discovered new Bt toxins receptor in pest: Gen Bank (NCBI) Accession # Q7M4K6). Research work of two decades on Bt-transgenic crops became fruitful in the form of commercialization of Bt-cotton varieties. In LCWU, established microbial & molecular biology research labs & generated a cadre of trained manpower as trained/motivated faculties & students at CEMB (1988 to 2009, 2016 to date) & LCWU (2009-2016), promoted research. Her several students are serving in prestigious academic organizations at national/international level. She got administrative Experience as Member; Admission, verification & Symposia supervisory, Chairperson of Institutional Ethical Review Board (IERB), Group leader of agriculture/health CEMB landscaping/beautification committee, Research Groups Incharge (1993-2009), Incharge of Journal club of CEMB. In LCWU, as Director ORIC 30 Patents were filed in Intellectual Property office (IPO), established Industrial links through LCCI etc, Served as Member: Academic council, Chairperson: Research promotion Committee, Convener; Physical inspection of Scientific Purchase, Physical Resource-Senior Key Management & 6 other Committees, DTRC of life Sciences Departments, focal person-PASTIC. Molecularly characterized pathogenic serotype E.coli O157:H7. To combat multi-drug resistance in microbes, miRNA-based genes silencing at molecular level & bacteriophages studies for therapeutic purposes were performed. Identified several indigenous plants, having anti-microbial, pesticidal, anti-cancerous activities against pathogenic MDR microbes & cell lines. Developed & formulated plant based biopesticides, food preservatives; GCF projects shortlisted, HEC-NRPU projects evaluated. She is first faculty member, extending her expertise continuously for uplift of HEC varsities as a member of academic decision making bodies like Syndicate (in 2 Universities), BOS (in 7 HEC-Universities), Member: Selection-Boards (as expert of Zoology-Microbiology-Biotechnology-Bioinformatics-Human Genetics-Immunology, in 9 HEC-Universities), Member-Advisor: Punjab Public Service Commission, external examiner (in 12 HEC-Universities) & evaluated 180 research theses, Invited reviewer of Projects & ten international-Journals & received certificate-of-excellence. Short-listed 3-times for post of Vice Chancellor of public sector HEC recognized Universities, Life-fellow Member of Zoological society of Pakistan, Member-Association of ORICs Pakistan, Member: Board of Faculty-PU & DDPC-CAMB. Participated in >200 seminars/workshops/conferences as invited-speaker/organizer/session chair/participant nationally/internationally. As Director CEMB from 5-4-2022 to 12-7-2023, efforts were made for annual budget increase, revenue generation so achieved increase of 80 million in budget & revenue generation of 120 millions (through projects & other sources) & approvals of CEMB transgenic cotton varieties. Served as Chairperson of Institutional Ethical Review Board (IERB), admission committee etc. She is Gold Medalist, dedicated, hard working, disciplined, high energy individual with a great sense of responsibility, productive researcher & educator. She has learned national/international recognitions for her achievements & contributions in Science.

Research Interests:

Molecular Biology/Biotechnology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Entomology, Enzymology, Immunology and Nanotechnology.

 Selected Publications:

1. Nao Akusa Fujimura, Seerat E Fatima, Nadeem Ahmed, Muhammad Akram, Saad Tahir, Mohsin Ahmad Khan, Imran Amirzada, Tariq Nadeem, Hamid Bashir, Kausar Malik (2023) Evaluation of Exosomes Encapsulated Recombinant Interleukin-29 for its in vitro Anticancer Studies. Journal of Biotechnology 373:24-33
   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiotec.2023.06.008                                                                             W-category by HEC  
2. Fareeha Ashraf, Mohsin ahmadKhan, Nadeem Ahmed, Muhammad Umar, Muhammad Islam Khan, Maham Akram, Rashid Bhatti,  Kausar Malik (2023) Development of transgenic algae strain expressing CTB-M2e fusion gene an approach towards the development of a universal edible vaccine in Algae. Journal of Biotechnology 374:31-34                                     W-category by HEC
3. ShifaulHaq, Ramla Ashfaq, Azra Mehmood, Warda Shahid, Hafiz Ghufran Azam, Maryam Azam, Saba Tasneem, Shehla Javed Akram, Kausar Malik, S. Riazuddin,(2023) Priming with caffeic acid enhances the potential and survival ability of human adipose-derived stem cells to counteract hypoxia caffeic acid Priming enhances the survival of hASCs hypoxia. Regenerative Therapy 22(2023): 115-127. ISSN: 2352-3204  JCR Listed- IF:3.419                                                                                                         W-category by HEC 
4. Ramzan A, Mehmood A, Ashfaq R, Andleeb A, Butt H, Zulfiqar S, Nasir M, Hasan A, Khalid K, Yar M, Riazuddin, Kausar Malik (2023). Zinc oxide loaded chitosan-elastin-sodium alginate nanocomposite gel using freeze gelation for enhanced adipose stem cell proliferation and antibacterial properties. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 233: 123519.
     JCR Listed- IF:8.0                                                                                                                  W-category by HEC 
5. Muhammad Tariq, Bushra Tabassum, Allah Bakhsh, Abdul Munim Farooq, Zahida Qamar, Faheem Akram, Farah Naz, Abdul Qayyum Rao, Kausar Malik, Idrees Ahmad Nasir (2022) Heterologous expression of cry1Ia12 insecticidal gene in cotton encodes resistance against pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae); an alternate insecticidal gene for insectpest management Molecular Biology Reports 2022;48;10557-10564 – JCR Listed- IF:3.0                                                                W category by HEC
6. Atif Ahmad, Muhammad Safdar, Samran Sardar, Sahar Yousaf, Fiza Farooq, Ali Raza, Muhammad Shahid, Kausar Malik, Samia Afzal^*,(2022) Modern Vaccine Strategies for emerging zoonotic. Expert review of vaccines, 12:1711-17 (published online) IF:5.683 W category by HEC
7. Maryam Azam, Ghufi Azam, Azra Mehmood, MoazzamTarar, Shehla Javed Akram, S.Riazuddin, Kausar Malik, (2023) Priming of adipose-derived stem cells with curcumin prior to cryopreservation preserves their functional potency: Towards an ‘Off-the-shelf’ therapy for burns.  Cryobiology 110:69-78 JCR Listed- IF:2.55     DOI:1016/j.cryobiol.2022.12.001                   W category by HEC
8. Zeeshan Javed, Haleema Sadia, Muhammad Javed Iqbal, Shazia Shamas, Kausar Malik, Rais Ahmed, Shahid Raza, Monica Butnariu, Natalia Cruz-Martins, Javed Sharifi-Rad (2021) Apigenin role as cell Signaling pathway Modulator: Implication in Cancer prevention and treatment  Cancer Cell International 21:189 1-11.  JCR – IF: 3.991      ISSN:1475-2867         
   https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-021-01888-x                                                                           W– category by HEC 
9. Muhammad Javed Iqbal, Zeeshan Javed, Haleema Sadia, Ijaz A Qureshi, Asma Irshad, Rais Ahmed, Kausar Malik,  Shahid Raza, Asif Abbas, Raffaele Pezzani, Javed Sharifi-Rad (2021) clinical applications of artificial Intelligence and machine learning in Cancer Diagnosis.Cancer Cell International. 21:270 1-11.JCR – IF: 3.991   ISSN: 1475-2867    
   https://doi.org/10.1186/s12935-021-01981-1                                                                            W– category by HEC 
10. Asma Irshad,Nadeem Sarwar, Haleema Sadia, Kausar Malik , Irum Javed, Abdullah Irshad, Muhammad Afzal, Mazhar Abbas, Hina Rizvi (2020) Comprehensive facts on dynamic antimicrobial properties of polysaccharides and biomolecules-silver nanoparticle conjugate International Journal of Biological Macromolecules 145:189-196  (JCR-IF: 7.71).   ISSN: 0141-8130 
    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.12.089                                                                   W-category by HEC