May 2, 2025 — Ms. Neelam Fatima has successfully defended her PhD thesis entitled “Functional Characterization of a Novel Candidate Gene Involved in Intellectual Disability” on May 2, 2025. Her research marks a significant contribution to the field of neurogenetics, focusing on uncovering genetic factors underlying intellectual disability. Ms. Fatima completed her PhD under the supervision of Dr. Sheikh Riazuddin and Dr. Asma Ali Khan.The defense was evaluated by distinguished external examiners Prof. Ahmad Mukhtar Khalid and Prof. Shahid Baig, who appreciated the novelty and scientific depth of her work. The faculty, researchers, and fellow scholars congratulated Ms. Neelam Fatima on this academic achievement and wished her continued success in her future scientific endeavors.