Dr. Azhar Mehmood | Cancer Genetics
| Best Researcher Award
Rawalpindi Medical University | Pakistan
Dr. Azhar Mehmood is a biochemistry and molecular biology researcher whose work spans cancer genetics, DNA damage response pathways, exosomal biomarker discovery, and infectious disease molecular diagnostics. His research contributions include extensive investigation of breast, gastric, thyroid, and head and neck cancers, with a strong emphasis on genetic polymorphisms, pathway deregulation, epigenetic mechanisms, and survival-associated molecular markers. He has explored the prognostic significance of DDR pathway genes, including ATM, ATR, Chk1, and SIRT3/FOXO3a/SOD2 regulatory axes, and conducted SNP-based risk analyses for various malignancies. His work on exosomal microRNAs—such as miR-19a/b, miR-144-3p, miR-4262, and the miR-17-92a cluster—has advanced understanding of their diagnostic and therapeutic potential in breast and brain tumors. His research background also includes contributions to molecular profiling of HCV persistence, viral immunology, and transfusion-transmitted infections. He has applied molecular techniques such as qPCR, LORD-qPCR, IHC, ELISA, genotyping, exosome characterization, and multiple biochemical assays to uncover disease mechanisms and improve diagnostic precision. His publications collectively highlight a strong focus on cancer risk assessment, biomarker identification, and translational molecular research aimed at supporting early detection, targeted therapy development, and improved patient outcomes across multiple cancer types.
Profile: Orcid | Google Scholar
Featured Publications
Haris, M. S., Hussain, M. Z., Mehmood, A., Kayani, M. A., & Mahjabeen, I. (2025). hsa-miR-144-3p and hsa-miR-4262 are exosomal biomarkers and function as tumor suppressors in HCMV positive brain tumor. Future Oncology. https://doi.org/10.1080/14796694.2025.2569097
Mehmood, A., Mahjabeen, I., Reed, S., Errington, R. J., Umar, M., Pervaiz, F., & Kayani, M. A. (2025). Association of DDR pathway proteins and breast cancer risk in a Pakistani population. Future Oncology. https://doi.org/10.1080/14796694.2025.2581508