Amirul Hafiz Ahmad Abdullah | Neuroscience | Best Scholar Award

Published on by Young Scientists Awards

Mr. Amirul Hafiz Ahmad Abdullah | Neuroscience
| Best Scholar Award

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) | Malaysia

Mr. Amirul Hafiz Ahmad Abdullah research focuses on the early mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration, with a particular emphasis on Alzheimer’s disease and the interplay between neurotrophic imbalance and programmed cell death pathways. Central to this work is the investigation of how dysregulation of BDNF and its precursor proBDNF contributes to synaptic vulnerability, cognitive decline, and the initiation of gasdermin-D–mediated pyroptosis during disease progression. Using aluminium-induced preclinical models that capture acute-to-chronic transitions, the research integrates behavioural assessments, molecular profiling, and transcriptomic analyses to map temporal changes in memory function, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and neurotrophic signalling. Multi-omics approaches, including RNA sequencing, Western blotting, ELISA, and immunohistochemistry, are employed to link biochemical and cellular alterations with neurobehavioural outcomes, identifying potential early biomarkers that precede hallmark Alzheimer’s pathology. Additional work includes systematic reviews on pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and BDNF-related mechanisms across neurodegenerative disorders, as well as protocol development for synthesising evidence from animal studies. Complementary investigations explore oxidative stress responses, neuroprotective effects of exercise paradigms, and inflammatory pathways in toxin-induced neurological models. Collectively, these studies aim to clarify early molecular drivers of cognitive impairment and advance the discovery of diagnostic and therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative diseases.

Featured Publications

Abdullah, A. H. A., Jufri, N. F., Masre, S. F., Rajab, N. F., Damanhuri, H. A., Roos, N. A. C., & Ibrahim, F. W. (2024). BDNF-altering cell death mechanisms of brain disorders: Pyroptosis and/or ferroptosis? A systematic review. Turkish Journal of Biochemistry, 49(4), 471–483. https://doi.org/10.1515/tjb-2024-0041

Sayuti, N., Ibrahim, F. W., Jufri, N. F., Masre, S. F., Abdullah, A. H. A., Raub, S. H. A., Azman, A. H. D., & Muhammed, M. H. (2024). Retrospective data analysis on the prevalence and demographic risk factors for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) cases from a private laboratory in Malaysia. Tropical Biomedicine, 41(3), 257–263. https://doi.org/10.47665/tb.41.3.004

Abdullah, A. H. A., Anuar, H., Rosli, N. A., Faizal, H. H., Moothy, K., Fairof, M. H. Z., Jufri, N. F., Masre, S. F., Rajab, N. F., & Ibrahim, F. W. (2025). Aluminum exposure induces time-dependent cognitive decline, anxiety, and brain aluminum accumulation in rats. The Indonesian Biomedical Journal, 17(5), 416–425. https://doi.org/10.18585/inabj.v17i5.3746

İsmail Ibrahim | Neuroscience | Editorial Board Member

Published on by Young Scientists Awards

Mr. Ismail Ibrahim | Neuroscience | Editorial Board Member

Fenerbahçe University | Turkey

Mr. Ismail Ibrahim is an emerging multidisciplinary researcher whose work spans neurobiology, physiotherapy, public health, clinical neuroscience, oncology, infectious diseases, and evidence-based rehabilitation sciences. His research portfolio includes numerous peer-reviewed publications, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, case reports, and multinational cross-sectional studies addressing critical clinical and epidemiological problems. He has contributed to major studies on post-COVID-19 health challenges, public responses to infectious disease outbreaks, vaccine awareness, and antimicrobial resistance, alongside impactful research on glioblastoma progression, neurodegenerative disorders, immuno-oncology, and advanced diagnostic techniques. His scientific output also extends to innovative investigations on stem-cell-based therapies, neuromodulation interventions such as tDCS and TMS, robotic-assisted rehabilitation technologies, cardiovascular robotic surgery, musculoskeletal rehabilitation, sports performance, and pediatric and adult neurological conditions. He has produced extensive work analyzing cancer outcomes using large clinical databases, explored radiological and thermographic diagnostic tools, and conducted comprehensive reviews on endocrine disorders, metabolic diseases, and neuroimmunological interactions. His submissions further highlight contributions to AI integration in healthcare, high-fidelity surgical simulation, endocrinology, neurorehabilitation, physiotherapy optimization, and global public health threats including Nipah virus and monkeypox. Through his broad research involvement across diverse medical and scientific disciplines, he demonstrates a strong commitment to advancing clinical evidence, improving patient outcomes, and informing healthcare innovation through rigorous, multidisciplinary inquiry.

Featured Publications

Shaheen, N., Shaheen, A., Ramadan, A., Hefnawy, M. T., Ramadan, A., et al. (2023). Appraising systematic reviews: A comprehensive guide to ensuring validity and reliability. Frontiers in Research Metrics and Analytics, 8, 1268045.

Swed, S., Alibrahim, H., Bohsas, H., Jawish, N., Rais, M. A., Nasif, M. N., Hafez, W., et al. (2023). A multinational cross-sectional study on the awareness and concerns of healthcare providers toward monkeypox and the promotion of the monkeypox vaccination. Frontiers in Public Health, 11, 1153136.

Swed, S., Bohsas, H., Alibrahim, H., Rakab, A., Hafez, W., Sawaf, B., Amir, R. M., et al. (2023). Monkeypox post-COVID-19: Knowledge, worrying, and vaccine adoption in the Arabic general population. Vaccines, 11(4), 759