Joint Efforts, Global Impact: LUMS and McGill's Ongoing Fight Against Cancer
The Department of Life Sciences at LUMS is pleased to announce the continuation of research collaboration with McGill University, which has now entered its second year. The collaboration involves Professor Shafaat A Rabbani, a graduate of King Edward Medical School, Lahore and a distinguished Professor of Medicine, Physiology, Oncology and Human Genetics at McGill University, Montreal, Canada and Dr Muhammad Tariq and Dr Amir Faisal from the Department of Life Sciences at LUMS as Participating Collaborators.
Initiated in 2023, this collaboration was designed to bridge scientific communities across continents, fostering innovation in cancer research. Professor Rabbani is internationally recognized for his expertise in the development of targeted therapeutic strategies and the identification of epigenetic biomarkers for various cancers. At LUMS, Dr. Amir Faisal, Associate Professor, and Dr. Muhammad Tariq, Professor from the Department of Life Sciences, have been instrumental in advancing this partnership. Their combined expertise has led to the development of innovative research projects that integrate molecular biology, high-throughput drug screenings, and precision oncology.
Since 2023, Dr. Rabbani has provided nearly $80,000 worth of research support in the form of direct funding, consumables and human resources to researchers at LUMS as part of these collaborative studies. This research at LUMS has already resulted in the identification of a novel interacting partner with urokinase receptor (uPAR) inhibition for breast cancer using high-throughput compound library screening at LUMS. This novel combination has shown promising results in inhibiting tumor metastasis in mouse models at McGill. The results from this study are being finalized and will be published soon.
A cornerstone of this collaboration is the emphasis on training and mentoring young clinical and basic research scientists. Through joint supervision, students and research associates recruited specifically for this collaboration have had the unique opportunity to work under the guidance of both LUMS and McGill faculty. This dual mentorship model has provided invaluable exposure to diverse research methodologies and fostered a culture of academic excellence.
One notable success story of this collaboration is the recruitment of Mr. Ali Iftikhar, a talented MS graduate from Dr. Faisal's lab, as a research associate to work on the project. Ali’s contributions to the project led him to receive an offer as a Ph.D student under the supervision of Dr. Rabbani in the Department of Human Genetics at McGill University. This achievement underscores the high calibre of research training at LUMS and the opportunities this collaboration offers to emerging scientists.
As the collaboration between LUMS and McGill University progresses, both groups remain committed to pushing the boundaries of life sciences research. By combining resources, expertise, and a shared vision, this partnership is poised to make significant contributions to the global fight against cancer. Both groups look forward to continuing this collaboration and expanding its scope.
