​​​

Dr ​Sheerien Rajput​​​​​​​​

Assistant Professor

hpicon_voice_calling1.png+92 21 3486 554​9

2 Email Logo.png ​sheerien.rajput@aku.edu
​​

​
 
​


​​


​
​
​

​​Dr Rajput completed her PhD from the Aga Khan University under the supervision of Professor El-Nasir M A Lalani, Founding Director, AKU’s Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research (AKU-CRM). Her PhD project focused on investigating the potential role and crosstalk between MUC1 and XBP1 in cancers with a particular interest in multiple myeloma using in-vitro cell line models and patient samples. She developed and characterised a unique myeloma cell line derived from a Pakistani patient. It is the first myeloma​ cell line to be developed in Pakistan. Dr Rajput also undertook the single largest study in Pakistan on immunohistochemical expression analysis of biological markers including stem cell markers (ALDH1, CD34 and CD117) on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumour blocks from myeloma patients. ​She​ has presented her work at different national and international conferences.​​​​ After her PhD, Dr Rajput continued her engagement ​​with the AKU-​CRM as a post-doctoral fellow working with Professor ​Lalani. She was appointed as an assistant professor​ in September 2021.

Career

  • 2021 - to date, Assistant Professor, Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Aga Khan University​

  • 2020 - 2021, Post-doctoral Fellow, Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Aga Khan University​​​​​​​​​

  • 2006 - 2007, Co-operative Teacher, University of Karachi, Pakistan

  • 2002 - 2003, Teacher, Community Based School, Karachi, Pakistan​​

Education

  • ​2020, PhD, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan

  • ​2005, MSc in Genetics, University of Karachi, Pakistan​

  • 2003, BSc, University of Karachi, Pakistan​​

Research

Summary​​​​

Dr Sheerien Rajput is part of our tissue engineering team. She is engaged in growing 3D cellular constructs using scaffolds to build more representative models of tissues and organs for assessment outside the body and to examine the response of damaged tissues to targeted treatments. More >>​


Dr Rajput is also a member of the cancer stem cell research team at AKU-CRM. She has developed and characterised a unique myeloma cell line derived from a Pakistani patient. Dr Rajput is now working on identifying the function of Epstein-Barr, a virus that can cause tumours, and a protein called MUC1 in the development of multiple myeloma. ​Mo​re >>​​


​​Areas of Interest

  • Cancer stem cells (CSCs): biology and function
  • Extracellular matrix and its interaction with CSCs
  • Regenerative potential of stem cells and their therapeutic application​

Publications




​Awards

  • 200​​​5, Zaidi Abid Gold Medal for achieving first class first position in MSc Genetics

  • 2005, ​Karachi Cotton Association Gold Medal Award for securing the highest scores in the subject of plant​​ breeding​​

Team Members

​Zarmeen Suhail, Research Associate 

​​Team Lead and ​Ph​D Supervisor​

​Professor ​El-Nasir La​lani​​

Professor Emeritus,​ AKU-CRM​​