Iqra Pervaiz
Pharmaceutical Sciences
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Biography
Iqra Pervaiz completed her Biomedical Engineering (BE) degree from Nadirshaw Eduljee Dinshaw (NED) University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, Pakistan in 2016, and her Master of Science (MS) degree in Molecular Biology with Biotechnology from Bangor University, Wales, in the United Kingdom in 2017. She joined the Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences as a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) student in August of 2019, and is presently working in the laboratory of Dr. Abraham Al-Ahmad with the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Education:
- MS: Molecular Biology with Biotechnology from Bangor University, Wales, United Kingdom, 2017
- BE: Biomedical Engineering, Nadirshaw Eduljee Dinshaw (NED) University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, Pakistan, 2016
Research Interests:
Blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction associated with GLUT1 deficiency syndrome using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)
Publications:
- Pervaiz Iqra, Mehta Yash, Kinzie Sherill, Dhavalkumar Patel , Abraham J. Al-Ahmad. Ketone bodies supplementation restores the barrier function, induces a metabolic switch, and elicits beta-hydroxybutyrate diffusion across a monolayer of iPSC-derived brain microvascular endothelial cells. Microvascular Research. 150 (2023) 104585. Epub ahead of print.
- Pervaiz I, Zahra FT, Mikelis C, Al-Ahmad AJ. An in vitro model of glucose transporter 1 deficiency syndrome at the blood-brain barrier using induced pluripotent stem cells. J Neurochem. 2022 Sep; 162(6):483-500. Epub 2022 Aug 19.
- Pervaiz I, Al-Ahmad AJ. In Vitro Models of the Human Blood-Brain Barrier Utilising Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells: Opportunities and Challenges. Methods Mol Biol. 2022; 2492:53-72. [BOOK CHAPTER]
- Raut S, Patel R, Pervaiz I, Al-Ahmad AJ. Abeta Peptides Disrupt the Barrier Integrity and Glucose Metabolism of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells. Neurotoxicology. 2022 Mar; 89:110-120. Epub 2022 Jan 19.
- Al-Ahmad AJ, Pervaiz I, Karamyan VT. Neurolysin substrates bradykinin, neurotensin and substance P enhance brain microvascular permeability in a human in vitro model. J Neuroendocrinol. 2021 Feb;33(2):e12931. Epub 2021 Jan 28.
Presentations:
Before Admission to GPPS:
- Iqra Pervaiz, Muhammad Tajwar Iqbal, Hani Khalid, Eiman Fatima, Saima Kashif. “Functional and Computational Annotation of Hypothetical Proteins from S. Aureus and MRSA, A Search for their Role as Drug Targets to Suggest Novel Therapeutics”. Second Research Edition of Young Researchers Biosciences Symposium, Babes Bolyai University, Cluj Napoca, Romania; July 2015.
After Admission to GPPS:
- Iqra Pervaiz and Abraham Al-Ahmad. "Beyond the Blood-Brain Barrier in GLUT1 Deficiency Syndrome: Truncated GLUT1 Transporter Displays a Phenotype in Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Astrocytes and Neuron". Society of Toxicology (SOT) 62nd Annual Meeting & ToxExpo, Nashville, TN; March 2023.
- Invited Speaker: Iqra Pervaiz, Fatema Tuz Zahra, Constantino Mikelis and Abraham J Al-Ahmad. "Modeling Glut1 Deficiency Syndrome at the Human Blood-Brain Barrier In Vitro Using CRISPR-Cas9 Edited Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells". American Society for Investigative Pathology (ASIP) Young Investigator Keynote Seminar Series, virtual; November 2022.
- Podium Presentation: Iqra Pervaiz, Fatema Tuz Zahra, Constantinos M Mikelis and Abraham J Al-Ahmad. "Modeling Glut1 Deficiency Syndrome at the Human Blood-Brain Barrier In Vitro Using CRISPR-Cas9 Edited Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells". 19th Annual Research Days, TTUHSC Jerry H Hodge School of Pharmacy, Office of Sciences in Amarillo, event at Lubbock, TX; June 2022.
- Oral Presentation: Iqra Pervaiz, Sree Pooja Varahachalam Abraham J. Al-Ahmad. "Assessing the Effects of COVID-19-induced Hypoxia and ACE2 Signaling on the Human Blood-Brain Barrier In Vitro". American Society for Investigative Pathology (ASIP) at Experimental Biology (EB), Philadelphia, PA; April 2022.
- Iqra Pervaiz, Fatema Tuz Zahra, Constantinos M. Mikelis, and Abraham J. Al-Ahmad. "Modeling Glut1 Reductions in Alzheimer’s at the Human Blood-Brain Barrier In Vitro Using CRISPR-Cas9 Edited Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells". Society of Toxicology (SOT), 61st Annual Meeting & ToxExpo, San Diego, CA; March 2022.
- Iqra Pervaiz, Fatema Tuz Zahra, Constantinos M Mikelis, and Abraham J. Al-Ahmad. "Modeling Glut1 Deficiency Syndrome at the Human Blood-Brain Barrier In Vitro Using CRISPR-Cas9 Edited Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells". Student Research Week, TTUHSC Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Lubbock; March 2022.
- Oral Presentation: Iqra Pervaiz, Fatema Tuz Zahra, Constantinos M Mikelis and Abraham J Al-Ahmad. "Modeling Glut1 Deficiency Syndrome at the Human Blood-Brain Barrier In Vitro Using CRISPR-Cas9 Edited Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells". Early Career Scientists Workshop: Non-Animal New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) in Biomedical Research (sponsored by CAAT). Virtual. November 2021.
- Oral Presentation “Lightning Round”: Iqra Pervaiz, Abraham J. Al-Ahmad. “Brain microvascular endothelial cells are sensitive to hypoglycemia, and partially rescued by ketone bodies”. Inaugural Scientific Meeting, Glucose Transporter Protein Type 1 Deficiency Syndrome (Glut1) Deficiency Foundation, virtual; June 2021.
- Iqra Pervaiz, Abraham J. Al-Ahmad. “Brain microvascular endothelial cells are sensitive to hypoglycemia, and partially rescued by ketone bodies”. Research Days, TTUHSC Jerry H Hodge School of Pharmacy Amarillo (virtual); June 2021.
- Iqra Pervaiz, Abraham J. Al-Ahmad. “Brain microvascular endothelial cells are sensitive to hypoglycemia, and partially rescued by ketone bodies”. 33rd Annual Student Research Week, TTUHSC Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Lubbock (virtual); March 2021.
- Iqra Pervaiz, Abraham Al-Ahmad. "Brain microvascular endothelial cells are sensitive to hypoglycemia, and partially rescued by ketone bodies". Society for Neuroscience, Global Connectome: A Virtual Meeting; January 2021.
Seminars:
- 01/13/2023 "Modeling Glut1 Deficiency Syndrome at the Human Blood-Brain Barrier In Vitro Using CRISPR-Cas9 Edited Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells"
- 10/22/2021 "In-Vitro human iPSC-derived blood-brain barrier model for COVID-19-induced hypoxia involving a RAAS-mediated bradykinin peptide storm" [Oral Qualifying Exam, public presentation counted as Seminar credit]
- 02/26/2021 "Effect of glucose deprivation on iPSC-derived brain endothelial cells homeostasis"
Awards/Scholarships:
Before Admission to GPPS:
- Erasmus + Traineeship Grant, Bangor University, Wales, UK; September 2017- February 2018.
- Bangor Employability Award (BEA) Master, Bangor University, Wales, UK; November 2017.
- Best Student Ambassador, Study Portals, Eindhoven, Netherlands; August 2017.
- International Merit Full Tuition Scholarship, Bangor University, Wales, UK; September 2016.
- First Class First Position in B.E Examination, Gold Medal and Merit Certificate, Nadirshaw Eduljee Dinshaw (NED) University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, Pakistan; March 2016.
- Gold Medal, Institute of Pakistan Engineer’s Society, Karachi, Pakistan; March 2016.
- Best Oral Presentation, Second Research Edition of Young Researchers Biosciences Symposium, Babes Bolyai University, Cluj Napoca, Romania; July 2015.
After Admission to GPPS:
- Graduate Student Travel Award, Society of Toxicology (SOT) 62nd Annual Meeting & ToxExpo, Nashville, Tennessee; March 2023.
- Dissertation Fellowship, The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi (International); March 2023.
- Society of Toxicology (SOT) Science Communications Training Award, "The Essentials" virtual workshop, Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science; May 2022.
- Trainee Scholar Award, American Society for Investigative Pathology (ASIP) Annual Meeting at Experimental Biology (EB), Philadelphia, PA; April 2022.
- Travel Grant Award, Cayman Chemicals, Society of Toxicology (SOT), March 2022.
- First Place Award, Graduate Student Excellence in Research, Stem Cells Specialty Section, Society of Toxicology (S0T) 61st Annual Meeting & ToxExpo, San Diego, CA; March 2022.
- Graduate Research Grant Award, The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi; March 2022.
- Agilent Seahorse Travel Award, Society of Toxicology (SOT) 61st Annual Meeting & ToxExpo, San Diego, CA; March 2022.
- Phonathon Endowed Scholarship, TTUHSC Student Government Association; February 2022 [to be applied graduating term].
- The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi "Love of Learning" Award, September 2021.
- Kent Scientific Scholarship, Jackson Laboratory "Workshop on Surgical Techniques in the Laboratory Mouse", Bar Harbor, Maine; September 2021.
- Best Oral Presentation in GPPS Graduate Student Seminar (Second Place), Graduate Student Association in Amarillo (GSAA); Spring 2021.
- Society for Neuroscience (SfN) 2020 Trainee Professional Development Award (TPDA), SfN Global Connectome: A Virtual Meeting; January 2021 [awarded December, 2020].
Memberships:
- Society of Toxicology (SOT) Stem Cells Specialty Section -- Graduate Student Representative, 2022-present.
- American Society for Investigative Pathology (ASIP) 2021-present.
- Society of Toxicology, 2021-present.
- Student Ambassadors for Diversity & Inclusion (SADI), TTUHSC Office of Diversity and Inclusion, 2021-2022 academic year.
- The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi (International), TTUHSC Chapter, 2021-present.
- Society for Neuroscience, 2020-present.
- Graduate Student Association in Amarillo (GSAA), TTUHSC, 2019-present.
- Institute of Pakistan Engineer’s Society, 2016-present.
- Pakistan Engineering Council, 2016-present.