Professor Zubair Ahmed

Zubair Ahmed

Institute of Inflammation and Ageing
Professor of Neuroscience
Neuroscience and Ophthalmology Section Lead

Contact details

Address
Neuroscience and Ophthalmology Group
Department of Inflammation and Ageing
College of Medicine and Health
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK
Open Innovations Success Story

Zubair Ahmed is Professor of Neuroscience and Lead for the Neuroscience and Ophthalmology Section in the Department of Inflammation and Ageing. His current focus for research is aligned with University identified priority areas of Immunology, Infection and Inflammation related to Trauma and in particular Neurotrauma. Some of his research projects are aimed at identifying the immune/inflammatory, metabolic and repair systems that determine the outcome of neurotrauma. He has an independent programme of research based on understanding the molecular mechanisms controlling repair and regeneration in the central nervous system.

He has received funding from the International Spinal Research Trust, the Wellcome Trust, MRC, NIHR, Fight for Sight and the EU.

Zubair is also a registered Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) ambassador through which he has visited Schools in the West Midlands to try and enthuse the next generation of research leaders and communicate the benefits of a career in Science.

Qualifications

  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), 2014
  • PGCert in Academic Practice, 2014
  • PhD in Plastic Surgery, 1999
  • BSc (Hons) Biochemistry, 1995

Biography

Zubair studied for a PhD in Plastic Surgery at University College London where he investigated a tissue engineering approach to repairing peripheral nerves using artificial biological matrices. He then moved to the Institute of Neurology in London to investigate the mechanisms of disease development in Multiple Sclerosis.

Zubair moved to the University of Birmingham in 2002 where he investigated the mechanisms behind why central nervous system axons fail to regenerate and developed strategies to combat these complications. He was awarded an RCUK Academic Fellowship in NeuroRegeneration in 2007 to develop his own independently funded research programmes on themes such as neuroprotection in the eye and neuro-restoration after spinal cord injury. In 2011 he was promoted to Lecturer, then to Senior Lecturer in 2013 and to Professor of Neuroscience in 2021. He continues to investigate the molecular mechanisms underpinning the failure of central nervous system neurons to regenerate after injury and disease. He currently leads the Neuroscience and Ophthalmology Section, a group of diverse clinicians and scientists interested in all aspects of trauma and disease affecting the eye, brain and spinal cord.

Zubair is a non-executive Board member and a co-founder of Neuregenix, a University of Birmingham-based spin-off company that seeks to exploit his work. He and his colleagues at Neuregenix have already demonstrated the preclinical efficacy of an anti-apoptotic gene-based medicine in protecting retinal neurons from injury-induced death. The target is now being assessed in Phase III clinical trials. He is also co-founder of Midland Pharmaceuticals, a clinical stage company developing treatments for spinal cord injury.

Teaching

MSc Trauma Science - Programme Director

  • Deputy Module Coordinator for Introduction to Trauma Science
  • Module Coordinator for Dissertation Module

BMedSc

  • Supervisor to Year 3 projects

Postgraduate supervision

  • Supervisor for MSc/MRes projects
  • Currently supervises 10 PhD Students

Research

e-scooters - a warning for riders to take more care.

Zubair's research focus is on understanding the fundamental biology of the failure of CNS neurons to regenerate their axons after injury and disease. Current projects in the lab include: strategies to promote axon regeneration and dissolution of the scar tissue after a chronic spinal cord injury; analysis of the angiogenic response after spinal cord injury; investigating the role of novel genes in CNS axon regeneration; the role of DNA damage after CNS injury; the role of epidermal growth factor receptor in CNS axon regeneration; neuroprotection in the eye and topical drug delivery agents to treat posterior eye disease; quality of life outcomes after trauma and the use of medicinal cannabis to treat neuropsychiatric conditions.

Through these approaches, he and his colleagues have identified several molecules that are neuroprotective such as pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) and combinations of neurotrophic factors. He has also demonstrated that inhibition of caspase-2, once thought to be an initiator caspase, protects both retinal and spinal neurons from apoptosis.

Other activities

  • Regenerative and Reconstructive Medicine Theme Lead for the NIHR Surgical Reconstruction and Microbiology Research Centre
  • Registered Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Ambassador
  • Deputy Chair, Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Board (AWERB)
  • Co-Founder and non-executive Board Member for University of Birmingham spin-out company “Neuregenix Ltd”, a successful CRO.
  • Co-founder of Midland Pharmaceuticals, a clinical stage company developing treatments for spinal cord injury.
  • Associate Editor – Frontiers in Neuropharmacology
  • Review Editor – Frontiers in Ophthalmic Drug Delivery
  • Editorial Board Member – Trauma Care (MDPI)
  • Editorial Board Member – Brain Sciences (MDPI)

Publications

Recent publications

Article

Willihnganz, S, Ahmed, Z & Lee, J 2024, 'Delaying Suspension Syndrome Onset in Aerially Suspended Victims Through Leg Raising', Wilderness and Environmental Medicine, pp. 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1177/10806032241234665

Farooq, U, O'Reilly, NJ, Ahmed, Z, Gasco, P, Singh, TRR, Behl, G, Fitzhenry, L & McLoughlin, P 2024, 'Design of liposomal nanocarriers with a potential for combined dexamethasone and bevacizumab delivery to the eye', International Journal of Pharmaceutics, vol. 654, 123958. https://doi.org/10.1016/i.ijpharm.2024.123958

Stevens, AR, Hadis, M, Phillips, A, Thareja, A, Milward, M, Belli, A, Palin, W, Davies, DJ & Ahmed, Z 2024, 'Implantable and transcutaneous photobiomodulation promote neuroregeneration and recovery of lost function after spinal cord injury', Bioengineering & Translational Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1002/btm2.10674

Thareja, A, Leigh, T, Hakkarainen, JJ, Hughes, H, Alvarez-lorenzo, C, Fernandez-Trillo, F, Blanch, R & Ahmed, Z 2024, 'Improving corneal permeability of dexamethasone using penetration enhancing agents: First step towards achieving topical drug delivery to the retina', International Journal of Pharmaceutics, vol. 660, 124305. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpharm.2024.124305

Stevens, A, Hadis, M, Thareja, A, Anderson, FG, Milward, M, Di Pietro, V, Belli, T, Palin, W, Davies, D & Ahmed, Z 2024, 'Photobiomodulation improves functional recovery after mild traumatic brain injury', Bioengineering & Translational Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1002/btm2.10727

Lelyte, I, Rao, VR, Kalesnykas, G, Ragauskas, S, Kaja, S & Ahmed, Z 2024, 'Prospects and limitations of cumate‑inducible lentivirus as a tool for investigating VEGF‑A‑mediated pathology in diabetic retinopathy', Scientific Reports, vol. 14, 14325. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-63590-y

Xia, Y, Ahmed, Z, Karimullah, A, Mottram, N, Heidari, H & Ghannam, R 2024, 'Thermal-controlled cholesteric liquid crystal wavelength filter lens for photosensitive epilepsy treatment', Cell Reports Physical Science, vol. 5, no. 9, 102158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrp.2024.102158

Metry, Y, Mcmullan, C, Upthegrove, R, Belli, A, Gomes, RSM, Blanch, RJ & Ahmed, Z 2024, 'Understanding how traumatic brain injury-related changes in fluid biomarkers affect quality of life outcomes in veterans: a prospective observational trial protocol (UNTANGLE)', BMJ open, vol. 14, no. 8, e084818. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-084818

Review article

Yavuz, B, Mutlu, EC, Ahmed, Z, Ben-Nissan, B & Stamboulis, A 2024, 'Applications of Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles in Nerve Regeneration', International Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol. 25, no. 11, 5863. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25115863

Provan, M, Ahmed, Z, Stevens, A & Veiga Sardeli, A 2024, 'Are equine-assisted services beneficial for military veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder? A systematic review and meta-analysis', BMC Psychiatry, vol. 24, no. 1, 544. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-05984-w

Warinton, E & Ahmed, Z 2024, 'Comparing the effectiveness and safety of videolaryngoscopy and direct laryngoscopy for endotracheal intubation in the paediatric emergency department: a systematic review and meta-analysis', Frontiers in Medicine, vol. 11, 1373460. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2024.1373460

Thilak, S, Brown, P, Whitehouse, T, Gautam, N, Lawrence, E, Ahmed, Z & Veenith, T 2024, 'Diagnosis and management of subarachnoid haemorrhage', Nature Communications, vol. 15, no. 1, 1850. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-46015-2

Wesolowski, E, Ahmed, Z & Di Pietro, V 2024, 'History of concussion and lowered heart rate variability at rest beyond symptom recovery: a systematic review and meta-analysis', Frontiers in neurology, vol. 14, 1285937. https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2023.1285937

Stevens, AR, Belli, A & Ahmed, Z 2024, 'Neurotrauma— From Injury to Repair: Clinical Perspectives, Cellular Mechanisms and Promoting Regeneration of the Injured Brain and Spinal Cord', Biomedicines, vol. 12, no. 3, 643. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12030643

Howroyd, F, Chacko, C, MacDuff, A, Gautam, N, Pouchet, B, Tunnicliffe, B, Weblin, J, Gao Smith, F, Ahmed, Z, Duggal, N & Veenith, T 2024, 'Ventilator-associated pneumonia: pathobiological heterogeneity and diagnostic challenges.', Nature Communications, vol. 15, 6447. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-50805-z

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