Major General (Retd.) Prof Dr Sohail Sabir FCPS, FRCP (Edin), FRCP, FASN, MCPS, PhD Molecular Biology and Gold Medalist of SZABMU, appointed Vice Chancellor, UHS Lahore.

Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU), Islamabad, takes pride in the appointment of its alumnus, Major General (Retd.) Dr Sohail Sabir, as Vice Chancellor of the University of Health Sciences (UHS), Lahore. 

Major General (R) Prof. Sohail Sabir is a distinguished SZABMU alumnus and a highly qualified physician and nephrologist (MBBS, FCPS (Medicine), FCPS (Nephrology), FRCP (Edin), FRCP (London), FASN (USA), MCPS (HPE), CNC, ISN, CRCP, and MSc Organ Transplant (Liverpool, UK)). He completed his PhD in Molecular Biology from the university. He was awarded a Gold Medal for his outstanding academic performance at the Fourth Convocation of SZABMU. His achievement represents a notable milestone for the university and highlights the contribution of its alumni to leadership in medical education, healthcare and research.

During his doctoral studies at SZABMU, Dr Sabir conducted research entitled “Genetic and Clinical Analysis of Chronic Kidney Disease in Pakistani Population.” The thesis was conducted under the supervision of Dr Mohsin Shahzad, PhD in Molecular Biology (CEMB, University of the Punjab), with Post-Doctoral Research Fellowships at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, USA, and the School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA. Prof. Dr Tanwir Khaliq, MBBS, FCPS, FRCS, MCPS (Medical Education), Vice Chancellor, SZABMU, and Dr Muhammad Rauf Ahmed PhD served as cosupervisors. 

The research integrated clinical, molecular and bioinformatic approaches to investigate chronic kidney disease in the Pakistani population. The thesis reports the identification of pathogenic variants, including novel and reported pathogenic variants in wo candidate and three reported genes associated with hereditary kidney disease, and also examined the potential of allogeneic bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells as an adjunctive treatment approach for diabetic nephropathy. 

In the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled component of the research, 91 participants with type 2 diabetes and stage II–IV chronic kidney disease were studied. The thesis reports stabilization or minor improvement in isotopic GFR over six months and a significant reduction in HbA1c in the MSC group, without adverse events at the time of infusion.

The appointment of a SZABMU PhD alumnus to lead one of Pakistan’s major health sciences universities is a source of pride for the SZABMU community. It also reflects the university’s emphasis on postgraduate research, academic excellence, innovation and the development of healthcare leaders. 

SZABMU extends its warm congratulations to Major General (Retd.) Dr Sohail Sabir and wishes him success in his new responsibility as Vice Chancellor of the University of Health Sciences, Lahore. 

A PROUD SZABMU ALUMNUS • PhD MOLECULAR BIOLOGY • GOLD MEDALIST • VICE CHANCELLOR, UHS LAHORE