CEMB Centre of Excellence in
Molecular Biology University of the Punjab
Applied and Functional Genomics Lab team photo at CEMB

Research laboratory

Applied & Functional Genomics

The lab studies the molecular basis of cancer and infectious disease — HCV, dengue and SARS-CoV-2 — searching for biomarkers, therapeutic targets and antiviral or anticancer compounds from medicinal plants.

Research with real-world impact

From laboratory discovery to practical solutions.

Research defines molecular interactions between viral proteins and cellular targets, addressing viral persistence and antiviral resistance, while screening medicinal plants for antiviral and anticancer activity and studying their mechanisms at both coding and non-coding RNA levels as a route to new, cost-effective therapies.

Cancer & infectious disease genomicsBiomarker discoveryPhytomedicine
1
principal investigator
8
research scholars
6
funded research projects

Research programme

Our research programme.

The programme connects discovery, laboratory validation and the development of tools and products for real-world use.

  1. 01

    Viral disease genomics

    Molecular studies of HCV, dengue and SARS-CoV-2, including viral persistence and antiviral resistance.

  2. 02

    Cancer biomarker discovery

    Biomarker identification and expression studies in breast, liver and pancreatic cancer.

  3. 03

    Phytomedicine screening

    Screening medicinal plants for antiviral and anticancer bioactivity, with in silico drug prediction.

  4. 04

    Functional genomics & models

    Functional genomics validated in vitro and in vivo models toward prophylactic and therapeutic applications.

Research group

Faculty leading the programme.

Meet the investigators who lead the laboratory’s research.

Research students

The questions shaping tomorrow’s science.

4 PhD scholars4 MPhil scholars

PhD research scholars 4

Ayesha Malik

PhD Research Scholar

Mariam Naveed

PhD Research Scholar

Aleeza Nawaz

PhD Research Scholar

Huda Barkullah

PhD Research Scholar

MPhil research scholars 4

Muhammad Safdar

MPhil Research Scholar

Zohaib Fayyaz

MPhil Research Scholar

Ukasha Khalid

MPhil Research Scholar

Hamza Shaahbaz

MPhil Research Scholar

Research funding

A sustained pipeline of funded research.

Competitive public funding and partnerships support the laboratory’s projects.

Funded projects

Hepatoprotective role of flavonoids and saponins in liver fibrosis and cirrhosisPI, HEC NRPU · Rs 4.2 million
SARS-CoV-2 spike/protease cell culture system to screen medicinal plants and plant-based compoundsPI, PHEC · Rs 8.00 million
RNAi as molecular scissors against dengue virus and Aedes aegypti mosquitoPI, NIH-HRI · Rs 2.7 million
Regenerative medicine combined with Ayurvedic plants for injury-induced arthritisCo-PI, HEC NRPU · Rs 6.321 million
Screening of cyclopeptides as anti-HCV therapyHEC SRGP · Rs 0.325 million
Role of lncRNA in the metastatic ability of invasive breast cancerHEC SRGP · Rs 0.49 million

Collaborate with the lab

Bring a research challenge. Build the next solution.

Contact the group lead