Dr.

SHAKILA ASHRAF
C-158, Block-6. Federal B. Area ,
Karachi, Pakistan - 75950
Ph: 021-6366295, 0321-3017898
Shakila_ashraf@hotmal.com

PERSONAL INOFRMATION

DATE OF BIRTH 11th July, 1967

GENDER Female
MARITAL STAUS Single
NATIONALITY Pakistani

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS:

 Ph. D (Haematology) :Baqai Medical University, Karachi (2008)

 M.Phil :Baqai Medical University, Karachi (2003)
 Masters in Haematology: Baqai Medical University, Karachi. (1996)
 Bachelor of Science(Microbiology,Biochemistry and Chemistry) Karachi
University

WORK EXPERIENCE :

• 13 years of teaching at Institute of Hematology, Baqai Medical University,

Karachi, Pakistan
• present position Associate professor, institute of hematology
• One years training at Molecular pathology department at PNS Shifa Karachi
• Three months training at department of Hematology Armed forces Institute of
Pathology, Rawalpindi.
• Worked in the field of Hematology at Sind Lab. Karimabad branch, Tariq
road branch, Hussaini Blood Bank & Hussaini Thalassemic Centre, Soldier
Bazar, Karachi.
• Teaching experience as Science Teacher in a private school for more than one
year.

CERTIFICATE COURSES

o Update in Blood Banking”

o Updates in Peadiatric Haematology
o Genetics for pathologists

WORKSHOP ATTENDED

• PCR in the research

• PCR for the diagnosis of CML
• HIV, diagnosis and treatment
 • Prenatal diagnosis for inherited disorders
• Interpretation of haemograms
• Morphology of blood smear
• Diagnosis of Acute leukaemia
• Diagnosis of tuberculosis and hepatitis B and C by PCR.

WORKSHOPS FACILITATED

• Detection of Abnormal haemoglobin

• Hemostasis
• Coagulation studies
• Interpretation of haemograms
• Haematological data interpretation
• Morphology of Blood smear
• Horizons in PCR

COURSES FACILITATED

• Technicians training Program

• Quality control in Blood Banking
• Electives in Hematology

LECTURES DILEVIERED AS INVITED SPEKER

• Transfusion reaction (at Technician training course Hussaini Blood

Bank funded by WHO)
• Morphology of blood cells (at Hussaini Blood Bank)
• Molecular Basis of Thalassemia Intermedia (Monthly seminar
Department of Pathology BMU)

RESEARCH DIRECTED:

• OFI as a screening test for the diagnosis of β -Thalassemia minor

• Effect of storage on blood counts
• Variation of leukodepletion efficacy on storage
• Comparison of osmotic fragility between the red cells of
Thalassemia minor and Iron deficiency anaemia
• Detection of unexpected antibodies in cord blood
• Detection of Hb levels in newborns of different economical status
• Biochemical parameters of Thalassemia major
• Frequency of A2 in the population of Pakistan
• Cytological variation in Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

PERSONAL INTEREST

• Research
 • Teaching
• Seminars
• Workshops

LANGUAGE SKILL

• English
• Urdu
• Punjabi

PAPERS PRESENTED.

1. Kell blood group in Pakistan. A pilot study. Annual symposium Baqai

medical University

2. Kell blood group ; A population based study (2nd Nation conference of

hematology 2000)

3. Prevalence and blood counts of cutaneous leishmanisis. Annual symposium

of Hamdard Medical College.

4. Osmotic fragility index for the diagnosis of beta thalassemia minor

5. Mutations Identified in the Patients of Thalassemia Intermedia in Pakistan.

(29th International conference of Pakistan Society of Pathologists.)

6. Morphologycal abnormalities in skin scraping of Cutaneous Leishmanisis

patients. (8th National Hematology Conference. Quetta)

7. Variation in the Iimunoglobulins levels in cutaneous leishmanisis patients.

(30th International conference of Pakistan society of Pathologists. Lahore )

OTHER CONFERENCES ATTENDED

• Hematology oncology update 2008

• 5th National Thalassemia Conference and Workshop 2008

RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS :

1.
Shakila Ashraf, Moinuddin
KELL BLOOD GROUP: A population based study
Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences
Vol. 17 No.4, October – December 2001, page 211 – 214

2.

Shakila Ashraf, Fatima Biqees and Munir somroo.

Prevalence and Blood Counts of cutaneous leishmaniasis :

Vol.5.No.1 jan – jun; 2002: 21 - 25

3. Ashraf SHAKİLA1, Fatima Mujib Bilqees 2, Azra Salim3, Moinuddin4

Geographical Distribution of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis and Sand Flies in

Pakistan. Türkiye Parazitoloji Dergisi, 30 (1): 1 - 6, 2006

4. Variation of immunoglobulins in cutaneous leishmanisis. (Submitted to

Parasitology)

5. Single tube osmotic fragility test for the diagnosis of thalassemia minor.

(Submitted to hematologica )
.
6. Morphological variations in the skin scrapings of cutaneous leishmanisis

patients. (Submitted Turkish journal of Parasitology)

RESEARCH PROJECTS WORKED ON

1. Kell blood group

2. Osmotic fragility index
3. Molecular basis of Thalassemia intermedia
4. Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

MAJOR FIELD OF STUDY

• Hematology
• Molecular genetics
• Thalassemia Intermedia

MAJOR CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS

• Thalassemia intermedia
• Single tube Osmotic fragility test

REFERENCES

 Dr. Moinuddin.. Institute of Hemaotlogy Baqai Medical university

Institute of Hematology , Baqai Medical University, Karachi Pakistan.
Email: moinuddin@hotmail.com
 Lt. Gen Suhaib Ahmed. Armed forces Institute of Pathology Rawalpindi.
Head of haematology depart, Armed forces Institute of Pathology,
Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Email: suhaib955@hotmail.com
he
 Dr. Peter Baillie. Dean of Biological Sciences, Baqai Medical University,
Karachi Pakistan. Email: nutrition_bmu@hotmail.com
Life is a continuous learning processes. I started my research crusade after doing my Msc in Hematology.
Hematology is a field that has tremendous challenging areas to explored. I have carried out research
projects on the following
1. Kell blood group system
Screening of Pakistani population for Kell antigens was carried out and positivity was reported. A
total of 1550 samples were processed , that made this study the second largest study of world. This was the
first study to note Kell antigens in Pakistani population.

2. Hummoral and cellular immune response in cutaneous leishmaniasis.

This study was taken as the M. Phil project and the degree was awarded. The work included the
blood counts , skin scrapings, skin biopsies and immunoglobulin levels. The study demonstrated the
immune response and described important aspects like morphological features , species and distribution of
species in the country.

3. Single tube osmotic fragility test.

Use of the simple test like Single tube osmotic fragility test was used to screen the Pakistani
population for thalassemia minor.
4. Description of Osmotic fragility index for the thalassemia minor patients.
Single tube osmotic fragility test was modified to Osmotic fragility Index for the screening of
thalassemia minor patients. This simple test was found to be very effective and cost effective for the
purpose having reliable sensitivity and positivity.

5. Molecular basis of Thalassemia Intermedia in Pakistani population.

Thalassemia is the commonest genetic disorder in Pakistan and south east asia. It can be classified into
Thalassemia major, thalassemia Intermedia and thalassemia minor. Thalassemia intermedia being a milder
form on the disease presents with broad spectrum of phenotypic severity. The milder phenotype involves
different genetic features that contribute in the mildness of the disease.
Molecular analysis was carried out in thalassemia itermedia patients to find the role of these factors. In this
quest beta chain mutations was carried out followed by the detection of alpha chain defects, Xmn-I
polymorphism, delta beta thalassemia were detected. Genotypeand phenotype relationship was then
established to demonstrate the mechanism responsible for the Intermedia phenotype. This project was
carried out as the Phd work for which the Phd degree was awarded .
As my PhD thesis was based on the molecular analysis of thalassemia , the disease is of the major
interest and aggravate me to explore different areas in thalassemia. The disease being a common disorder in
Pakistan requires a great deal of work. Thus entitles me to pursue the research work. Therefore is the topic
of main interest for me and wish to collaborate with related people and get my self training for the
challenges.