Briefly, tell us about your background and career up to this point?
I was 10 when my family moved from Pakistan to the UK, settling in Bradford, West Yorkshire. As a child I always wanted to be a scientist. After obtaining my degree at UCL and then my PhD and postdoc training in London, I moved to Cardiff University to start my own research as lecturer but really missed London, so I moved back and joined King's. I have worked at King's now for more than 20 years, I have moved between several campuses and seen a lot of change. The research that I started in Cardiff was to clone genes that are altered in diabetic kidneys, this work led me some 10 years later into the fascinating parts of our cells called mitochondria. When I was first starting to try to understand what mitochondria are, I remember reading a quote saying that mitochondrial research sucks you in and once you start you cannot stop. So true, these little organelles are truly addictive and never fail to fascinate me. These days in my lab we study mitochondria in various human diseases including diabetic complications, obesity and Alzheimer’s disease. I love doing research, and run an active research group, and feel privileged to be able to do the work that I do. I also teach in the department of Biochemistry, run a module called Biomedical Diagnostics and give lectures on various courses.
What is a typical day like for you?
I don’t really have a typical day: my activities tend to be affected by the time of year, teaching, research and other commitments. I wake early, usually 6 am, when I have a cup of tea, check my emails, and plan my day. I like to start my day with some exercise, and then get ready to start tackling my to do list. Some days I may have many meetings, for example with tutees, or with PhD students, other lab members, and colleagues to understand our data, and on other days I might be writing papers, grants, teaching or attending seminars/ conferences. I try to stop working by 6.30pm and then I can be found doing Pilates, heading to the cinema/theatre (occasionally) or cooking some nice food at home.
Looking back, did the pandemic and resulting lockdowns teach you anything you’re willing to share?
Unfortunately, I was one of those people who developed long covid after catching Covid just before lockdown. Fortunately, I am now fully recovered but the experience of extreme fatigue taught me the value of regular exercise and good health.
What do you think people in the School would find most surprising about you?
I have done stand-up comedy (very badly) and written commissioned plays and other fiction (a little less badly).
What advice would you give to your 18-year-old self?
When I was 18, my father had just passed away and it was a very tough time. I would tell myself, keep going, it will all work out.
Do you have any current projects that you’d like to tell us about?
I am always excited by all the projects in my lab but currently very excited about an EU funded project that I am an associate partner of (thanks Brexit) called PASGRAS. It is a very ambitious 5-year project looking at the impact of childhood obesity on future adverse health outcomes and we are developing intervention and lifestyle strategies to prevent this. The partners I am working with are a diverse and interdisciplinary bunch from several European countries and we have linked up with 7 other large EU funded obesity consortia to form a cluster. With so many researchers coming together it is a very exciting prospect for change that could impact the future health of young people.
Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?
Walking on a sunny beach.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
My daughter (she is now 26)
QUICK-FIRE:
Favourite season: summer, I love sunshine
Favourite book: too many to list
Favourite scientist: Douglas Wallace, he is truly amazing to listen to and has discovered so much in the field of mitochondrial genetics, including the maternal inheritance of mitochondrial DNA!
Favourite cuisine: Pakistani food
Netflix recommendation: not Netflix but I loved the recent “Lessons in Chemistry” on Apple tv.
One thing you could not go a day without: my morning cup of tea