Khurshid Iqbal Andrabi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Professor Khurshid Iqbal Andrabi | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait | |
| Born | 15 July 1963 Jammu and Kashmir, India |
| Occupation | Professor of Biotechnology |
| Title | Vice-chancellor, University of Kashmir (2014–2018) |
| Academic background | |
| Alma mater | Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh |
| Academic work | |
| Era | Late 20th century – 21st century |
| Discipline | Biotechnology, Biochemistry |
| Sub-discipline | Cell signalling, cancer biology, diabetes research |
| Institutions | University of Kashmir |
| Main interests | mTORC1, cell signalling, translation control, stress responses, cancer and diabetes biology |
Khurshid Iqbal Andrabi (born 15 July 1963) is a Kashmiri academic, researcher, and former administrator who served as the 19th vice-chancellor of the University of Kashmir from 2014 to 2018. He is a professor in the Department of Biotechnology at the same university and a researcher in the field of cell signaling, with particular contributions to the study of the mTORC1 pathway and its role in cancer, diabetes, and aging.
Andrabi was born to Syed Habibullah Andrabi on 15 July 1963 in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.[1][2] He completed his master's degree in Biochemistry at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh in 1985, where he was awarded a gold medal and distinction. He went on to obtain a PhD in Biochemistry from PGIMER in 1990.[1]
Career
Following his doctoral studies, Andrabi pursued postdoctoral research at several institutions, including Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston (1991–1992), Harvard Medical School - Massachusetts General Hospital (1992–1996), where he worked on insulin receptor signaling in collaboration with Nobel Laureate Edwin G. Krebs. He served as assistant professor of Ophthalmic Research at Cleveland Clinic Foundation, USA (1999–2000).[3]
On returning to India, he joined the University of Kashmir as faculty, where he played a pioneering role in establishing the Department of Biotechnology in 2003. The department later gained national recognition under the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).[1] Prior to his appointment as vice-chancellor, he served as a director, research at the same university.[4]
He has supervised more than 25 doctoral and 20 MPhil students, published over 85 research papers.[1]
Academic administration
Andrabi has held several administrative positions at the University of Kashmir such as dean from 2012 to 2014, head, Department of Biotechnology (2003–2012), and Department of Biochemistry from 1997 to 2003.[1]
Membership
Andrabi has been associated with several academic and professional bodies. He has served on the Board of Award Nominators for Infosys India and on the Board of Advisors for Knimbus India. He has also held editorial positions, including membership of the editorial boards of the International Journal of Case Reports in Medicine, United States and the Asian Journal of Biosciences, India. In addition, he has been a reviewer for several international journals such as Cellular and Molecular Biochemistry, Springer, New Mexico, the Austin Journal of Biotechnology & Bioengineering, USA, Mutation Research, USA, the International Journal of Cellular Biochemistry (USA), and Biochemistry (USA).[1]
Within academic bodies, Andrabi has been a member of the Indo-Australian Higher Education Commission and the British Council for Higher Education. In India, he has served as a member of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Peer Team, and has contributed to the Project Advisory Boards of both the UGC and the Department of Science and Technology (DST).[1]
Research
Andrabi's research focuses on cell signaling, especially the mTORC1 pathway and its downstream effectors such as S6K1 and 4EBP1. His work has provided new insights into the regulation of these kinases, mechanisms of translation control, and implications in cancer, diabetes, and aging.[1]
He has also investigated the molecular mechanisms of inhibitors like rapamycin and torin, offering alternate perspectives beyond classical kinase activity. His research also contributed to translational medicine, including immunotherapy and stress response in cancer biology.[1]
Controversies
Andrabi is accused of "illegal appointments" during his tenure as vice-chancellor following which he was removed from the position. He was subsequently appointed as dean at School of Unani & Ayurvedic Medicines and head of department of Bio-chemistry, University of Kashmir.[5] Later in 2018, the Jammu and Kashmir State Vigilance Commission (JKSVC) filed a case against Andrabi's alleged role in nominating ineligible candidate for the post of medical officer at SMHS Hospital, Srinagar.[6]