University of the Punjab.

Virology Lab
Dr. Muhammad Shahid has been serving as an Assistant Professor in the Molecular Virology group at the Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology. His career commenced in 2006 when he joined as a Research Officer in the Division of Molecular Virology and Infectious Diseases (Diagnostic Lab). Here, he focused on the commercial and Prime Minister Program for Hepatitis Prevention and Control in Pakistan, specifically working on PCR-based detection, quantification, and genotyping of Hepatitis B and C.
In 2010, he was promoted to the position of “Research Officer cum Lecturer” within the Division of Molecular Virology and Infectious Diseases Research section. During his tenure, he acquired proficiency in various molecular techniques, including Nested and Real-Time PCR, ELISA, Gel Electrophoresis, Molecular cloning, Sequencing, SDS-PAGE, Western Blotting, and Cell Culturing. These skills were honed while working on diverse projects such as the establishment of stable cell lines of structural and nonstructural genes of Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 3a and the genotype-based correlation of Hepatitis Delta virus with Hepatitis B virus.
In 2011, during a major Dengue Virus outbreak in Punjab, he played a pivotal role in the detection and serotyping of Dengue samples received from different districts of Punjab from 2011 to 2014. The data generated from this research was subsequently published in both national and international journals.
Mr. Shahid successfully completed his Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from Punjab University-Lahore in 2019. His research expertise encompasses host-virus (HCV, HBV) interaction studies involving mRNA, circRNA, lncRNA, miRNA, and piRNA. He also investigates the role of Host-Virus Genes in therapy outcomes, epidemiology of viral infections, and enrichment analysis using pathway analysis tools. Currently, he is the Principal Investigator (PI) of an HIV infection project funded by NIH-Islamabad.
Mr. Shahid boasts an impressive publication record with more than 55 publications in national and international scientific journals with impact factors. Additionally, he serves as an editor and reviewer for several scientific journals.
Recognized for his contributions, Mr. Shahid has been honored with International Research Support Initiative Program Fellowships (HEC) for PhD Scholars by the Government of Pakistan. He has also received Performance Evaluation Awards (2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020) and Research Incentive Awards (2016, 2017, 2019, 2020) from the University of the Punjab, Lahore. Furthermore, he is a member of Molecular Medicine (Mol Med) at Erasmus MC Rotterdam, Netherlands, and a member of the Old Ravian Union at GC University Lahore.
Area(s) of Research:
Virus, Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Molecular Cloning, Cirrhosis, Molecular Biology, Liver Diseases