Dr. Irshad Ahmed
Technical Lead, Molecular Biology Unit
Food Safety Laboratory
National Health Laboratories Ministry of Public Health, Qatar
Dr. Irshad Ahmed is trained in the field of microbiology and subsequently got his PhD with specialization in microbial genomics and evolutionary microbiology. He has more than 15 years of post-Ph.D. experience in this field.
Ahmed's work frequently entails the bacterial outbreak investigation using whole genome DNA fingerprinting-based platforms such as PFGE, MLST, MLVA, spoligotyping and MIRU-VNTR etc. He also serves as a trainer for PulseNet program for outbreak investigation for the PulseNet Middle East.
Dr Ahmed expertise in exploiting modern-day cutting-edge technologies to provide rapid diagnostic solutions in food safety and security while his research contributed to molecular epidemiology of bacterial pathogens particularly in unraveling the population genetic structure, evolution, and virulence mechanisms of major human pathogens: H. pylori, M. tuberculosis, and P. aeruginosa.
Similarly, his lab work is more deeply involved in food security and safety related investigation and testing of the food stuffs by using rapid means of detections such as PCRs and RT- PCRs. Ahmed had authored more than 20 research publications in international journals of repute.
He has served as in the capacity of associate editor of the Gut Pathogens (BMC) journal and served as reviewer to number of BMC, PLoS and ELSEVIER journals in his field.
Currently he is working as Specialist and Technical Lead of the Molecular Biology Unit of the Food Safety Laboratory, NHL, MoPH.
