Conference Topics and Speaker’s Profiles
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Qur’anic Principles – Pathway to Peace: Dr. Mohammed Aslam Daud
Speaker’s Profile
Dr. Aslam Daud is a physician turned into a humanitarian relief champion. With more than 30 years of
experience in this field, he has led a number of humanitarian relief teams to respond to natural disasters and assist victims. He has also led and organized many medical missions in third world countries. He is
currently serving as National Vice President of Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in Canada and served as Chairman of Humanity First Canada. Professionally, Dr. Daud is working as a Health Solutions Consultant
for government and private healthcare information technology companies. He has the honour of being the Rapporteur for NGO Consultations with UNHCR, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Dr. Daud has presented at the UNHCR EXCOM 2019 at the United Nations Headquarters in
Geneva.Abstract
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Cancer Immunotherapy – A Cure Within: Dr. Maleeha Qazi
Speaker’s Profile
Dr. Maleeha A. Qazi completed her PhD in Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences from McMaster
University in 2019. In her PhD thesis, she described the development of a pre-clinical model of glioblastoma recurrence and used it to identify novel targets for the development of patient-specific immunotherapies, which was nominated for the Governor General Gold Medal. She is currently a firstyear medical student at the University of Toronto School of Medicine, where she also serves as an Associate Editor for the University of Toronto Medical Journal. Maleeha aims to combine her research
background with her medical training to advance our understanding of primary and metastatic brain cancer biology and develop new immunotherapies to improve brain cancer patient prognosis.Abstract
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Mental Health, The Pandemic and The Holy Quran: Dr. Mirza Mohyuddin
Speaker’s Profile
Dr. Mirza Mohyuddin is a graduate of the University of Alberta. He was an Adjunct Professor at the U of
Alberta from 1990 till 2000. He worked as an agricultural scientist and developed hydroponics cultivation methods for greenhouses. In 2014 he was inducted into the Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame.
He received several awards for his service to the agriculture industry and was honored by the Alberta Greenhouse Growers Association by creating a Dr. Mirza Educational and Scholarship Foundation. He has been actively involved with the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and held several voluntary positions.
The most notable was as National Secretary for Agriculture, 2017-2019 and Director of External Affairs in Edmonton. He is the author of several research and extension publications and is recognized for his
contributions. He is deeply interested in understanding the Qur’anic principles of life and resource management. His passion is to understand the relationship between God and Science and its practical
applications.Abstract
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Multi-Functional Stimuli
Responsive
Biomaterials: Dr. Marya Ahmed
Speaker’s Profile
Dr. Ahmed joined the University of Prince Edward Island in Dec. 2016, as an Assistant Professor in the
Department of Chemistry and Faculty of Sustainable Design Engineering. She is an Associate member of Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute. She acquired her PhD from the University of Alberta, in Chemical Engineering, with expertise in synthesis of polymeric vectors for gene delivery. She worked as post-doctoral fellow, in Chemical Engineering Department at the California Institute of Technology, on antibody targeted drug delivery vectors in mice models. She then moved to the University of Toronto and focused on the synthesis of peptides based antibacterial agents. The research themes in Ahmed laboratory focus on the development of controlled release biomaterials and well-defined peptide based
therapeutics to cure drug resistance disorders.Abstract
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Advanced Energy Materials for Clean and
Sustainable Future: Dr. Waqas Ali Haider
Speaker’s Profile
Waqas Ali haider is doing PhD in Materials Science at Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China.
He is working in Mai research group with interest in research of new materials and devices for electrochemical energy storage. His prior degree is MPhil in applied physics from Federal Urdu University, Islamabad, with research on Fuel Cell and has a teaching experience in HITEC College, Taxila and Nusrat Jahan Boys College, Chenab Nagar, Pakistan.Abstract
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Research Directions from the Holy Qur’an:
Invitation to Ahmadi Scientists: Dr. Hameed A. Mirza
Speaker’s Profile
Dr. Hameed A. Mirza has a Ph.D. in Metal-Organic Chemistry from the University of Western Ontario,
London. He then moved to McGill University and did post-doctoral fellowship in Protein Engineering Center of Excellence at Pulp and Paper Research Institute of Canada. Dr. Mirza is an Adjunct Professor
at the International Center of Chemical and Biological Sciences. Since 2004, he is teaching at the Department of Chemistry at York University. Dr. Mirza is also involved in applied research in the area of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the A.S. Chemical Laboratories Inc. as Chief Scientific Officer. He has published over 45 research papers in peer reviewed international Journals and made over 50 presentations at regional, national and international conferences. He also sits as the board of directors
at the NAPIT. He is a recipient of the Academic Award from the blessed hands of His Holiness Hazrat Khalifatul Masih the V (aa) in 2010 at the Annual Convention of AMJ Canada. Currently, Dr. Mirza is also
serving as the National Secretary Ta’lim (Education) at the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at. He is also serving as the President of Ahmadiyya Muslim Scientists’ Association, Canada.Abstract
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The First Step in Searching for God Scientifically : Dr. Syed Waseem Ahmad
Speaker’s Profile
Dr. Syed Waseem Ahmad was blessed to work with Hazrat Chaudhary Muhammad Zafrulla Khan Sahib
(ra) from 1973 to 1976 – taking dictation while he undertook his BSc in physics studies at the Imperial College in London, England. He later worked for his PhD, from 1976 to 1980, in Theoretical Physics under Professor Abdus Salam Sahib, of blessed memory. During this time he published several research papers in leading scientific journals. He has been involved in Jama’at work since the earliest age by taking classes for children as early as 1970 or thereabouts in Croydon, England, briefly serving as Acting
President of that Jama’at. He served as Assistant Editor of the Ahmadiyya Bulletin from 1973 to 1976. In 1982, he was asked to work on the Italy Mosque Project briefly before leaving for Canada in 1983 where he served as local and Regional Qaid Majlis Khuddamul Ahmadiyya, Edmonton, Alberta Canada for several years. In 1987 he was sent to Bolivia for six months on a Jama’at assignment from May to November. In 1988 he was given the task of executing the work of building of the first mosque in
Guatemala and in 1991 the Jama’at Clinic. Both were inaugurated by Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV (ra) and he was made in charge of Hudhur (ab)’s visits and arrangements. He moved to Calgary in 1989 and appointed President Jama’at Ahmadiyya Calgary in 1990. He moved to Dallas, TX in 1991 taking classes for children and moved to Los Angeles in 1992 where he assumed similar duties and served as Qaid and later as various Jama’at positions in the local Jama’at – eventually Vice President of LA East Jama’at till 2012. He was blessed to serve as National Secretary Waqf-e-Jadid from 1994 till 2016 and has been serving as National Tabligh Secretary since July 2016.Abstract
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Antigenic differences between field isolates
and a vaccine strain of chicken infectious
bursal disease virus: Dr. Shazia Mannan
Speaker’s Profile
Dr. Shazia Mannan completed her Ph.D in Biochemistry/Molecular Biology from Quaid-e- Azam
University Islamabad in 2007. Then she did her post doctorate from Yorkshire UK. She is working as an Assistant Professor at COMSATS University Islamabad since 2008. She has supervised more than 25 BS
and MS students. Dr. Shazia Mannan is a member of many scientific societies such as Phytopathology society, society of Biochemists and microbiology society. Her research interest areas are Molecular
studies of bacteria, viruses and phytoplasma. She has presented her research work in several conferences worldwide and has published more than 15 research papers.Abstract
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Science of Rhetoric in Quran: Ansar Raza
Speaker’s Profile
Ansar Raza joined Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama`at in 1982, when he was 24, followed by his wife and
parents. He dedicated his life for the service of Islam/Ahmadiyyat in 2004. He has served as a teacher in Ahmadiyya Missionaries Training School called Jamia Ahmadiyya Canada and as editor of the English Section of Ahmadiyya Gazette Canada. Presently he is working as a Missionary in Scarborough and a research Scholar. He has represented the Ahmadiyya community in different universities, interfaith symposiums and in other forums. He appears on “Radio Ahmadiyya” at FM 100.7 channel, answering
live questions by many listeners. His special fields of interest include study of the Holy Qur’an in the light of contemporary physical and social sciences; comparative study of religions, Muslim sects and languages. He believes that Holy Books should be read in the original language, and therefore takes
keen interest in learning new languages. Besides English and Urdu, he has learnt Arabic, Persian, Hebrew, German, French, Gurmukhi and Hindi. He has authored a few books including ‘Manji – Another Pawn Advanced’ written in response to Irshad Manji’s book, “The Trouble with Islam” and “Evidence Please” in response to Ayan Hirsi Ali’s book “Heretic—Why Islam needs Reformation”, as well as many research thesis and articles published in Pakistan and Canada. Many of his essays and articles can be read on the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at’s official website alislam.org.Abstract
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Combining the research visions of various fields to reach new paradigms, with insights from the Holy Qur’an: Dr. Altaf Qadeer
Speaker’s Profile
Dr. Altaf Qadeer is a Member of ESERA
(European Science Education Research Association). He has served as the
Adjunct Professor and Site-Coordinator at York University (for teacher
practicums). He is also a researcherwith YCAR at York University. He has
also studied Educating Global Citizens through the professional education
program of Harvard Graduate School of Education. He is also a Corresponding Fellow with Robarts Centre for Canadian Studies, York University. He has made contributions as a researcher at the Department of Science Education, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Granada University, Spain. He has worked as an educator for a long period in various parts of the world, including his long work in Canada. He has also been a member of the Master of Teaching, MT Partnership Advisory Committee (OISE), University of Toronto. He was also a member of ICDE (which is a key partner with UNESCO). He has a variety of scholarly interests, including his research about multiple-nets, creativity, lexicography, Urdu creative writing, religious studies, pioneering research journals for children, designing and testing teaching tools & media related work. One of his
ideas to inspire education at international level through the multilingual power of Canada was also published by the Toronto Star. He has also advocated for multilingualism. One of the focuses of his work is to promote the literature of those languages, which do not have a strong formal representation at international forum. A number of pathways have been presented in his work to highlight the need for promoting the literary work of all languages at the world forum. Some of his research about languages
and literature is published by Cross-Asia (Heidelberg, Germany). The book: The Languages and Linguistics of South Asia- A Comprehensive Guide includes his research. Dr. Altaf Qadeer has also recently written two books: Living in Multiple Nets – Pathways to empower creativity. Another book in
Urdu: Husn Taleem Hr Dil Kay Liyay (The Beauty of Education for Every Heart). He has also campaigned to include safety education for all students and communities in various languages with a focus of local and international needs. His work was widely shared in one of the earliest conferences of peace education at McMaster University, Canada. He has also written about protecting our cognitive environment along with our physical environment; his work was published in 2000 which is also in the
Bodleian Library, Oxford University. He has presented at various conferences and has delivered lectures on a range of topics. He is also a
member of the Review of Religions Research Canada (RORRC).Abstract
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Climate change induced variations in Canadian water resources and predictions of the Holy Quran: Ahmad Zeeshan Bhatti
Speaker’s Profile
SMr. Zeeshan Bhatti has completed M. Phil in Water Resources Management, from University of Engineering and Technology Lahore and B.Sc. Agricultural Engineering from University of Agriculture Faisalabad. Presently he is pursuing PhD Environmental Sciences at University of Prince Edward Island, Canada.Abstract
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Predicting druginduced pancreatitis
due to the leukemia drug asparaginase,
using serum metabolomic profiling: Dr. Sohail Hussain
Speaker’s Profile
Dr. Sohail Z. Hussain is a Pediatric Gastroenterology Physician-Scientist whose overarching research goal is to come up with targeted therapies for exocrine pancreatic disorders, particularly pancreatitis. He serve as Professor of Pediatrics and Chief of the Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology at Stanford University. Prior to Stanford, He was at the University of Pittsburgh for 8 years,
and before that, he was at Yale for 10 years. He is also serving as chairman of Ahmadiyya Muslim Scientist Association of USA
Jama`at.Abstract
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Machine Learning for
Studying Diabetes: Dr. Ijaz A Rauf
Speaker’s Profile
Dr. Rauf’s research is focuses on the development of space-based instrumentation, data analysis techniques and tools, and space test processes to advance planetary research and to improve the performance and reliability of space systems. He is a member of the York University Argus team that is currently monitoring spectrometer in low Earth orbit on the CanX-2 spacecraft. Also, He is the
inventor of a novel construction technology for a space elevator. He graduated with Ph.D. from cambridge, UK.Abstract
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In Search for a novel Wavefunction Ontology: Muddassar Rashid
Speaker’s Profile
Dr. Muddasar Rashid is an experimental physicist, working towards building novel optomechanical experiments for exploring macroscopic quantum physics, nanothermodynamics, metrology, and force sensing. He is Research Associate in King’s College London.Abstract
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Analyzing Gene Annotations of Muller D
and F Elements from Four Sister Drosophila
Species and Assessing a Course-based
Undergraduate Research Experience: Dr. Karim Sharif
Speaker’s Profile
Dr. Sharif attended the Govt. Forman Christian College, Lahore for his bachelor’s degree which he completed at the Hunter College of the City of New York. He obtained his Ph.D. degree from the City University of New York in 1996 and joined the Comprehensive
Cancer Center of the Albert-Einstein College of Medicine as a post-doctoral research fellow. Karim accepted a research associate position at the Weill Cornell Medical College, New York where he continued his scientific research using transgenic mouse models of kidney cancer. Dr. Karim is a Professor of Biology at the Massasoit Community College, in Boston.Abstract
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Understanding the associations between
mind, body and spirit: Dr Bushra Farah Nasir
Speaker’s Profile
Dr. Bushra Farah Nasir has Doctor of Philosophy, Griffith University, Australia. Her Research Interests includes Epidemiology and Public Health, Pharmacogenomics, Precision Medicine / Risk Prediction, Indigenous Health and Mental Health.Abstract
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Neural circuits in the Quran: The reward
system: Dr. Athar Malik
Speaker’s Profile
Athar Naveed Malik, M.D., Ph.D., is a neurosurgeon and neuroscientist. He completed his B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from The Johns Hopkins University in 2005. He completed his MD and Ph.D. at Harvard Medical School in Neurobiology. He is currently a
resident physician in neurosurgery at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, and a postdoctoral research fellow
at Harvard University. His research has led to scientific publications in prestigious journals including Nature, Cell, Nature
Neuroscience.Abstract
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The use of in-vitro technology to develop
stroke thrombectomy devices: Dr. Mahmood Mirza
Speaker’s Profile
Dr. Mahmood Mirza currently works as a clinical development manager in Cerenovus, a stroke device company, part of the Johnson
and Johnson group of companies. Mahmood graduated as a biomedical engineer from the University of Toronto in 2006, worked
in the medical device industry, and then completed medical school in Ireland from the University of Limerick in 2015. Since then,
Mahmood has been part of the team called Neuro Thromboembolic Initiate, created to uncover the challenges in treatment of
neurovascular diseases. Mahmood has 7 scientific articles and 5 patents credited to his name.Abstract
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