About

Prof. Abbas Ali Mahdi has made outstanding contributions in the emerging areas of Biomedical Research, Natural Products, Metal Toxicity and Free Radical Biology. He has demonstrated brain involvement in malaria, showing macrophages and free radicals in its Pathology. This work was well recognized and cited in International Scientific literature. Involvement of the eye in cerebral malaria was reported by his group way back in 1989 and now Malarial Retinopathy has become an essential diagnostic tool to detect Cerebral Malaria. His work on Circadian Periodicity of plasma lipid peroxides and other anti-oxidants as putative markers useful in detecting gynecological malignancies have received scientific attention. Similarly, protection from free radical mediated cellular injury by herbal formulations such as A. sativum, A. indica, M. charantia and O. sanctum in diabetic rats is another important contribution. His in depth studies related to perturbation of antioxidant levels consequent to oxidative stress in seminal plasma of infertile men showed remarkable amelioration by a herbal preparation. In a landmark paper published in Fertility and Sterility journal, significant improvement in sperm count and motility following inhibition of lipid peroxidation in seminal plasma by Mucunapruriensin the infertile males was demonstrated. He has shown association of aluminum with Alzheimer’s disease and demonstrated that Al may be linked with neurolipofuscinogenesis, mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum stress. These changes may be responsible for the development of age related disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Mahdi used the metabolomics approach for studying the metabolism in some common uropathogens using NMR spectroscopy. He demonstrated that 1H NMR spectroscopy can be used for rapid identification of urinary tract infection. Also explored metabolomics approach to study many diseases, including essential hypertension, metal toxicity and human male infertility. He has carried out extensive studies and awareness programs on lead (Pb) toxicity across the country. With extensive collaborative studies, Prof. Mahdi has published several papers on cancer, cardiovascular disorders and diabetes. His work on the involvement of p53 in cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis in cancer cells is equally noteworthy. He demonstrated negative regulation of glycolysis via TIGAR showing that TIGAR promotes p21-independent, p53-mediated G1-phase arrest in cancer cells. His work on lead exposed children has established it toxicity effect on their cognitive development including association with anemia affecting even general intelligence. He is now actively pursuing a computational model framework using AI to predict lead toxicity levels in pregnant females. Part of this novel finding has been published.

Apart from research, Prof. Mahdi as Head, Department of Biochemistry, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, was instrumental in attracting huge funds from National and International agencies. This included Ulster University, Northern Ireland (United Kingdom) and The Third World Academy of Sciences, Italy. The Department also obtained a liberal DST- FIST grant. He started the National Medical Commission recognized P.G. teaching program in the department and obtained sanctions for many new teaching and non-teaching posts at KGMU, Lucknow.

Prof. Mahdi has been an Assessor of Medical Council of India, National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and many Universities and assessed innumerable Universities/Institutions in the country.

As Vice Chancellor of a newly established Era University, he has augmented Academics in the University, established University Councils, and created several newer Departments; including Department of Personalized and Molecular Medicine, Department of Liberal Education and Department of Happiness (First of its kind in any University in India).

During Covid – 19 pandemic, Prof. Mahdi was instrumental in coordinating with Indian Council of Medical Research for establishing testing facilities in different Government and Private Medical Institutions of Uttar Pradesh. He successfully coordinated establishment of new centers at CSIR, DST, ICAR, funded Institutions.

As an able Administrator of Indian Council of Medical Research Regional Depot at KGMU, he coordinated supply of Viral Transport Medium (VTM), RT-PCR and RNA Extraction Kits to various Government laboratories located across Uttar Pradesh. All this was done during the most difficult first wave of Covid – 19 pandemic when there was total lock-down.

Prof. Mahdi was assigned another arduous task during the first wave of Covid – 19 pandemic as Medical Superintendent of King George’s Medical University to start a new 320 bed Covid – 19 Hospital. Coordinated successfully, in those challenging pandemic times, he established new full-fledged Hospital. The Hospital had comprehensive Covid – 19 care facilities, with 320 beds including 200 ICU beds, pediatric, neonatology, obstetrics, trauma and continuous renal replacement therapy facilities under one roof. Hospital was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. Owing to his extra-ordinary work during Covid-19 pandemic, he received recognition as a Covid-19 warrior.