FACULTY BIOGRAPHIES
Dr. Omar Khan
- Emailokhan@hbku.edu.qa
- Phone44548052
- Office locationB141, 1st Floor, LAS Building, HBKU
Biography
Dr. Khan did his Masters in Biochemistry from Karachi University, Pakistan before moving to Sweden. In Sweden, he did Masters in Cell Biology from Uppsala University, and then a Ph.D. in the lab of Prof. Martin Bergo, a protein lipidation expert. In Bergo's lab, he identified the biochemical importance of protein lipidation enzyme GGTase-I in immune cell function and refuted the popular idea that GGTase-I can be a therapeutic target against inflammatory conditions. After finishing his Ph.D., he moved to The Francis Crick Institute in Dr. Axel Behrens Lab, where he worked on identifying the posttranslational regulators of a tumour suppressor protein FBW7 and mechanisms of chemotherapy resistance in cancer.
Research Interests
Dr. Khan's research is focused on posttranslational protein modifications including ubiquitylation and deubiquitylation in cellular function and how these processes contribute to cancer growth and chemotherapy resistance. Dr. Khan identified posttranslational downregulation of FBW7 protein as a tumour promoting mechanism in colorectal cancer. Because FBW7 controls different cellular functions including stemness, cell cycle, metabolism, inflammation and cell death, it is conceivable that posttranslational stabilization of FBW7 in human cancers may block tumour progression. Consequently, Dr. Khan will exploit biochemistry, cell biology and precision medicine platforms to identify potential drug targets whose inhibition can stabilize FBW7 and improve response to chemotherapy in patients derived cancer cell lines and 3D tumour organoid models.
Experience
Honorary Teaching Assistant
King’s College London, United Kindom
2018Postdoctoral fellow with Dr. Axel Behrens
The Francis Crick Institute, United Kingdom
2013 - 2018
Postdoc with Prof. Martin Bergo
Sweden
2012
Education
Ph.D. in Molecular Medicine with Prof. Martin Bergo
Sahlgrenska Cancer Center Gothenburg University, Sweden
2007 – 2012MSc in Molecular Cell Biology
Uppsala University, Sweden
2005 – 2006
MSc in Biochemistry
University of Karachi, Pakistan
2002 – 2003
Selected Publications
-
The deubiquitinase USP9X regulates FBW7 protein stability and suppresses colorectal cancer
J Clin Invest. Feb 2018. (IF: 12.78)
Omar M. Khan, Joana Carvalho, Bradley Spencer-Dene, Richard Mitter, David Frith, Bram Snijders, Stephen A. Wood, and Axel Behrens
2018 -
Loss of one copy of Zfp148 reduces lesional macrophage proliferation and atherosclerosis in mice by activating p53
Circ Res. 2014 Oct 10;115(9):781-9. (IF: 13.96)
Sayin VI, Khan OM, Pehlivanoglu LE, Staffas A, Ibrahim MX, Asplund A, Agren P, Nilton A, Bergström G, Bergo MO, Borén J, Lindahl P.
2014 -
Targeting GGTase-I activates RHOA, increases macrophage reverse cholesterol transport, and reduces atherosclerosis in mice
Circulation Feb 2013. (IF: 19.3)
Khan OM, Akula MK, Skålen K, Karlsson C, Ståhlman M, Young SJ, Boren J and Bergo MO.
2013 -
GGTase-I deficiency hyperactivates macrophages and induces erosive arthritis in mice
J Clin Invest. 2011 Feb 1;121(2):628–39. (IF: 12.78)
Khan OM, Ibrahim MX, Jonsson IM, Karlsson C, Liu M, Sjogren AKM, Olofsson FJ, Brisslert M, Andersson S, Ohlsson C, Hultén LM, Bokarewa M, and Bergo MO.
2011 -
InactivatingGGTase-I reduces disease phenotypes in a mouse model of K-RAS-induced myeloproliferative disease
Leukemia 2010 Oct 26. (IF: 11.7)
Sjogren AK, Andersson KM, Khan O, Olofsson FJ, Karlsson C, Bergo MO.
2010 -
3-Bromopyruvate as inhibitor of tumour cell energy metabolism and chemopotentiator of platinum drugs
Mol. Oncol. 2008 Jun;2(1):94–101.(IF: 5.33)
Linda Strandberg Ihrlund, Emma Hernlund, Omar Khan, Maria C. Shoshan
2008
MYHBKU LOGIN