Name

Personal

Email: asimaazam@sbbwu.edu.pk
Contact No: 0334-5504615
Address: Department of Zoology, SBBWUP

Experience

1.  Assistant Professor

• Department of Zoology, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University Peshawar from January 2018 till date.
• Serving as an Incharge of the Department since April 2022 till date

2)    Visiting Researcher

• Six months in IVEP laboratory, University College Dublin, Ireland
• One year experience of working in National Veterinary Laboratories (NVL), NARC, Islamabad.
• Two years experience in in vitro embryo production laboratory, Buffalo Research Institute (BRI).

Qualification

Honor and Awards

• HEC Indigenous PhD fellowship
• International Research Support Initiative Program (IRSIP) scholarship from HEC, Pakistan
• Start-Up Research Grant Program (SRGP) from HEC, Pakistan

Memberships

1. 1. Member of SAR
   2. Member of Graduate Studies Committee.
   3. Member of Board of Studies.
   4. Member of Board of Faculty
   5. Member of Departmental discipline Committee

Graduate Students Postdocs Undergraduate Students Honor Students

• Supervised 15 graduate Research students
• Supervised 103 undergraduate Research students
• Supervised 73 undergraduate Internship students

Service Activity

Teaching/Administrative tasks/Research work

Brief Statement of Research Interest

Brief Statement of Research Interest

My research primarily focuses on infectious diseases, reproductive biology, epidemiology, and entomology. My research work spans diverse topics, including zoonotic diseases (e.g., brucellosis, tick-borne pathogens), reproductive physiology (e.g., buffalo semen cryopreservation, oocyte maturation), and public health (e.g., antibiotic resistance, asthma prevalence). I have also explored environmental contaminants (e.g., heavy metal toxicity in poultry) and plant-based bioactive compounds. Through molecular detection, risk assessment, and innovative biological interventions, my research aims to improve disease management, fertility preservation, and environmental health.

Publications

1. Faisal Abbas, Shahzad Ali, Ali Muhammad, Asima Azam, Amira A. Moawad, Mohammad Ejaz, Anam Iftikhar, Maryam Dadar. 2025. Human Brucellosis in the Rural and Urban Population of Pakistan: Seroprevalence, Risk Factors, and Clinical Manifestations. Current Microbiology, 82(2), 80.
2. Ali, S.; von Fricken, M.E.; Azam, A.; Hassan, A.; Cleary, N.G.; Iftikhar, K.; Rashid, M.I.; Razzaq, A. 2024. Tick Infestation and Molecular Detection of Tick-Borne Pathogens from Indian Long-Eared Hedgehogs (Hemiechinus collaris) in Pakistan. Animals, 14(22), 3185.
3. Saira Awaz, Iram Maqsood, Hanif Ur Rahman, Muhammad Ijaz Ali, Baitullah Khan, Gul Muhammad, Imtiaz Ali Shah, Asima Azam, Ayesha Hidayat, Almas Faryal Nizam. 2024. Molecular characterization of Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) in sheep and goats and risk factors associated with it in selected districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa‑Pakistan. Molecular Biology Reports, 51:1032.
4. Mehreen Ayaz, Muhammad Hamayoon Khan, Asima Azam, Sunbal Noor, Aiman, Muhammad Salman, Sayed Jawad Ahmad Shah, Bibi Hajra. 2024. Host preference of fruit fly, Bactrocera zonata towards different host fruits at various stages of ripeness. Journal of Liaoning Technical University (Natural Science Edition), 18(8): 352-374.
5. Tayyaba Riasat, Saima Qadeer, Asima Azam, Rabea Ejaz, Asma Ashraf , Rajbari, Shamim Akhter, Mobeen Kalsoom, Saleha Ashfaq, Asma Ul Husna. 2024. Low fertile bulls could be used for semen cryopreservation after supplementation of extender with zinc compounds. Journal of Population Therapeutics & Clinical Pharmacology, 31(6):2836-2846.
6. Muneeza Sher, Rabea Ejaz, Asima Azam, Aishma Khatak, Muhammad Mohsin Ahsan, Iram Maqsood. 2024. Assessment of heavy metals in broiler chickens of different farms and their source of transmission in district Peshawar. Journal of Population Therapeutics & Clinical Pharmacology, 31(3): 1029-1036.
7. Rabea Ejaz, Saima Qadeer, Iram Maqsood, Asima Azam and S. Akhter. 2024. Seasonal variations in quality of cryopreserved Nili Ravi buffalo semen. Int. J. Biol. Biotech., 21 (1): 53-58.
8. Rabia Sundas, Rabea Ejaz, Saleha Ashfaq, Saima Qadeer, Asima Azam, Wajeeha Saeed, Naqash Khan, Rukshanda Saleem and Asma Ul Husna. 2024. Effects of magnesium supplementation on anti-mullerian hormone level in premenopausal women. Journal of Population Therapeutics & Clinical Pharmacology, 31(2): 298-306. DOI: 10.53555/jptcp.v31i2.4348.
9. Iram Khatoon, Surrya Khanam, Asima Azam, Saima Qadeer, Shumaila Naz, Najm Ul Hassan. 2023. Incidence Pattern, Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern and Associated Risk Factors of Bacterial Uropathogens Among General Population of Pakistan. Infection and Drug Resistance 16: 4995–5005.
10. Surrya Khanam, Shaheen Akhtar, Saha Bukhari, Abra Sheema, Muhammad Mushtaq and Asima Azam, Gulnaz Parveen. 2022. Pre-harvest rodent-inflicted damage to maize and sugarcane crops in Swabi, Pakistan. Zoology and Ecology, 32(2), 165–170.
11. Shahrukh khan, Bakhtawar, Sheeza Iqbal, Asima Azam, Asma-Ul-Husna, Saima Qadeer, Surrya Khanam. 2022. Prevalence and determinants of Asthma in adults in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. AJ Life Sci. 2022, 5 (2): 26-32.
12. Sheeza Iqbal and Asima Azam. 2022. A Cross-Sectional Study to Determine the Prevalence, Symptoms and Risk Factors Associated with Low Back Pain and Sciatica in District Nowshera, Pakistan. 37(2): 163-167.
13. Rajbari Rajbari, Asma U Husna, Asima Azam, Rabea Ejaz, Rooma Adalat,  Shamim Akhter Muhammad U Farooq and Saima Qadeer. 2022. Effects of Thawing Methods (Techniques) on Freeze Thaw Buffalo Bull Sperm Quality. Egypt. J. Vet. Sci. Vol. 53, No. 4, pp. 591-597
14. Asim Yaqub, Huma Ajab, Aaqiba Almas, Samia Misbah Syed, Asima Azam, M. Ijaz Khan, Muhammad Awais, Irshad Muhammad, Ahmed M. Galal, Mohammad Y. Alshahrani. 2022. Utilization of nano‑biosorbents based on pine needles and banana peel for methylene blue removal: equilibrium, kinetics, thermodynamic study, and application. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery. 12:1787–1802.
15. Saima Qadeer, Rabea Ejaz, Asma Ul Husna,  Asima Azam, Muhammad Amir Khan. Breeding potential of Paksitan’s national bird Chukar partridge: captivity vs natural habitat. 2022. RADS Journal of Biological Research and Applied Sciences. 13(1):70-75.
16.  Surrya Khanam, Asima Azam, Rabea Ejaz, Saima Qadeer Asma-ul-Husna, Nemat Ullah and Shamim Akhter. 2022. Supplementation of amino acids in serum free IVM-media and its effect on in vitro maturation and fertilization of buffalo oocytes. Egyptian Journal of Veterinary Sciences. 53(2):241-248.
17.  Asma Ul Husna; Asima Azam, Saima Qadeer, Rabea Ejaz, Shamim Akhter. 2022. Pregnancy and calving rates improved using modified swim-up method for buffalo semen sexing. Reproduction in Domestic Animals. 00: 1-4. (Impact factor: 2.005).
18. Asima Azam, Rabea Ejaz, Saima Qadeer, Shumaila Irum, Asma Ul-Husna, Sana Ullah, , Qaisar Shahzad, Tasneem Akhtar, shamim Akhter. 2021. Synergistic impact of α-linolenic acid and α-tocopherol on in vitro maturation and culture of buffalo oocytes. Brazilian Journal of Biology, 2024, vol. 84, e253514| https://doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.253514.
19. Saima Qadeer, Rabea Ejaz, Asma Ul Husna, Asima Azam, Syeda Laila Rubab, Ghulam Nabi, Sana Ullah and Shamim Akhter. 2021. L-Carnitine Improves Cytoprotection during Cryopreservation: A case study on Nili Ravi Buffalo Sperm. AJ Life Sci., 4 (1): 80-85.
20. Rabea Ejaz, Muhammad Talal Ashraf, Saima Qadeer, Muhammad Irfan, Asima Azam, Sadia Butt, Shaista Bibi. 2021. Gender-based incidence, recovery period, and mortality rate of COVID-19 among the population of district Attock, Pakistan. Brazilian Journal of Biology, 2023, vol. 83, e249125 | https://doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.249125
21. Arbab Saddique, Shahzada Adnan, Habib Bokhari, Asima Azam, Muhammad Suleman Rana, Muhammad Mujeeb Khan, Muhammad Hanif, Shawana Sharif. 2021. Prevalence and Associated Risk Factor of COVID‑19 and Impacts of Meteorological and Social Variables on Its Propagation in Punjab, Pakistan. Earth Systems and Environment https://doi.org/10.1007/s41748-021-00218-5.
22. Asma-ul-Husna; Azam, Asima; Awan, Muhammad Amjad; Khalid, Madiha; Sami, Abdul; Shahzad, Qaisar; Ansari, Muhammad Sajjad; Rakha, Bushra Allah; Naqvi, S. M. Saqlan; Akhter, Shamim. Efficiency of sucrose density gradient method for sex separation of buffalo spermatozoa as validated by SYBR Green Real Time PCR. Animal Science Papers & Reports . 2020, Vol. 38 Issue 1, p21-33.
23. Ejaz, R., S. Qadeer, M.S. Ansari, B.A. Rakha, S. Shamas, A. Azam, I. Maqsood, A.U. Husna, S. Akhter. 2020. In vitro supplementation of linoleic acid improves quality of cryopreserved buffalo semen. Indian Journal of Animal Research. (Impact factor: 0.437). DOI: 10.18805/ijar.B-1182
24. Rabea Ejaz, Saima Qadeer, Muhammad Ansari, Bushra Rakha, Shazia Shamas, Iram Maqsood, Asma-ul-Husna, Asima Azam, Shamim Akhter. Fertility of Cryopreserved Buffalo Semen Can be Improved by Supplementation of Arachidic Acid in Extender. Pakistan Journal of Zoology. MH20190712110704.
25. Qadeer, S., M. A. Khan, M. S. Ansari, B. A. Rakha, R. Ejaz,
    A. U. Husna, A. Azam and Shamim Akhter. A novel recombinant eel pout (macrozoarces americans) type iii antifreeze protein improves cryosurvival of buffalo sperm. 2019. CryoLetters, 40 (6), 347-351.
26. Saddique, A., S Ali, S Akhter, I Khan, H Neubauer, F Melzer, A U Khan, A Azam and H El-Adawy. 2019. Acute Febrile Illness Caused by Brucella abortus Infection in Humans in Pakistan. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 16, 4071; doi:10.3390/ijerph16214071.
27. Asima Azam, Asma-Ul-Husna, Saima Qadeer, Qaisar Shahzad, Rabea Ejaz, Nemat Ullah, Tasneem Akhtar and Shamim Akhter. 2019. Synthetic Oviductal Fluid Medium with Isologous Oviductal Epithelial Cells Improves the Development of In Vitro Produced Nili Ravi Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) Embryos. Pakistan J. Zool., vol. 51(6), pp 2007-2014.
28. Awan, M. A., S. Akhter, A. U. Husna, M. S. Ansari, B. A. Rakha, A. Azam, S. Qadeer. 2018. Antioxidant activity of Nigella sativa Seeds Aqueous Extract and its use for Cryopreservation of Buffalo Spermatozoa. Andrologia (Accepted). Doi: 10.1111/and.13020. [Epub ahead of print].
29. Husna, Asma; Azam, Asima; Qadeer, Saima; Nasreen, Shiza; Awan, Muhammad; Shahzad, Qasiar; Fouladi-Nashta, Ali; Khalid, Muhammad; Akhter, Shamim. 2018. Sperm Preparation through Sephadex™ Filtration Improves in vitro Fertilization Rate of Buffalo Oocytes. Reproduction in Domestic Animals, 53(2):377-384. 
30. Azam, A., Q. Shahzad, A. Husna, S. Qadeer, R. Ijaz, A. A. Fouladi-Nashta, M. Khalid, N. Ullah, T. Akhtar and S. Akhter. 2017. Supplementing α-Linolenic acid in the in vitro maturation media improves nuclear maturation rate of oocytes and early embryonic development in the Nili Ravi buffalo. Anim. Reprod., 14(4): 1161-1169.
31. Qadeer, S.,  M.A. Khan, M.S. Ansari, B.A. Rakha, R. Ejaz, A. U. Husna, A. Azam, N. Ullah, V. K. Walker and S. Akhter. 2017. Cryopreservation of Nili-Ravi Buffalo Bull Sperm in Cryodiluent Supplemented With Lolium Perenne Protein Preparations. Cryoletters, 38(1): 43-50.
32. Azam, A., AU Husna, Q. Shahzad,T. Akhtar, E. Haq, N. Ullah and S. Akhter. 2017. Efficiency of Fatty Acid-Free Defined System for In Vitro Maturation of Buffalo Oocytes. J. Anim. Plant Sci., 27(1): 112-118.
33. Qadeer S, Khan MA, Shahzad Q, Azam A, Ansari MS, Rakha BA, Ejaz R, Husna AU, Duman JG and Akhter S. 2016. Efficiency of beetle (Dendroides canadensis) recombinant antifreeze protein for buffalo semen freezability and fertility. Theriogenology, 86(7):1662-9. 
34. Nagina, G., A. Azam, N. Ullah and S. Akhter. 2016. Effect of melatonin on maturation capacity and fertilization of Nili-Ravi buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) oocytes. Open Veterinary Journal, 6(2): 128-134.
35. Shahzad Ali, Shamim Akhter, Heinrich Neubauer, André Scherag, Miriam Kesselmeier, Falk Melzer, Iahtasham Khan, Hosny El-Adawy, Asima Azam, Saima Qadeer and Qurban Ali. 2016. Brucellosis in pregnant women from Pakistan: an observational study. BMC Infectious Diseases, 16:468.
36. Husna AU, Ejaz R, Qadeer S, Azam A, Rakha BA, Ansari MS, Shahzad Q, Javed M, Vazquez-Levin MH and Akhter S. 2016. A comparative analysis of sperm selection procedures prior to cryopreservation for Nili-Ravi buffalo bull (Bubalus bubalis) semen-: Assessment of its impact on post-thaw sperm functional quality. Anim Reprod Sci., 174: 31-36. 
37. Shahzad Q, Mehmood MU, Khan H, ul Husna A, Qadeer S, Azam A, Naseer Z, Ahmad E, Safdar M and Ahmad M. 2016. Royal jelly supplementation in semen extender enhances post-thaw quality and fertility of Nili-Ravi buffalo bull sperm. Anim Reprod Sci., 167:83-8. 
38. Shahzad, Q., A. Riaz, T. Akhter, A. Sattar, J. Nazir, A. A. K. Niazi, A. Azam and A. U. Husna. 2014. Repeatability of antral follicular count and its correlation with super stimulation in nili-ravi buffaloes. J. Anim. Plant Sci., 24(3): 765-769.

Research Grants and Contracts

Higher Education Commission Startup Research Grant Project: Assessment of bull semen fertility by in vitro fertilization tests in Nili Ravi buffalo bull. Project # 2004.

Other Research or Creative Accomplishments

1. Asima Azam, Shahzad Ali and Shamim Akhter. 2014. Tuberculosis in cattle and buffalo in Islamabad, Pakistan (Published Book). Lambert academic publishing. (ISBN-13: 978-3-659-51456-2; ISBN-10:365951456X).

Selected Professional Presentations

30th Pakistan Congress of Zoology (International) 2010, Faisalabad. Asima Azam, Qurban Ali, Shamim Akhter and Nemat Ullah. 2010. Prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in cattle and buffalo in islamabad, Pakistan.

2.       31st Pakistan Congress of Zoology (International) April 19th to 21st, 2011, Muzzafarabad, AJ&K. Asima Azam, Surrya Khanam, Shamim Akhter and Nemat Ullah. 2011. Effect of essential and nonessential amino acids on in-vitro maturation and fertilization of buffalo oocytes.  

3.       Participated in 16th European Society for Domestic Animal Reproduction (ESDAR) Conference, University College Dublin, Ireland, 30th August- 1st September, 2012.

4.       2nd International Workshop Dairy Sci Park, Nov 18-20, 2013; Univ Agric, Peshawar, Pakistan.