Bilal Malik
Sydney,NSW
Summary
Highly motivated immunologist and cancer researcher with a strong foundation in cellular/ molecular biology and translational research. Possesses a keen technical aptitude with the ability to quickly adapt to new methodologies and processes. Demonstrates strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a meticulous attention to detail. A collaborative team player with experience working in multicultural and international research environments, fostering effective teamwork and scientific innovation.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Postdoctoral Research Associate
University of Sydney
, NSW
11.2022 - 12.2024
- Demonstrating the role of immune regulatory proteins and DNA damage response protein in acute myeloid leukemia using C57BL/6 mouse models
- Culturing mouse leukemic stem cells and characterization using flow cytometry
- Creating stable cell lines for gene knock down and over expression using lentiviral transduction
- Supervising and training honors, master and medical students
- Managing lab, writing SOPs, research articles and presenting at scientific conferences
PhD
University of Newcastle, Hunter Medical Research Institute
Newcastle, NSW
03.2017 - 09.2022
- PhD project was part of GSK sponsored clinical trial for 'Choosebetweenamab' study where I was involved in comparing the physiology of group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) between control and severe allergic and eosinophilic asthma (SA) participants
- Isolating and stimulating human ILC2s and CD4 T-cells followed by analysing their physiology
- Studying the effects of mepolizumab (anti-IL-5) and omalizumab (anti-IgE) on ILC2s physiology and subsequently its effect on clinical features of severe asthma
- Growing human airway epithelial cells (AECs), infecting them with rhinoviruses, investigating AEC-ILC2 crosstalk in ALI cultures
- Analyzing whole blood RNA-Seq data for gene expression differences between i) SA participants and control participants ii) SA participants before and after treatment with mepolizumab and omalizumab
- Evaluating the effects of gene expression on clinical parameters of SA participants
- Using bioinformatics tools like Qiagen IPA software for visualization of RNA-seq data and interpretation of drug treatment results, CibersortX for immune cell deconvolution, g:profiler and Cytoscape for biological and molecular functions
- Recruiting subjects for the study and managing their clinical data on REDCap
- Drafting SOPs, reports, articles and presenting at scientific meetings
Research Assistant
Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Universitätsklinikum Jena
Jena, Germany
05.2012 - 04.2015
- Worked on a research project that involved elucidating the role of calcium regulated and calcium permeable ion channels in melanoma
- Cloning ion channel genes, transfecting into melanoma cells and studying their drug response, intracellular calcium impact on NFAT signaling, and cell proliferation
Research associate
Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Center
Lahore, Pakistan
12.2009 - 08.2011
- To determine the effect of O6-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation on glioblastoma patients’ overall survival when treated with Temozolomide
- Developed a research project on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), integrating intricate aspects of immunology and oncolytic viruses to target HCC
- Setting up a diagnostic test for HBV genotyping
- HPV detection and genotyping by In Situ hybridization and PCR in patients with cervical carcinoma
Education
PhD - Medicine
University of Newcastle
Newcastle, Australia09.2022
M.Phil - Biochemistry and Molecular biology
Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad
Islamabad01-2009
Skills
- Group 2 innate lymphoid cells and CD4 T-cells isolation and In-vitro expansion
- ALI culture of bronchial epithelial cells
- Lentiviral transduction for gene knockdown and overexpression
- Culturing human primary airway epithelial cells and infecting them with rhinoviruses
- BioLegend multiplex immunoassay and DuoSet ELISA
- Fluorescent Activated Cell Sorting and Multi parameter flow cytometry
- RNA extraction and mRNA-sequencing
- Bioinformatic tools: CibersortX for immune cell deconvolution, g:profiler and Cytoscape for biological and molecular functions
- DNA extraction, qPCR and gene cloning
- Western blot
- Stem cell colony formation and engraftment assays
- Mouse handling, IV injections and sample collections from spleen and bone marrow
- Comet assay for DNA damage analysis
- Methylation specific sequencing (Library preparation and amplification)
- MTT assay and intracellular Ki-67 expression analysis
- Fluorescent microscopy
- Intracellular Ca2 concentration measurement via ratiometric Fura-2 imaging
- Clinical data recording and managing data on REDCap
- Gel electrophoresis : Agarose and Acrylamide
- GraphPad prism, FlowJo, MS Office, Qaigen IPA, STATA and SPSS
- Excellent verbal communication and written communication skills
Publications
- Systemic transcriptome signature that characterizes severe allergic and eosinophilic asthma and its response to biologic therapy, Alen Faiz # , Bilal Malik #, Fia Sabrina Boedijono, Philip M. Hansbro, Gerard Kaiko, Kristy Nichol, Peter AB Wark, Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2025, under review
- Loss of stress sensor protein promotes stem cell activity and ferroptosis resistance in AML, Nunki Hassan#, Hangyu Yi# , Bilal Malik, Lucie Gaspard-Boulinc, Jayvee Datuin, Sheng Xiang Franklin Chen, Jonason Yang, Basit Salik, Saumya E. Samaraweera, Debora A. Casolari, Janith Seneviratne, Tracy Chew, Alastair Duly, Sayali Gore, Anushree Balachandran, Daniel R. Carter, Belamy B. Cheung, Murray Norris, Michelle Haber, Maria Kavallaris,7 Glenn M. Marshall, Xu Dong Zhang, Tao Liu, Jianlong Wang, Dan A. Liebermann, Richard J. D’Andrea, and Jenny Y. Wang, Blood, 2024
- Predominance of MGMT promoter methylation among Pakistani glioblastoma patients, Noor Muhammad, Samir Fasih, Bilal Malik, Shahid Hameed, Asif Loya, Muhammad Usman Rashid1, Molecular Biology Reports, 2024
- Severe asthma ILC2s demonstrate enhanced proliferation that is modified by biologics, Bilal Malik, Nathan W. Bartlett , John W. Upham, Kristy S Nichol, John Harrington , Peter A.B. Wark, Respirology, 2023
- Respiratory Viruses and Asthma, Peter A. B. Wark, James Michael Ramsahai, Prabuddha Pathinayake, Bilal Malik, Nathan W. Bartlett, Semin Respir Crit Care Med, 2018
- Genetic analysis of four Pakistani families with Achromatopsia and a Novel S4 motif mutation of CNGA3, Muhammad Arif Nadeem Saqib, Bilal Malik Awan, Mehwish Sarfaraz, Ghazanfar Ali, Muhammad Nasim Khan, Sajid Rashid, Muhammad Ansar, Jpn J Ophthalmol, 2011
Conferences
- Linking DNA Damage Response to Ferroptosis for Leukemia Stem Cell Eradication, Bilal Malik, Nunki Hassan, Jenny Y. Wang, American Society of Hematology, 2023, ASH abstract achievement award
- ILC2 cells from severe allergic and eosinophilic asthma demonstrate increased expression of TSLP receptor (TSLPR) and enhanced proliferative capacity, Bilal Malik, Nathan Bartlett, Rebecca Mckerrow, John Harrington, John.W Upham, Peter A.B Wark, European Respiratory Journal, 2021
- A comparison of Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) between severe asthma, healthy controls with atopy and non-atopic healthy controls, Malik B, McKerro R, Harrington J, Upham J, Bartlett N, Wark P, Respirology, 2021
- Comparison of blood ILC2 cell numbers, phenotypes and proliferation between atopic severe asthma participants, healthy controls with atopy and non-atopic healthy controls, Bilal Malik, Nathan Bartlett, Rebecca Mckerrow, John Harrington, John.W Upham, Peter A.B Wark, European Respiratory Journal, 2020
Google Scholar
https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?hl=en&view_op=list_works&authuser=1&gmla=ABOlHiy2hoJO8LfchnS6FEu3Q5zwmLRFEwcSd02mq5x4jel7klK1Q2i8RFb6yAaGi5LPGz2oqYYvZtoI-QQH_PW1NQE0Hg_LNlQUGGWFG7M&user=SFOYKCcAAAAJ
Orcid
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9543-7875
Awards and Prizes
- 2024, Fukuchi Award from Asian Pacific Society of Respirology
- 2024, 2nd prize for best presentation at the Royal North Shore Hospital Scientific Staff Council Research Forum, Sydney Australia
- 2023, Recipient of the Abstract Achievement Award from the American Society of Hematology at 65th Annual Meeting from 9th Dec to 12th Dec 2023, San Diego USA
- 2023, Recipient of International Travel Fellowship Award from Scientific Staff Council, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia
- 2017, PhD scholarship at the University of Newcastle, Australia
References
- Dr. Nunki Hassan, Cancer Institute NSW Research Fellow, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, nunki.hassan@sydney.edu.au, +61402083715
- Dr. Saurabh Satija, Lecturer in Medical Sciences, School of Medical, Indigenous & Health Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, saurabh_satija@uow.edu.au
Timeline
Postdoctoral Research Associate
University of Sydney
11.2022 - 12.2024
PhD
University of Newcastle, Hunter Medical Research Institute
03.2017 - 09.2022
Research Assistant
Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Universitätsklinikum Jena
05.2012 - 04.2015
Research associate
Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Center
12.2009 - 08.2011
PhD - Medicine
University of Newcastle
M.Phil - Biochemistry and Molecular biology
Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad
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