Mashaal Nageen

Title: Lowering the Cost of Healthcare: Analysis of Gastrointestinal Microbiome

Summary: A microbiome is a community of microorganisms coexisting within a specific habitat. These microorganisms can influence each other's growth either positively or negatively and their population dynamics can be modelled using mathematics. Traditionally, the study of such mathematical models involves simulations and statistical methods. However, recent developments have revealed that advanced algebraic topics can unveil hidden insights into population dynamics that may not be apparent through finite simulations. This research project aims to explore the practicality of these new advanced algebraic methods in the context of microbiome investigations related to gastric ulcers. The critical role Helicobacter pylori, in the development of gastritis, ulcers, and cancer is well-established. However, the intricate interactions between Helicobacter pylori and the gastric microbiota remain poorly understood. There are challenges in understanding microbial interactions within microbiomes, particularly when dealing with the relative abundance of data. This study seeks to assess the utility of the algebraic methods in revealing insights into the dynamics of the gastric microbiome, offering insights that can potentially inform enhanced diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.

Supervisors: 

1. Dr. AmirHosein Sadeghimanesh (Coventry University)
2. Prof. Matthew England (Coventry University) 

Mashaal Nageen is a biomedical scientist with a keen interest in microbiome research and healthcare innovation. She is currently pursuing a Master by Research at Coventry University, UK, where her work focuses on applying advanced mathematical modeling techniques to study gut microbiota and its role in gastric diseases, particularly Helicobacter pylori infections. Her research aims to enhance diagnostics and therapeutic approaches by uncovering microbial interaction dynamics. Her Master by Research is fully Funded by British Council Scholarship for Women in STEM.

Mashaal earned her Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences from Pak-Austria Fachhochschule: Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology (PAF-IAST), Pakistan. Her final year project involved the characterization of bioactive compounds from Periplaneta americana to combat antibiotic resistance. 

Internships

Chattha BioCare, NSTP, NUST, Pakistan – Research Intern, July 2023 – September 2023
Welmed Pharmaceutical Industries, Pakistan – Research Intern, July 2022 – August 2022
Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, Pakistan– Clinical Intern, July 2021 – September 2021