Profile

Professor El-Nasir Lalani

BSc (Hons), MBChB, PhD, FRCPath, FHEA, FRSM

Professor Emeritus, Aga Khan University

elnasir@elnasirlalani.com
LinkedIn · ORCID · Scholar

About

A biomedical scientist and pathologist — now studying and writing on artificial intelligence in medicine and the ethics of its use.

For nearly four decades I worked in biomedical science and pathology — in the laboratory, in the clinic, and in the leadership of research institutions in the United Kingdom and internationally.

In recent years I have put that experience to a different use: studying how artificial intelligence and data science are reshaping medicine and research, and writing on the ethics of using them well. I approach these fields as a student of them — the value I can add lies in judgement, ethics and research integrity, not in claiming to be a specialist in someone else's discipline.

Current focus

Since becoming Emeritus in 2022 I have kept one foot firmly in my own discipline — publishing, mentoring doctoral students and reviewing — while giving deliberate time to how artificial intelligence and data science are reshaping medicine and research. I engage these newer fields as a student of them, not a specialist: the aim is informed literacy and honest commentary, anchored in the ethics and research integrity where my experience genuinely carries over.

Continuing scholarship
Ongoing publication, doctoral mentoring and peer review in cancer and molecular pathology.
Ethics of AI in medicine
Responsible use and governance — where a background in bioethics and research integrity applies directly.
Structured study
A self-directed programme in AI and data science — including how today's systems grew out of neuroscience and the study of the brain — to stay current, not a claim to expertise.
Writing
Essays for a general readership on AI in healthcare, research integrity and medical science.

Appointments

  • 2022 — Professor Emeritus
    Aga Khan University
  • 2008 – 2022 Aga Khan University
    Global Dean of Research & Graduate Studies (2008–2016); Founding Director, AKU-CRM (2016–2022); Endowed Chair in Stem Cell Biology (2021)
  • 2005 – 2008 Robert Leith Professor & Head of Pathology
    University of Birmingham
  • 1996 – 2005 RPMS / Hammersmith / Imperial College London
    Senior Lecturer (1996); Reader (1998); Professor (2000); Deputy Head (2002)
  • 1993 MRC Clinical Scientist Fellowship
  • 1987 – 1991 ICRF / Cancer Research UK
  • 1984 – 1987 Algernon Firth Institute of Pathology
    University of Leeds

Qualifications

  • BSc (Hons), BiochemistryUniversity of Dundee
  • MBChBUniversity of Edinburgh
  • PhDUniversity College London
  • FRCPathRoyal College of Pathologists
  • FHEAHigher Education Academy
  • FRSMRoyal Society of Medicine

Research themes

Approximate distribution of some 112 peer-reviewed papers by primary theme. Many span more than one: MUC1 mucin biology — my longest-running molecular thread, shown here in coral — runs through breast, prostate, endometrial and, most recently, myeloma research.

  • Prostate cancer~26
  • Trefoil factors & GI epithelium~12
  • Stem cells & regenerative medicine~12
  • MUC1 mucin biology~9
  • Breast cancer~9
  • Reproductive & endometrial biology~8
  • Bladder & urological cancer~6
  • Haematological malignancies~4

Counts are approximate; several papers span more than one theme. A further ~25 papers cover methods, infectious disease, ovarian and colorectal cancer, developmental biology and research ethics.

Publications

  • 112peer-reviewed papers
  • 12book chapters
  • 1co-edited volume
  • 200+presentations

Recent work is listed in full below, followed by a selection of earlier career-defining papers. The complete record is on ORCID and Google Scholar.

Recent (2016–2025)

  • 2025Rajput SK, Sirigiri DNR, Minhas K, Azam I, Habib S, Shaikh U, Lalani E-N. Prognostic implications of MUC1 and XBP1 concordant expression in multiple myeloma: a retrospective study. PLoS One. 2025;20(4):e0320934. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0320934
  • 2022Dajani R, Jiwani B, Nanji A, Zoloth L, Ghaly M, İlkılıç İ, et al., Lalani E-N. Diversifying stem cell debates: including Muslim contexts and perspectives. Stem Cell Reports. 2022;17(5):1019–1022.
  • 2021Sajid A, Lalani E-N, Chen B, Hashimoto T, Griffin DK, Bhartiya A, et al. Ultra-structural imaging provides 3D organisation of 46 chromosomes of a human lymphocyte prophase nucleus. Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(11):5987.
  • 2021Mian AA, Zafar U, Ahmed SMA, Ottmann OG, Lalani E-N. Oncogene-independent resistance in Philadelphia chromosome–positive (Ph+) acute lymphoblastic leukaemia is mediated by activation of the AKT/mTOR pathway. Neoplasia. 2021;23(9):1016–1027. doi:10.1016/j.neo.2021.07.009
  • 2020Yusuf M, Farooq S, Robinson I, Lalani E-N. Cryo-nanoscale chromosome imaging — future prospects. Biophys Rev. 2020;12:1257–1263.
  • 2020Riaz N, Idress R, Habib S, Lalani E-N. Lack of androgen receptor expression selects for basal-like phenotype and is a predictor of poor clinical outcome in non-metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. Front Oncol. 2020;10:1083. doi:10.3389/fonc.2020.01083
  • 2020Barr D, Chan D, Garfinkel S, Hammatt Z, Ichikawa I, Kalichman M, Lalani E-N, et al. First meeting in Asia of the Asia Pacific Research Integrity network. Account Res. 2020;27(2):1–8.
  • 2019Rajput S, Minhas K, Azam I, Shaikh U, Hussain A, Lalani E-N. LMP1 expression in bone marrow trephines of patients with multiple myeloma confers a survival advantage. Leuk Lymphoma. 2019;60(8):1991–2001. doi:10.1080/10428194.2018.1563697
  • 2018Riaz N, Idress R, Habib S, Azam I, Lalani E-N. Expression of androgen receptor and cancer stem cell markers (CD44+/CD24− and ALDH1+): prognostic implications in invasive breast cancer. Transl Oncol. 2018;11(4):920–929. doi:10.1016/j.tranon.2018.05.002
  • 2017Siddiqui AR, Ibrahim S, Siddiqui AA, Moss P, Lalani E-N. Human cytomegalovirus: a neglected public health area of significant relevance to women, the foetus and newborn. Time for action. J Pak Med Assoc. 2017;67(6):827–829.
  • 2016Ibrahim S, Siddiqui AA, Siddiqui AR, Ahmed W, Moss PAH, Lalani E-N. Sociodemographic factors associated with IgG and IgM seroprevalence for human cytomegalovirus infection in adult populations of Pakistan: a seroprevalence survey. BMC Public Health. 2016;16(1):1112.

Selected earlier work

  • 2001Horne AW, White JO, Margara RA, Williams R, Winston RM, Lalani E-N. MUC1: a genetic susceptibility to infertility? Lancet. 2001;357(9265):1336–1337.
  • 2000Wittschieben J, Shivji MK, Lalani E-N, Jacobs MA, Marini F, Gearhart PJ, et al. Disruption of the developmentally regulated Rev3l gene causes embryonic lethality. Curr Biol. 2000;10(19):1217–1220.
  • 1997Lalani E-N, Laniado M, Abel PD. Molecular and cellular biology of prostate cancer. Cancer Metastasis Rev. 1997;16(1–2):29–66.
  • 1991Bartek J, Bartkova J, Kyprianou N, Lalani E-N, Stasková Z, Shearer M, et al. Efficient immortalisation of luminal epithelial cells from the human mammary gland by introduction of SV40 large T antigen using a recombinant retrovirus. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1991;88:3520–3524.
  • 1990Gendler SJ, Lancaster CA, Taylor-Papadimitriou J, Duhig T, Peat N, Burchell J, Pemberton L, Lalani E-N, Wilson D. Molecular cloning and expression of human tumour-associated polymorphic epithelial mucin. J Biol Chem. 1990;265(25):15286–15293.

Books & chapters

Edited volume. Abel PD, Lalani E-N, editors. Prostate Cancer: Scientific and Clinical Aspects — Bridging the Gap. London: Imperial College Press; 2003 (38 chapters; five authored). ISBN 1-86094-327-6.

Author of 12 book chapters (1993–2003) spanning cancer cell biology, cell-adhesion molecules, liver stem cells and prostate cancer — including five chapters in the volume above and contributions to Progress in Pathology 3 and 4.

Writing

I write regularly for a general readership on artificial intelligence in medicine, research integrity and medical science. New essays appear on LinkedIn; selected pieces will be featured here.

Mentoring & advisory

Over my career I supervised 23 doctoral (PhD/MD) and 18 masters researchers from 13 countries — in stem cell biology; prostate, breast and urological cancer; and molecular and cellular pathology — alongside university-wide oversight of graduate education.

Beyond those formal roles I have long served as an informal mentor and pro-bono scientific adviser, to early-career researchers and within my community. That work continues, and it is some of the most rewarding I do.

Contact

The best way to reach me is by email at elnasir@elnasirlalani.com. I am also on LinkedIn, where I write on artificial intelligence in medicine, research integrity, and medical science. My full publication record is on ORCID and Google Scholar.