Iman received his PhD in 2011 from the University of New South Wales, Sydney. He then joined The University of Queensland (UQ) as a postdoctoral fellow. During his time at UQ (2011-2017), he worked on multiple projects of both basic science and industry natures. He extensively researched on cancer hypoxia, metastatic-associated processes, EMT, tumour microenvironment, calcium signalling, and development of high-throughput screening assays. In 2018, Iman joined the University of Tasmania as a Lecturer in Pharmaceutical Science, and to establish his independent research group within the College of Health and Medicine. His research during this time was supported by funds from Cancer Council Tasmania, Brain Foundation, Kids’ Cancer Project, and Research Enhancement Program. Iman joined Monash University in 2023 as a Senior Lecture and Research Group Head at the Pharmacology Department of Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute.

Iman has held/is holding several leadership positions. These include: Chair of Institutional Biosafety Committee of Novotech CRO, Chair of HDR thesis Examiners, Research Integrity Advisor, Course Advisory Committee member, Research Committee member, University Institutional Biosafety Committee member, Academic Coordinator, and journal Guest Editorial roles for Cancers, Genes, and Frontiers if Pharmacology. In addition, he has been grant reviewer for multiple national/international agencies including NHMRC, UK Medical Research Council, Cancer Research Trust New Zeeland, and UK Breast Cancer Now, and Hong Kong Innovation and Technology.

Current projects:

 1. Identification of new therapeutic targets to control invasive behaviours of brain cancers.

Brain cancers are notoriously aggressive, and current treatments are often ineffective at preventing disease progression. This research scheme focuses on identifying new therapeutic targets to control the invasive behaviours of brain cancers. Using various experimental approaches, my team and I investigate the mechanisms behind the progression of brain cancers and aim to identify novel therapeutic targets that could potentially prevent or slow the spread of the disease. By elucidating the signalling pathways involved in cancer invasion, we hope to develop more effective treatments that can improve the outcomes of patients with brain cancer. Our recent research has been on medulloblastoma, the most common malignant childhood brain tumour. Some of our recent papers in this field can be founds here:

1)      Maklad A, Sedeeq M, Wilson R, Heath JA, Gueven N, Azimi I. LIN28 expression and function in medulloblastoma. Journal of Cellular Physiology. 2023;238(3):533-548.

2)      Sedeeq M, Maklad A, Dutta T, Feng Z, Wilson R, Gueven N, Azimi I. T-Type Calcium Channel Inhibitors Induce Apoptosis in Medulloblastoma Cells Associated with Altered Metabolic Activity. Molecular Neurobiology. 2022;59(5):2932-2945.

3)      Sedeeq M, Maklad A, Gueven N, Azimi I. Development of a High-throughput Agar Colony Formation Assay to Identify Drug Candidates against Medulloblastoma. Pharmaceuticals. 2020;13(11):368.

4)      Maklad A, Sedeeq M, Milevskiy MJG, Azimi I. Calcium Signalling in Medulloblastoma: An In Silico Analysis of the Expression of Calcium Regulating Genes in Patient Samples. Genes. 2021;12(9):1329.

2. Understanding the biology of cellular aging and identification of novel approaches to control it

Cellular aging is a complex biological process involving a gradual decline in cellular function and increased vulnerability to disease. It is associated with a range of age-related disorders, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegeneration. Despite extensive research, many aspects of cellular aging and its underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. We aim to uncover the molecular mechanisms that drive cellular ageing and identify key pathways that could be targeted for intervention. To achieve this, we use a variety of experimental techniques, including cell culture, microscopic analysis, RNA/protein analysis, proteomics and pharmacological/genetic manipulations. We work with natural ageing models, as well as accelerated ageing models that we have developed in the lab.

3. Exploring roles of calcium signalling pathways in physiological and pathological processes

Calcium (Ca²⁺) is a secondary messenger involved in a variety of cellular processes, including cell growth, apoptosis, differentiation, metabolism, muscle contraction, neuronal plasticity and gene transcription. However, when Ca²⁺ signalling pathways become dysregulated, they can contribute to the development of a range of diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders, and cancer. In our group, we specifically explore the role of calcium signalling in cancer and cellular ageing (senescence). We are examining how calcium signals are generated, regulated, and decoded in different cell types and tissues, and how changes in these pathways contribute to development of cancer and ageing.

Our ultimate goal is to identify new therapeutic targets that could be used to treat diseases associated with dysregulated calcium signalling. By deepening our understanding of the roles of calcium signalling pathways, we hope to develop new strategies to prevent and treat a range of diseases, ultimately improving human health and quality of life.

4. Development of novel assays for high-throughput drug screening

Drug discovery is a complex and time-consuming process that requires the screening of large numbers of compounds for their ability to modulate specific targets or pathways. To accelerate this process, we are developing new assays that can rapidly and efficiently screen large number of compounds. By developing more efficient and reliable assays for high-throughput drug screening, we hope to accelerate the discovery of new therapies. We aim to develop cellular assays that are biologically relevant, high-throughput, accurate, easy to operate, and cost-effective. We have developed/are developing such assays in both cancer and cellular ageing areas.

Techniques/expertise:

·         Cell culture

·         Fluorescent microscopy

·         Calcium signalling assays

·         Mitochondria function assays

·         Toxicity assays

·         Lipid metabolism assay

·         Reactive oxygen species measurements

·         Molecular biology

·         High Content Imaging

·         High-throughput screening

·         Gene manipulation

·         Assay development

·         Drug repurposing

·         Immunoblotting

·         qPCR

Disease models:

·         Brain cancer

·         Breast cancer

·         Natural ageing

·         Accelerated ageing