Dr Maziar Ashrafian Bonab

About

Dr Maziar Ashrafian Bonab completed his medical education at the Tehran University of Medical Sciences (Tehran, Iran; graduated in 1992) and obtained his postgraduate diploma in Forensic Medicine & Toxicology from the Legal Medical Organisation of Iran in 1993. After completing a Master’s degree (MSc in Archaeology) at the UMIST (Manchester, 2003), Dr Bonab gained his PhD in Human Molecular & Medical Genetics from the University of Cambridge (Cambridge, UK) in 2007).

Research interests

Dr Bonab is an active researcher in the field of "Human Molecular & Medical Genetics”, particularly in the biology of cancer and the detection of cancer biomarkers which are produced by the body or tumour in a person with cancer. Testing for these biological molecules (DNA, RNA, protein or metabolomic profiles that are specific to the tumour) helps us to characterise alterations in the tumour and early diagnosis of cancers. His main research interests also include: 1. Understanding how the genetic variants contribute to disease. 2. Investigation of the genetic susceptibility to common and complex human diseases and cancer. 3. Localisation and identification of disease-causing genetic variants in the human genome. 4. Developing new methods to address questions regarding the genetic basis of various disorders including cancers. 5. Investigation of the genetic variations in the connexin genes that lead to various human disorders, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, congenital disorders, and secondary lymphedema. 6. Investigation of ancient DNA (extracted from humans, animals, or plant specimens that have died decades, hundreds, or sometimes thousands of years ago) to reconstruct the origins, evolution, and spread of human populations in the past. 7. Human evolutionary genomics/genetics and the origin and spread of modern humans across the world.

Teaching

Dr. Bonab has over 20 years’ experience in teaching medical and biological sciences subjects as follows: Human Anatomy and Physiology, Medical and Forensic Genetics, Pathology, Forensic Pathology, Pathophysiology of Disorders, Microbiology and Infectious Disorders, Medical and Biological Anthropology, Forensic Biology, Haematology, Immunology, Neurobiology and Neuromuscular Disorders.

Professional

1. Bakhtiari-Nezhad, S.; Rejali, L; Hadizadeh, M.; ........; Ashrafian Bonab, M. (2022) Up Regulation of Long Non-Coding RNA BACE1 & Down Regulation of LINC-PINT Are Associated with CRC Clinicopathological Characteristics. Molecular Biology Reports (Accepted)

2. Hosseini, S.; Rejali, L.; Pezeshkian, Z.; ........; Ashrafian Bonab, M. (2022) Oncogenic Role of Connective Tissue Growth Factor Is Associated with Canonical TGF-β Cascade in Colorectal Cancer. Genes, 13, 689. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes13040689.

3. Sadri, S.; Rejali, L.; Hadizadeh, M.; ......... Ashrafian Bonab, M. (2022) ANRIL as a prognostic biomarker in colon pre-cancerous lesion detection via non-invasive sampling. Genes Genet Syst. 96(6):285-292. doi: 10.1266/ggs.21-00102. PMID: 35296566.

4. Pezeshkian, Z.; Nobili, S.; Peyravian, N.; ..........; Ashrafian Bonab, M.; Nazemalhosseini-Mojarad, E.; (2021) Mini, E. Insights into the Role of Matrix Metalloproteinases in Precancerous Conditions and in Colorectal Cancer. Cancers, 13, 6226. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers13246226.

5. Ameli Mojarad, M.; Ameli Mojarad, ME.; Hadizadeh, M.; ..........; Ashrafan Bonab, M. (2021) The effective function of circular RNA in colorectal cancer. Cancer Cell International, 21, 496.

6. Savabkar, S.; Zali, N.; Hadizadeh, M.; .........; Ashrafian Bonab, M.; Rezvani, H.; Shalileh, F.; Nazemalhosseini Mojarad, E. (2020) Lack of association between VEGF -2578C/A polymorphism and risk of colorectal cancer in an Iranian population. Gastroenterology and Hepatology from Bed to Bench, 13 (S48). ISSN 2008-2258.

7. Rezasoltani, S; Hadizadeh, M.; Golmohammadi, M.; .........; Ashrafian Bonab, Maziar (2020) APC and AXIN2 Are Promising Biomarker Candidates for the Early Detection of Adenomas and Hyperplastic Polyps. Cancer Informatics, 19. pp. 1-8. ISSN 1176-9351.

8. Kashani, E.; Hadizadeh, M.; Chaleshi, V.; .........; Ashrafian Bonab, M. (2019) The Differential DNA Hypermethylation Patterns of microRNA-137 and microRNA-342 Locus in Early Colorectal Lesions and Tumours. Biomolecules 9, 519. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom9100519.

9. Peyravian, N.; Larki, P.; Gharib, E; .........; Ashrafian Bonab, M.; Asadzadeh Aghdaei, H.; and Zali, M.R. (2018) The Application of Gene Expression Profiling in Predictions of Occult Lymph Node Metastasis in Colorectal Cancer Patients. Biomedicines, 6 (27). ISSN 2227-9059.

10 Hadizadeh, M.; Mohaddes Ardebili, S.M.; Salehi, M.; .........; Ashrafian Bonab, M. (2018) GJA4/Connexin 37 Mutations Correlate with Secondary Lymphedema Following Surgery in Breast Cancer Patients. Biomedicines, 6, 23. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines6010023.

11. Platt, D.E.; Haber, M.; Dagher-Kharrat, M.B.; ........; Ashrafian Bonab, M. et al. (2017) Mapping Post-Glacial expansions: The Peopling of Southwest Asia. Scientific Reports, 7 (1). ISSN 2045-2322.

12. Zouganelis, G.D.; Ogden, R.; Nahar, N.; Runfola, V.; Ashrafian Bonab, M.; et al., (2014) An old dog and new tricks: Genetic analysis of a Tudor dog recovered from the Mary Rose wreck. Forensic Science International, 245. pp. 51-57. ISSN 0379-0738

13. Kayser, M.; Haber, M.; Platt, D.E.; Ashrafian Bonab, M.; et al. (2012) Afghanistan's Ethnic Groups Share a Y-Chromosomal Heritage Structured by Historical Events. PLoS ONE, 7 (3). e34288. ISSN 1932-6203.

14. Haber, M.; Platt, D.E.; Badro, D.A.; Xue, Yali, El-Sibai, M,; Ashrafian Bonab, M.; et al. (2011) Influences of history, geography, and religion on genetic structure: the Maronites in Lebanon. European Journal of Human Genetics, 19 (3). pp. 334-340. ISSN 1018-4813

15. Hiby, S.E.; Ashrafian Bonab, M.; Farrell, L.; et al. (2010) Distribution of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) and their HLA-C ligands in two Iranian populations. Immunogenetics, 62 (2). pp. 65-73. ISSN 0093-7711.