Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary is a recipient of prestigious Mustafa (PBUH) Prize, Distinguish National Meritorious Professor at International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (H. E. J. Research Institute of Chemistry and Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research) and Coordinator General COMSTECH (Organization of Islamic Cooperation Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation). He is among the most prominent scientists of Pakistan, recognized for his original contributions in the fields of natural products and bioorganic chemistry. He has written and edited 90 books, most of which have been published in USA and Europe. He is also the author of over 1,193 research papers and chapters in top international science journals of the West, as well as 62 US patents. He has supervised 98 Ph. D. dissertations. This is by far the largest number of quality publications from any scientist in Pakistan. He has been among the most cited scientists of Pakistan in last five years with citations exceeding 32,300 (h-Index: 76). He is the Volume Editor of many international book series and journals. He has served as a visiting faculty in many prestigious universities of the world, including Cornell University (New York), Purdue University (Indiana), Pennsylvania State University (Pennsylvania), Scripps Institution of Oceanography (San Diego, California), The University Rhode Island (Rhode Island) and various top Universities of UK, China, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, and Iran.
Prof. Choudhary has skillfully used his deep understanding of chemical principles and biological processes in the discovery of a large number of fascinating molecules with potential therapeutic applications. More specifically his research group has discovered and studied new inhibitors of clinically important enzymes, which can be used to stop the molecular processes involve in the enzyme-related disorders. As a result, several new classes of lead molecules were introduced to the world of science along with associated understanding of their mechanism of action. The most notable contribution of Dr. Choudhary is in broad area of Bioorganic Chemistry where he used structural diversity of natural and synthetic compounds combined with biological targets to discover lead molecules with potential to be developed as effective pharmaceutical agents. Some of the internationally recognized discoveries of his research group include the discovery of novel classes of acetylcholinesterase, urease, and a-glucosidase inhibitors. His contributions to reverse bacterial resistance to antibiotics represent seminal contributions in this important field. His research group has also discovered the two most potent antiepileptic natural products (Isooxylitones A and B), patented in USA, from a local medicinal plant Delphinium denudatum, which has attracted a major attention internationally and are currently in second phase clinical trial. His work has also resulted in a number of important scientific discoveries including the discovery of plant materials with pronounced antidiabetic, antileishmanial and cholesterol-lowering activities. Many of the structurally novel compounds, discovered by his research group, were found to have interesting pharmacological profiles, and are in different stages of development.
Prof. Choudhary has won several national and international awards, such as Hilal-e-Imtiaz, Sitara-e-Imtiaz and Tamgha-e-Imtiaz by the President of Pakistan, Pakistan Academy of Sciences Gold Medal, National Book Foundation Prize on best book and the Third World Academy of Sciences Young Scientist Prize. He received the prestigious title of “Distinguished National Professor” from the Higher Education Commission in 2004 and “Meritorious Professor” by the University of Karachi 2013. He is a member and fellow of many prestigious science academies including Fellow of The Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS), Islamic World Academy of Sciences (IAS), Chemical Society of Pakistan, Royal Society of Chemistry (London) and LEAD-International. He is also the recipient of the 1st Khawarizmi International Award and Prize from the President of Islamic Republic of Iran, Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) Award in Education by the President of Azerbaijan, and COMSTECH Award in Chemistry by the Prime Minister of Pakistan.