Ms. Nida Kanwal is a dedicated researcher currently serving as a Research Assistant in Virology at the National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS), Rawalpindi, Pakistan. She holds a Master’s degree in Microbiology and Immunology from NUMS and a BS (Hons) in Doctor of Medical Laboratory Sciences (2016–2020) from the University of Lahore, Islamabad Campus. Her research focuses primarily on molecular virology, with expertise in RNA and DNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, qPCR, and molecular characterization of viral genes. Dr. Kanwal has contributed to several national and international conferences, including the ANSO-PAS-MAAP Conference on Pandemic Preparedness and the International Conference on Traditional Medicine. She has co-authored a publication titled “Hantavirus: an overview and advancements in therapeutic approaches for infection” in Frontiers in Microbiology and is currently working on a study involving the identification and molecular characterization of Dengue virus NS1 and NS2 genes from recent outbreaks in Pakistan. Throughout her academic and professional journey, she has received recognition for her active participation in scientific workshops and poster presentations, including campaigns on dengue awareness and biosafety. Her interests lie in infectious disease research, emerging viral pathogens, and molecular diagnostics. Dr. Kanwal continues to expand her expertise through collaborative research and scientific contributions, aspiring to play a key role in advancing global health and virology. She has 20 citations from 3 publications with an H-index of 2.
Publications
1. Afzal, S., Ali, L., Batool, A., Afzal, M., Kanwal, N., Hassan, M., Safdar, M., Ahmad, A., & Yang, J. (2023). Hantavirus: An overview and advancements in therapeutic approaches for infection. Frontiers in Microbiology.
2. Afzal, S., Ali, L., Batool, A., Kanwal, N., Hassan, M., Safdar, M., Ahmad, A., & Yang, J. (In process). Identification and molecular characterization of NS1 and NS2 genes of dengue virus from two mini outbreaks (2022–2023) in Pakistan.
3. Afzal, S. (In preparation). Molecular and structural insights into dengue virus non-structural proteins from Pakistani clinical isolates for the identification of novel antiviral targets.