Prof. Gulfaraz Khan

Dr Gulfaraz Khan is Professor of Viral Pathology in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology at the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, UAE University. He received his undergraduate and postgraduate training in London (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and St Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical College).

He did his postdoctoral training in the Laboratory of the late Prof David Thorley-Lawson at Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, followed by senior postdoctoral fellowship in the Laboratory of Prof Ruth Jarrett at LRF Virus Centre, University of Glasgow, UK.

He is Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists (UK) and has held faculty positions in universities in UK before moving to his current post in UAE. Dr Khan also has qualifications in global public health from Oslo. Dr Khan’s primary research interests are in viral pathology and infectious diseases, particularly on the biology of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and its associated diseases. He was one of the first to develop a highly sensitive method for the detection of EBV in histological tissues. A kit based on this method is now commercially available.

Over the last 10 years or so, his lab has been working on addressing pivotal questions on the biology of EBV and its associated diseases such as multiple sclerosis using a novel rabbit model of EBV infection they have established. Dr Khan’s secondary interest is in emerging viral infections and public health. He has published 1 book (2024), 10 book chapters and over 120 peer reviewed articles. His google scholar statistics (as of May 2024) are: H-index: 53; i-10 index: 95; citation: >53,000. Dr Khan is a very passionate teacher and is actively involved in teaching, mentoring and training undergraduate and post graduate students.

His recent PhD graduates have been successfully recruited by leading universities around the world, including Harvard Medical School, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Ohio State University College of Medicine. In recognition of his teaching, research and community services, Dr Khan has received a number of awards, including the College of Medicine and Health Sciences Teaching Award on two separate occasions (2013 & 2017), College of Medicine Research Award (2017), University Award for Excellence in Scholarship (2017), Outstanding Service Award During COVID-19 (2020) and Abu Dhabi Public Health Center Award for being Core Member of Abu Dhabi Research Committee of COVID-19 (2022).

In 2017, Dr Khan was a nominee for the UAE Prime Minister’s Medal for Scientific Excellence, and is an elected member of the UAE Mohammad bin Rashid Academy of Scientists. For the last 3 consecutive years (2021-2023), he has been included in Stanford’s List of Top 2% Scientists in the World. Dr Khan serves on various national and international committees, including, UAE National Immunization Technical Advisory Group, Sheikh Hamdan Scientific Awards Committee, and the Scientific Committee of Emirates Society for Clinical Microbiology.

At the international level, he is member of the US NIH-NIAID MENA Regional Advisory Board, World Society of Virology Membership Committee, Associate Editor of Virology Journal and Editorial Board member of several journals.