El-Nasir Lalani BSc (Hons), MBChB,

PhD, FRCPath, FHEA

(Director, Trustee and Chairman of PMI)

Professor El-Nasir Lalani is the Dean of Research and Graduate Studies at The Aga Khan University where he is responsible for developing, leading and overseeing the University's thematic research and graduate programmes across campuses in Karachi, Nairobi, Dar-es-Salaam, Kampala and London, whilst promoting the highest standards for scholarship, academic achievement, and professional integrity in research.

Professor Lalani joined Aga Khan University, as it's first Dean of Research and Graduate Studies, on July 1, 2008. He has a cross appointment at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi Department of Pathology and Microbiology as Professor of Molecular and Cellular Pathology. Prior to his current appointment he was the Robert Leith Professor of Pathology, Head, Department of Pathology at the University of Birmingham and Honorary Consultant Histopathologist at the University Hospital Birmingham’s NHS Trust. He moved from Imperial College London to Birmingham in July 2005 where he was Professor of Molecular and Cellular Pathology. He co-founded the PMI charity with Mr Paul Abel – a long held ambition.

Professor Lalani continues to direct the Prostate Biology Group (PBG originally established at Imperial College, London), at the Aga Khan University. His team also works on stem and epithelial/mesenchymal biology and molecular diagnostics. The PBG’s research activities are focused on basic and translational research to bridge the gap between the bench and the bedside. The major themes of the group are to: a. Identify how tumours spread beyond the prostate; b. Identify how prostate cancers become resistant to known treatments (evolve from androgen sensitive to an insensitive state); c. Identify new diagnostic and prognostic markers of prostate cancer and d. Develop new therapies to combat metastatic prostate cancer. Professor Lalani has published over 100 peer reviewed papers and contributed chapters in several books. He has co-edited and contributed chapters to a primary textbook on prostate cancer, ‘Prostate Cancer: Clinical and Scientific Aspects: Bridging the Gap'. Professor Lalani has served as member of the Department of Health (UK) Human Tissue Authority and various research ethics committees (local, national and international). He is on the editorial board of several international journals.