The year in review
Major
achievements.
Genome-edited crops, stem cell therapeutics, commercial licences and international funding — what CEMB delivered across research, industry and academia in 2025.
67
Research articles published
Cumulative impact factor 146.364
56
Degrees awarded
46 MPhil and 10 PhD scholars
25
Scientific events organised
Conferences, symposia and workshops
55
Students hosted on internships
From institutions across Pakistan
Research funding
PKR 1.16bn secured and delivered across ongoing and completed projects
Backed by the European Foundation, IsDB, WHO, UGC Nepal and Türkiye Industrial
International, ongoing
PKR 97.6m
- European Foundation€125,000
- Islamic Development BankPKR 38.36 million
- UGC NepalPKR 16,500,000
- WHO project (AP24-01787)PKR 2.5 million
- Türkiye IndustrialUSD 25,000
National, ongoing
PKR 57.9m
- HEC projects2 ongoing
- TDF projects4 ongoing
- PSDP-PAS projects3 ongoing
- NSLP1 ongoing
Completed in 2025
PKR 999.6m
- University of the Punjab projects27 completed in 2025
- HEC2 completed
- NIH1 completed
- NSLP1 completed
2
Patents awarded
10
Patents submitted
10
MoUs signed
9
Agreements concluded
Research and development
Discoveries from the bench
- Developed drought- and salt-tolerant cotton lines through precise genome editing of the PQT3 gene.
- Developed fungus-resistant potato lines by targeted editing of the LOV1 and AOS2 genes using transgene-free genome editing.
- Analysed the expression of Infectious Bursal Disease Virus (IBDV) VP2 epitopes, evaluating their immunogenic potential for vaccine applications.
- Developed local transgenic cotton containing the lipid transfer protein (LTP) gene.
- Showed that hesperidin and ferulic acid significantly enhance stem-cell-mediated burn wound healing.
- Showed that naringenin enhances stem-cell-mediated treatment of liver fibrosis.
- Demonstrated that chitosan umbilical-cord-derived hydrogels promote cartilage repair.
- Showed that alpha lipoic acid enhances stem-cell-mediated Achilles tendon repair.
- Advanced ongoing clinical trials of stem cells for diabetic foot ulcers and ocular disease with multiple hospital partners.
- Awarded a DRAP licence for biosimilar production for research and development.
- Developed a rapid DNA ligation kit.
- Completed pharmacological evaluation of three medicinal plants against liver cancer using in vitro, in vivo and in silico approaches.
- Discovered novel indigenous bacteriophages with potential to combat multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.
- Found that Psidium guajava (guava) leaf extract shows anti-breast-cancer activity by regulating AKT/FOXO3 and MAPK cross-talk and related miRNAs.
- Showed quercetin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles kill HepG2 liver cancer cells comparably to doxorubicin.
- Demonstrated CEM-ALGATECH-1 achieving 90% larval mortality of Aedes aegypti under simulated and semi-field conditions.
- Achieved halal production of Bos taurus and Capra hircus chymosin in C. reinhardtii without acid activation.
- Developed prediction models for human age estimation based on CpG sites for forensic use.
Commercialisation & industry
Research reaching the market
- Three-gene cotton variety CEMB-AAS3 approved by the Punjab Seed Council for general cultivation.
- Established commercial facilities for DNA testing, bird sexing and Qubit quantification of DNA, RNA and proteins.
- Provided DNA fingerprinting, GMO detection and transgene development services to public and private stakeholders.
- Provided commercial tissue processing and stem cell testing services to clinics.
- Provided laboratory animal services.
- Identified lncRNA expression levels as non-invasive biomarkers predicting response to direct-acting antiviral therapy.
Innovation & awards
Recognition earned in 2025
- HEC Best Researcher Award won by Prof. Dr. Abdul Qayyum Rao.
- First prize (PKR 0.5 million) at PINTECH Expo 2025 and the 10th Invention to Innovation Summit for the Next Generation Oral Edible Vaccine.
- Runner-up prize (PKR 0.3 million) at PINTECH Expo 2025 and the 10th Invention to Innovation Summit for Stem Cell Therapeutics and Regenerative Medicine in the Science category.
- Best New Initiative Award 2025 for Breast Cancer Genetic Screening, with Pink Ribbon, from HEC-NAHE.
Academia
Teaching and scholarship
- Degrees awarded to 46 MPhil and 10 PhD scholars.
- Published 67 research articles with a cumulative impact factor of 146.364.
- Contributed 4 book chapters.
- Organised 25 scientific events, with faculty and student participation in national and international conferences, symposia and workshops.
- Hosted 55 students from institutions across Pakistan for internships at CEMB.