Afrina Afrose, PhD
Associate Professor
Dr. Afrina Afrose has joined BRAC University as an Assistant Professor in July 2018, and before that, she has completed Ph.D. in 2017 from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Australia. Her candidature was assisted by QUT Postgraduate Research Award (QUTPRA) scholarship and QUT HDR Tuition Fee Sponsorship. She has worked in the Research & Development department of Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd. for about two years before her Ph.D. study. She did MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences and B. Pharm with Honours from Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh.
Address
Level: 5
Kha-224 Merul Badda
Dhaka 1212. Bangladesh
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Education
+–• PhD in Pharmaceutical sciences from Queensland University of Technology, Australia (2017).
• Master of Pharmacy from the Department of Pharmacy, Jahangirnagar University (2012).
• Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons.) from the Department of Pharmacy, Jahangirnagar University (2010). -
Publications
+–Journals
Afrose, A., White, E. T., Rashid, M. A., Howes, T., & Alhamhoom, Y. (2022). Tailoring of solubility of ibuprofen in the presence of hydrophilic excipients in water-ethanol mixtures by crystallization method. International Journal of Applied Pharmaceutics, 14(2), 102–109. https://doi.org/10.22159/ijap.2022v14i2.43871
Rahman, M. R., Majumder, T. R., Apu, M. A. I., Paul, A. K., Afrose, A., & Dash, B. K. (2022). CRISPR-based programmable nucleic acid-binding protein technology can specifically detect fatal tropical disease-causing pathogens. Journal of Tropical Medicine, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/5390685
Akter, R., Afrose, A., Sharmin, S., Rezwan, R., Rahman, R., & Neeletol, S. (2022). A comprehensive look into the association of vitamin D levels and vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism with obesity in children. Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy, 153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113285
Rahman, M. R., Hossain, M. A., Mozibullah, M., Mujib, F. A., Afrose, A., Shahed-Al-Mahmud, M., & Apu, M. A. I. (2021). CRISPR is a useful biological tool for detecting nucleic acid of SARS-CoV-2 in human clinical samples. Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy, 140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2021.111772
Akter, R., Afrose, A., Rahman, M. R., Chowdhury, R., Nirzhor, S. S. R., Khan, R. I., & Kabir, M. T. (2021). A comprehensive analysis into the therapeutic application of natural products as sirt6 modulators in alzheimer’s disease, aging, cancer, inflammation, and diabetes. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22084180
Rashidur Rahman, M., Amjad Hossain, M., Mozibullah, M., & Afrose, A. (2021). Can non-pharmaceutical interventions contain the spreading of novel coronavirus sars-cov-2 in the asia pacific countries? Asia Pacific Journal of Health Management, 16(2). https://doi.org/10.24083/APJHM.V16I2.549
Irvine, J., Afrose, A., & Islam, N. (2018). Formulation and delivery strategies of ibuprofen: Challenges and opportunities. Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy, 44(2), 173–183. https://doi.org/10.1080/03639045.2017.1391838
Afrose, A., White, E. T., Howes, T., George, G., Rashid, A., Rintoul, L., & Islam, N. (2018). Preparation of Ibuprofen microparticles by antisolvent precipitation crystallization technique: Characterization, formulation, and in vitro performance. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 107(12), 3060–3069. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xphs.2018.07.030
Momin, M. A. M., Bellah, S. F., Afrose, A., Urmi, K. F., Hamid, K., & Rana, M. S. (2012). Phytochemical screening and cytotoxicity potential of ethanolic extracts of Senna siamea leaves. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, 4(8), 1877–1879.
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Professional Activities
+–• Member of lab committee of School of Pharmacy, BRAC University, Dhaka Bangladesh.
• Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy, BRAC University, Bangladesh.
• Postgraduate research staff, School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health. Queensland University of technology, Brisbane, Australia.
• Sessional Academic Staff, Pharmacy Discipline, School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Health. Queensland University of technology, Brisbane, Australia.
• Lecturer, Department of Pharmacy, Southeast University, Bangladesh.
• Officer, Research and Development, Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Tongi, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
• Officer, R&D Project Management, Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Tongi, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
• Lecturer, Department of Pharmacy, at University of Development Alternative, Bangladesh.
• Industrial Trainee, Incepta Pharmaceutical Limited, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. -
Courses Taught
+–Pharmaceutical Technology II, Pharmaceutical Microbiology II, Cosmetology, Pathology, Physical Pharmacy I, Pharmacognosy II, Basic Anatomy.
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Conferences, Talks, and Speaking Engagements
+–- Afrina Afrose , Raushanara Akter, Sajib Paul, Pranta Saha Bapan , Anindita Das Dristi , Farzana Yeasmin , Arman Ahamed , Md. Rashidur Rahman. Can SARS-COV-2 act as a catalyst to induce Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in COVID-19 survivors in Bangladesh? International Conference on Drug Discovery and Development 2022 at Independent University, Bangladesh. Date: 19-20 September 2022.
- Sajib Paul, Fairuz Anika Zaman, Rezaul Haq sykut, Afrina Afrose. ‘Antidiabetic medication patterns of type-2 diabetic patients in Dhaka city: a cross-sectional study’. International Conference on Drug Discovery and Development 2022 at Independent University, Bangladesh.. Date: 19-20 September 2022.
- Sajib Paul, Fairuz Anika Zaman, Afrina Afrose, Rezaul Haq sykut. ‘Antidiabetic medication adherence and associated factors in Bangladeshi type-2 diabetic patients during COVID-19 pandemic’ Conference: 2nd International Conference on Genomics Nanotech & Bioengineering At: North South University, Dhaka, Bangladesh, Date 26-06-2022.
- Sajib Paul, Afrose Afrina. 'Psychological impact of online learning among private university students in Bangladesh during COVID-19 pandemic' in 'International Conference on Business and Management (ICBM), 2021' organized by BRAC Business School focusing on “Fostering Sustainable and Equitable Global Development: Building on 50 Years of Independence of Bangladesh and Overcoming Challenges of COVID-19” held on December 04 and 05 (Saturday and Sunday), 2021.
- Afrose, A; White, ET.; Howes, T; George, G; Rashid, A; & Islam, N (2015). “Solubility of ibuprofen in aqueous ethanol at low ethanol contents”. In Asia Pacific Confederation of Chemical Engineering Congress 2015 (APCChE 2015) incorporating CHEMECA 2015, Engineers Australia, Melbourne, Victoria; paper # 3126423.
- Afrose, A; White, ET.; Howes, T; George, G; Rashid, A; & Islam, N (2013). “Investigation of crystallization approaches to produce fine Ibuprofen crystals for Dry Powder Inhaler (DPI) formulation”. IHBI inspires' 2013 postgraduate student conference, 28th - 29th November 2013, Royal in the Park hotel, Brisbane, Australia.
- Afrose, A; White, ET.; Howes, T; George, G; Rashid, A; & Islam, N (2014). “Solubility studies of ibuprofen in aqueous ethanol co-solvents at high water content”. Australian Pharmaceutical Science Association (APSA) Annual Conference, December 5-7, 2014, Brisbane, Australia.
- Afrose, A; White, ET.; Howes, T; George, G; Rashid, A; & Islam, N (2015) “Effect of HPMC and Pluronic F127 on ibuprofen solubility in aqueous ethanol solvents”. 2015 AAPS Annual Meeting and Exposition, October 25-29, 2015, Orlando, Florida, USA.
- Afrose, A; White, ET.; Howes, T; George, G; Rashid, A; & Islam, N (2014). “Precipitation crystallization technique for producing free flowing fine ibuprofen crystals (<5µm) to develop efficient Dry Powder Inhaler (DPI) formulation”. IHBI Inspires Postgraduate Conference, November 23-24, 2014, Gold Coast, Australia.
- Afrina Afrose , Raushanara Akter, Sajib Paul, Pranta Saha Bapan , Anindita Das Dristi , Farzana Yeasmin , Arman Ahamed , Md. Rashidur Rahman. Can SARS-COV-2 act as a catalyst to induce Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in COVID-19 survivors in Bangladesh? International Conference on Drug Discovery and Development 2022 at Independent University, Bangladesh. Date: 19-20 September 2022.
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Awards, Honors
+–• BRACU Research Grant Recipient as co-principal investigator of the project entitled 'Association of Vitamin D level and Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism with obesity in Bangladeshi school going children: A case-control study', (December 2020- June 2022).
• Queensland University of Technology Write-up Scholarship (QWU), Queensland University of Technology, (September 2016- November 2016).
• Queensland University of Technology Research Scholarship (QUTPRA), Queensland University of Technology, (February 2013- September 2016).
• QUT tuition fees waiver. Queensland University of Technology (February 2013- September 2016).
• Grant in Aid (GIA) Travel Grant. Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, (2015).
• Government General Scholarship by Jahangirnagar University for outstanding academic achievement for ranking fourth in Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) examination, (2009).
• Jahangirnagar University Complementary scholarship in all four years of undergraduate study, (2005-2008).
• Dhaka Board Scholarship for the outstanding result in H.S.C. (Higher-Secondary School Certificate) Examination, (2004).
• Dhaka Board Scholarship for the outstanding result in S.S.C. (Secondary School Certificate) Examination, (2002).Research
• BRACU Research Seed Grant Awarded project: 'Association of Vitamin D level and Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism with obesity in Bangladeshi school going children: A case-control study', (December 2020- June 2022) worked as co-principal investigator of the project.
Significance: This study is a pioneering investigation demonstrating the association of vitamin D levels and VDR gene polymorphism with childhood obesity in Bangladeshi School going children. In this study, obese children showed significantly lower levels of vitamin D in comparison with the children of three other BMI groups. Sunlight exposure during the daytime, for around one hour may help to increase vitamin D levels in the body. Polymorphism, the variations in DNA sequence, have an important role in the function of vitamin D receptors. Allelic comparison of four polymorphic sites of VDR illustrated that Fok-I (f), Apa-I (a), TaqI (t) and BsmI (b) recessive alleles were different in obese children, however, a significant difference was observed in BsmI allele (BB, Bb) (p=0.02). In conclusion, our findings indicate that variants in VDR BsmI and ApaI are associated with markers of adiposity.• QUTPRA funded research for Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Technology, – ‘Crystallization Engineering techniques for developing a novel dry powder inhaler (DPI) formulation for ibuprofen’.
Significance: The techniques of producing respirable size (< 5 μm) particles for dry powder inhaler (DPI) formulations mostly involve crystallization followed by high energy input size reduction systems like milling and homogenization. Particles produced in such processes have a very high surface energy and poor flow property which restricts the efficient dispersal of the DPI in to the deep lungs. This investigation has used an anti-solvent precipitation crystallization (APC) method of producing fine (< 5 μm) ibuprofen (IBP) crystals for pulmonary delivery from DPI formulation with very low dose.
Research project involved collaboration with the School of Chemical Engineering, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.Professional development trainings
- Completed Certification in Higher Education Teaching & Learning (CHETL) Offered by Professional Development Center, BRAC University.
- Participated and completed six months long “Teaching Advantage” program on preparing future academics held at Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia from February to July 2015.
- Participated in Two days long workshop training on Analytical Method Development by Dr. Ravi Jain,CRAMS technologies,Faridabad, India; held at Beximco Pharma Ltd, Tongi, Dhaka, Bangladesh from 8 - 9th April 2012.
- Participated in Two days long workshop on Bioequivalence Study by Dr. Ashish Dashgupta, India; held at Beximco Pharma Ltd, Tongi, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
- In-house training on Microsoft Office Project.
- Participated in Project Management Fundamentals LiveClicks webinar workshop.
- In house training on The seven habits of highly effective people by Frankline Covey.
- Completed Certification in Higher Education Teaching & Learning (CHETL) Offered by Professional Development Center, BRAC University.
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Membership
+–- Australian Pharmaceutical Science Association (APSA).
- American Association Pharmaceutical Scientist (AAPS).
- Institute of health and biomedical innovations (IHBI).
- QUT Bangladeshi Association (QUTBA).
- Bangladesh Pharmacy Council (BPC).
- Australian Pharmaceutical Science Association (APSA).
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Research Areas/Interests
+–Pharmaceutical Technology, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Immunology.