Biography

Dr. Sehar Iqbal is serving as an Assistant Professor at College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University of Science and Technology, UAE since September 2022. Previously, she served as a Head of Nutrition and Dietetics Department/Associate Professor at the National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS), Pakistan for almost 2 years. Achieving the Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan’s prestigious scholarship, she accomplished her PHD degree in Medical Sciences with specialization in Public Health and Nutrition from Medical University of Vienna, Austria. 

Professionally, Dr. Iqbal has an eminent experience of teaching and administration being an Assistant Professor at Al Ain University UAE and Head of Nutrition and Dietetics Department/Associate Professor at the NUMS, Pakistan. Earlier, she has served more than eight years as a Public Health and Nutrition Specialist in the Department of Health, Pakistan. 

Regarding her teaching experience, she has taught several courses such as “Fundamentals of Nutrition”, “Inborn Errors of Metabolism in Nutrition”, “Sports Nutrition”, “Menu Planning”, “Community Nutrition”, “Communication in Nutrition”, “Ethics in healthcare”, and “Health Promotion for Dietician” since 2021.  In concomitant, she has served as a supervisor for community nutrition and clinical training for undergraduate students at Al Ain University, UAE. Also, she worked on multiple projects to create community awareness regarding healthy food choices, balanced diet and lifestyle focusing on school going children.  

Academically, Dr. Iqbal has published more than 25 research articles, systematic and literature reviews in the top recognized peer-reviewed international journals.Furthermore, she has published few opinion articles in the renowned English newspaper of Pakistan.  

Enhancing her understanding of public health and nutritional interventions to prevent and manage major global health issues, including malnutrition. She enthusiastically and strongly believes in commitment and hard work to reduce the global burden of diseases and to improve future generations' health by focusing on nutritional science. Her teaching and research expertise concerning public health enable her to imagine and implement a holistic approach to effectively dealing with socio-cultural and political determinants of public health, including nutrition. Additionally, she is passionate about conducting further research projects to meet future public health and nutrition challenges in UAE.

Education

• PhD Public Health and Nutrition (Medical University Vienna, Austria)
• M.Phill Food and Nutrition
• MSc Food and Nutrition
• Bsc Nutrition

Research Interests

• Malnutrition
• Food Insecurity
• Maternal and Child Health 
• Vaccination
• Community Health
• Communicable and Non-cimmunicable diseases
• Infectious Diseases

 

Selected Publications

1. Sehar Iqbal, Waqas Ahmed, Saira Zafar, Umer Farooq, Jaweria Abid, Hassan Bin Usman Shah, Sajeela Akram, Madiha Ghazanfar and Abdul Momin Rizwan Ahmad. Effect of inulin, galacto oligosaccharides and iron fortification on iron deficiency anemia among women of reproductive age; a randomized controlled trial. 2022. Front. Nutr. 9:1028956. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1028956.
2. Sehar Iqbal, Abid J, Akram S, Shah HBU, Farooq U, Ahmad AMR. Zinc status or supplementation and its relation to soil-transmitted helminthiasis in children: A systematic review. Parasite Immunol. 2023;e13015. doi:10.1111/pim.13015
3. Al-Dabbas, M.M.; Moumneh, M.; Hamad, H.J.; Abughoush, M.; Abuawad, B.; AlNawasrah, B.A.; Al-Jaloudi, R. and Sehar Iqbal. Impact of Processing and Preservation Methods and Storage on Total Phenolics, Flavonoids, and Antioxidant Activities of Okra. Foods 2023, 12,3711.https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12193711  
4. Maghaydah, S.; Abu-Ghoush, M.; Hayajneh, W. and Sehar Iqbal. Development and Characterization of High-Fiber, Gluten-Free Pasta for Celiac Disease Patients. Appl. Sci. 2024, 14, 3779. https://doi.org/10.3390/app14093779.
5. Sehar Iqbal and Inayat Ali. Dietary Trace Elements Intake and Risk of Breast Cancer: A Mini Review. Biological Trace Element Research (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-02103089-z 
6. Sehar Iqbal, Anosh Intikhab, Saira Zafar, Sajeela Akram, Umar Farooq, Juweria Abid, Zehra Parveen, Abdul Momin Rizwan Ahmad. A Systematic Review of Human Trials on Mycoprotein - Way towards a Sustainable Ecosystem. Molecular Biology, December 2022. http://dx.doi.org/10.14715/cmb/2022.68.12.2
7. Sehar Iqbal and Inayat Ali. Maternal Pesticide Exposure and its Relation to Childhood Cancer: An Umbrella Review of Meta-analyses. International Journal of Environmental Health Research. 2021. DOI:10.1080/09603123.2021.1900550
8. Sehar Iqbal and Inayat Ali. COVID-19 Vaccination: Concerns about its accessibility, affordability, and acceptability. Frontiers in Medicine. 2021. 8: 647294.
9. Sehar Iqbal and Inayat Ali. Effect of Maternal Zinc Supplementation or Zinc Status on Pregnancy Complications and Perinatal Outcomes: An Umbrella Review of Metaanalyses. Heliyon. 7(2021) e07540.
10. Sehar Iqbal and Inayat Ali. Maternal Food Insecurity in Low-income Countries:Revisiting its Causes and Consequences for Maternal and Neonatal Health. Journal of Agriculture      and      Food    Research,        2020,   3(2021),          100091. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666154320300727. 
11. Sehar Iqbal, Inayat Ali, Petra Rust, Michael Kundi and Cem Ekmekcioglu. Selenium, Zinc, and Manganese Status in Pregnant Women and Its Relation to Maternal and Child Complications. Nutrients 2020, 12,725; doi:10.3390/nu12030725. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/3/725/pdf

Professional Experience

Academic experience

• Assistant Professor since September 2022 to present date (2 years).

• Associate Professor/HoD at National University of Medical Sciences, Pakistan (1 year).

• Assistant Professor/HoD at National University of Medical Sciences, Pakistan (8 months).

• Lecturer in a Government Degree College for Women, Pakistan 2 years).

 

Non-academic experience

• 8 years as a public health specialist at health department, Government of Pakistan.

Teaching Courses

• Health Promotion
• Communication in Nutrition
• Ethics for Healthcare Professionals
• Community Health and Nutrition
• Inborn errors of Metabolism
• Menu Planning
• Sports Nutrition
• Fundamentals of Nutrition 

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all.

This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  

 

Memberships

• Member of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

• Member of International Confederation of Dietetic Associations

• Member of European Public Health Association

•  Abu Dhabi Environmental Research Network

• European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN)