Research Center

The Research Center at the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI) is a multifaceted facility dedicated to advancing the prevention and treatment of diseases. Our aim is to conduct patient-centric research that addresses local issues while benchmarking against international standards, guided by integrity, impact, and innovation. Key research efforts are focused on becoming a center of excellence, driving medical research to improve patient outcomes. We bridge the gap between scientists and clinicians through modern research methods and a robust infrastructure, aiming to facilitate clinical and translational studies.

Our Team

Researchers

Research Grants

• The World Health Organization (WHO) awarded a PKR 2.6 million grant for the project titled “Identifying Innovative Solutions to Scale Up Self-Testing for Hepatitis C (HCV) in the Pakistani population”.
• The International Society of Biological and Environmental Repositories (ISBER) awarded a virtual travel grant for participation in the 2025 Virtual ISBER Annual Meeting.

Current Research Projects

• Development of a Data-driven Predictive Model for Improving Long-Term Survival Outcomes in Liver Transplantation.
• AI-Assisted Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) for Multidisciplinary Liver Disease Management Using Explainable AI (XAI).
• Expectations of People from Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare.
• Global Gall Bladder Cancer Registry to collate data on epidemiology, treatment patterns and outcomes.
• Peritoneal Patch in Portal Vein Reconstruction: Evaluating Graft Material Outcomes in Hepato-Pancreatobiliary and Liver Transplant Surgery.
• Comparative Efficacy of Preservative vs. Isotonic Fluids in Liver Transplantation.

Workshops

• Research Moot

2^nd Research Moot, themed “Inspiring Research Excellence for a Better Tomorrow” was organized at PKLI&RC on 3^rd May 2024.

• Surgical Intelligence: Bridging AI & Healthcare at PKLI & RC

The Research Team organized a Pre-Conference Workshop on Surgical Intelligence: Bridging AI & Healthcare at PKLI & RC as part of SURGICON 2025. The workshop covered key topics, including AI applications in surgery, advancements in robotic procedures, clinical language models, and the role of AI in radiology and digital pathology. Experts and participants engaged in discussions on the future of AI-driven healthcare.

• A’s in ID—focusing on Artificial Intelligence, Advances, and Antimicrobials in Infectious Diseases

Prof. Dr. Kashif Asghar & Dr. Ali Haider explored the emerging role of immunotherapy in managing infectious diseases in a workshop on A’s in ID—focusing on Artificial Intelligence, Advances, and Antimicrobials in Infectious Diseases, which was organized at PKLI&RC. Engr. Anoosha Tahir discussed the role of AI in the surveillance of infectious diseases.

• REDCap in Research: Designing Projects, Collecting, and Organizing Clinical Data for Research

The Research Center at Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute & Research Center (PKLI&RC) successfully conducted a one-day REDCap (Research Electronic Data Capture) workshop on April 18, 2025, at PKLI&RC, Lahore. The session brought together doctors, researchers, and healthcare professionals from various departments to build hands-on skills in REDCap—a secure, web-based platform for efficient research data management. The training covered project setup, data entry, management, and reporting, supported by live demonstrations and practical exercises.

PKLI Journal of Health Sciences (PKLIJHS)

The PKLI Journal of Health Sciences (PKLI-JHS) is a bi-annual, open-access, peer-reviewed medical journal published by the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute & Research Center (PKLI & RC), Lahore. Dedicated to advancing medical science, we uphold the highest ethical standards and promote original, pioneering research. With a Rapid Review Process, PKLI-JHS ensures the timely dissemination of groundbreaking findings while maintaining rigorous peer-review standards.

News and Updates

• Engaged with Prof. Gareth Morris (Cleveland Clinic, USA) to explore collaborative research opportunities.
• The research team engaged with Dr. Safee Ullah Chaudhary and Dr. Muhammad Shoiab from LUMS to explore potential collaborations in computational biology and molecular biology.
• Explored research partnerships with Prof. Dr. Nasir Rajpoot (Warwick University, UK) in digital pathology.
• Initiated discussions with Dr. Hammad Naveed (University of Central Punjab) on digital pathology and radiology, facilitating further meetings with pathology and radiology teams.
• Discussed potential collaborations in molecular virology with Prof. Dr. Muhammad Idrees Khan (CEMB).
• Discussions were held with Dr. Bilal Wajid from Habib University, Karachi, to identify opportunities for collaborative research initiatives.
• Engaged with Prof. Dr. Imran Rashid and his team (UVAS) for joint research in parasitology, microbiology, epidemiology, and One Health.
• Held discussions with Prof. Dr. Yar Muhammad (COMSATS) on research in biomedical materials.
• Engaged with Dr. Saad Rehman (University of Birmingham) to explore research opportunities in hepatocellular carcinoma.
• Explored collaborative projects on metabolic diseases with Prof. Giovanna Bermano and Prof. Sara Walsh (Robert Gordon University, UK).
• Engaged with Prof. Dr. K. Lenhard Rudolph (Leibniz Institute on Aging – Fritz Lipmann Institute, Germany) for potential research in regenerative medicine.
• Discussed stem cell and regenerative medicine research collaborations with Dr. Fabricio Loayza-Puch (German Cancer Research Center – DKFZ, Germany).
• The research team met with the Health Data Science Center at Aga Khan University to explore potential collaborations in health metrics research and data-driven healthcare solutions.
• Strengthened collaboration and grant initiatives with the Vice Chancellor and faculty of UVAS.
• Held discussions with Dr. Fatima M. Qafoud, Director of Qatar Biobank, for potential biobank research collaborations.
• Conducted a site visit to Qatar Biobank to gain insights into operations and explore collaborations. Key discussions included, Dr. Said Dermine (National Center for Cancer Care and Research), Dr. Medhat Z. Askar (Qatar University), Dr. Sonia Davila, Dr. Bernice Lo, and Dr. Karim (Sidra Medicine), Dr. Nehad Alajez and Dr. Julie Decock (Qatar Precision Research Institute).

Capacity Building

• Conducted Good Clinical Practice (GCP) training sessions for researchers.
• Acquired a REDCap license to enhance data management efficiency and security.
• Launched research incubator to support aspiring researchers with technical guidance and collaborative opportunities.

Academic Contributions

• Launched the PKLI Journal of Health Sciences (JHS), an open-access, peer-reviewed publication.
• Organized the 2^nd Research Moot, themed “Inspiring Research Excellence for a Better Tomorrow.”
• Delivered a keynote on “Precision Surgery in the Era of AI and Robotics” at the 8^th Shalamar International Conference.
• Director Research chaired a session at 23^rd Shaukat Khanum Cancer Symposium.
• Director Research moderated workshops on “Role of Artificial Intelligence and Simulation in Healthcare” at Services Hospital, Lahore, and “Navigating the Biliary Maze: AI-Enhanced Strategies” at Shalamar Medical and Dental College.