Professor Shahidul Islam

Research focus

1. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of neurochemistry in controlling eating behaviour.
2. Understanding the roles of hepatic lipids in controlling hepatic cholesterol crystallization.

Background and experience

Trained as a Biochemist and Nutrition has been working in the area diabetes and obesity since 2005 via developing animal models of type 2 diabetes and conducting anti-diabetic and anti-obesogenic intervention trials to understand the rapidly changing pathogenesis of these diseases and their underlying molecular mechanisms.

Working at the IMS-MRL

1. The aim of my research is to understand how hepatic lipids, which is known to be responsible for steatohepatitis or fatty liver disease, play a role in preventing the crystallization of hepatic cholesterol which may turn to liver cancer.
2. Another aim of my research is to understand the neurochemistry in controlling eating behaviour to combat the global prevalence of overweight, obesity and type 2 diabetes by using immuno-histochemistry and molecular biology techniques. 

Awards

1. CAES UKZN Distinguished Teacher Award 2025
2. Fellow of the University of KwaZulu-Natal 2025
3. South African Research Chair in Ethnopharmacology (2026-)
4. UKZN Top30 Researcher Award 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023 and 2024