Could you please tell us about your educational and professional background?
My career in science began when I joined the University of Glasgow to study for a Bachelor of Science degree in Immunology. On completion of my degree, I went on to undertake postgraduate research at the University of Dundee, School of Medicine. My research was conducted in the Photobiology Unit, Dermatology Department at Ninewells Hospital and explored mechanisms of ultraviolet radiation (UV) induced immune suppression. It was during this experience that I became acutely aware of the distress that skin disorders can cause patients and it motivated me to search for new therapies. I went on to continue my research on the immunomodulatory effects of UV at the University of Edinburgh as a postdoctoral research scientist and later worked as an academic in Nigeria where I developed an interest in natural therapies, in particular, medicinal plants for the treatment of skin disease. Through collaboration with researchers at Queen Margaret University who were investigating the antimicrobial activity of Scottish honeys, several review articles were published on the antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties of honey, as well as the clinical effectiveness of honey in relation to wounds and skin disease.
What are your current research projects you are working on now?
My research at the NU has largely focused on exploring the antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties of Kazakhstan sorts of honey, as well as examining their phytochemical composition. Medical grade honey is included in National Health Service (UK) protocols for wound management and a Cochrane systematic review concluded that there is evidence that honey has efficacy for the treatment of certain types of wounds. Honey is produced abundantly in Kazakhstan, yet the regional sort of honey has not been fully examined for biological activity or for the presence of bioactive compounds. My research on honey was conducted in collaboration with the Republican Diagnostic Center in Nur-Sultan and the James Hutton Research Institute, Scotland, UK. Funding for the research was provided by the former Ministry of Education and Science, the Republic of Kazakhstan.
I have also been involved in research investigating the incidence and body site of skin cancers in the population groups of Nur-Sultan. This research was conducted in collaboration with researchers at Astana Medical University, the University of Glasgow, and the University of Edinburgh.
What are your key research findings?
We recently published a research article in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies showing that the Kazakhstan sort of honey tested has antimicrobial activity against wound and skin infecting microorganisms. Interestingly, the honeys were most effective against a clinical isolate of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Furthermore, the honeys contain a diverse range of phytochemicals, many of which are reported in the scientific literature to have biological activities including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, photoprotective, and anticancer properties. We also observed that the Kazakhstan kinds of honey exert protective effects on keratinocytes (skin cells). Our research is important for evaluating the health benefits of the kinds of honey, as well as their potential clinical application. In relation to the skin cancer study, our main findings were that the incidence of skin cancer in Nur-Sultan has been increasing over the years and that the incidence was higher in the Russian population group in comparison to the Kazakh population group.
Could you please tell us the reasons for joining NU?
I chose to join NU because it was a unique opportunity to contribute to teaching in higher education and medical research in Central Asia. The prospect of contributing to the development of a new medical school, with support from the University of Pittsburgh, was particularly appealing. Personally, I find working in other countries fascinating. During my time in Kazakhstan, I have found many interesting and beautiful places and it has been a pleasure to work with the students and research assistants at the NU.
What do you plan to do in the near future?
I would like to continue my research on honey by further exploring skin and wound healing properties in vivo and by investigating the biological properties of the identified phytochemicals. Boosting the biological properties of the different sorts of honey through bioengineering approaches is an area for consideration. The anti-cancer activity of honey is also of interest, particularly in relation to skin cancer, because several of the phytochemicals identified in the types of honey have been reported to have anti-cancer effects against skin cancer cells. Furthermore, I am keen to continue my UV research, for example, by evaluating health risks associated with UV exposure in the Central Asian region.
