Dr. Shehla Akbar

Biography

Dr. Shehla Akbar is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khyber Medical University, with a PhD in Neuropharmacology from the University of Peshawar. Her academic and research career spans teaching, pharmaceutical research, academic coordination, quality assurance, and research management.

Her research focuses primarily on neuropharmacology and neuropathic pain, with particular interest in investigating novel molecular drug targets and pharmacological interventions for neurological and pain-related disorders. Her work integrates behavioral and animal models, pharmacokinetics, molecular mechanisms, bioinformatics, and computational approaches to evaluate potential therapeutic agents. She has particularly contributed to research on flavanone-based compounds for neuropathic pain, anxiety, chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, and diabetes-associated neuropathy.

Dr. Akbar has published 15+ research articles, including 14 HEC W-category publications, with a reported h-index of 9 and over 350 citations. She is also an HEC-approved PhD supervisor and has supervised postgraduate research students in pharmaceutical and pharmacological sciences. In addition to her research activities, she has held several academic and administrative roles, including Academic Coordinator, ORIC Focal Person, QEC Focal Person, Convener of Recruitment Committee, and member of Academic Council and Board of Studies.

Research Interests

Neuropharmacology & Neuropathic Pain Molecular Drug Targets & Pharmacological Mechanisms Pharmacokinetics & Preclinical Drug Evaluation

Publications

• Chemopreventive effects of resveratrol and curcumin on melanoma growth in C57BL/6 mice — Salman Ul Islam, Abdullah Al Saidi, Shehla Akbar, Amina Akhlaq, Adeeb Shehzad, Mazhar Ul-Islam , Journal (2025)
• Muriolide, a novel antioxidant lactone from Ranunculus muricatus — Naila Raziq, Muhammad Saeed, Muhammad Shaiq Ali, Mehreen Lateef, Muhammad Shahid, Shehla Akbar, Salman Zafar , Journal (2021)
• 6-Hydroxyflavanone treats anxiety and chemotherapy-induced neuropathy in Sprague–Dawley rats — Shehla Akbar, Fazal Subhan, Rida Qamar, Aroosha Akbar, Naila Shahbaz, Muhammad Aamir, Nayyer Siddique, Salman Ul Islam , Journal (2024)
• Targeting anti-inflammatory pathways to treat diabetes-induced neuropathy by 6-hydroxyflavanone — Shehla Akbar, Fazal Subhan, Aroosha Akbar, Faiza Habib, Naila Shahbaz, Ashfaq Ahmad, Abdul Wadood, Saad Salman , Journal (2023)
• Pharmacological evaluation of the gabapentin salicylaldehyde derivative, gabapentsal, against tonic and phasic pain models, inflammation, and pyrexia — Nisar Ahmad, Fazal Subhan, Nazar Ul Islam, Muhammad Shahid, Naseem Ullah, Rahim Ullah, Muhammad Khurram, Muhammad Usman Amin, Shehla Akbar, Ihsan Ullah, Robert DE Sewell , Journal (2021)