Saira Justin, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Biology

Dr. Saira Justin joined PLNU’s Department of Biology after serving for six years as an Assistant Professor at the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) in Pakistan. She earned her PhD in Natural Sciences (Biology) at Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, and, following her doctoral studies, returned to Pakistan to begin her academic career.

Dr. Justin’s research is inspired by Psalm 104:14, which states that God made herbs for the service of man. Guided by this perspective, she explores the potential of nutraceuticals as therapeutic agents, focusing on their applications in cancer treatment as well as in promoting cognitive and emotional well-being. She is passionate about integrating her faith and science to discover natural compounds that can benefit human health.

In her teaching, Dr. Justin aims to guide students in discovering their potential and developing into the best version of themselves, fostering both academic growth and personal development.

Outside of academia, Dr. Justin enjoys listening to gospel music, gardening, and playing badminton. She is also a fan of superheroes, which adds a playful balance to her life and work.

Education

  • Ph.D., Natural Sciences, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
  • M.S., Healthcare Biotechnology, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Pakistan
  • B.S. Microbiology, University of Peshawar (UoP), Pakistan.

Courses Taught

At PLNU 

  • Microbiology Of Infectious Diseases - BIO 2020 

Outside PLNU 

  • Proteomics  
  • Molecular Basis of Metabolic Diseases  
  • Cellular and Molecular Pathophysiology  
  • Principles of Healthcare Management  
  • Clinical Biochemistry  
  • Enzymology
  • Cell Biology  
  • Introductory Biology  
  • Community Service Learning  
  • Civic and Community Engagement 

Experience in Field

  • Atta-Ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences (ASAB), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST). Pakistan. Assistant Professor. 2019-2025
  • Atta-Ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences (ASAB), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Pakistan. UG Program Coordinator. 2025 

Professional and Community Involvement

  • Member of  World Women in Science and Technology (WWST), Oct 2024 - present.

Awards and Honors

  • Secured Magna Cum Laude in PhD thesis defense at Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, February 2019.
  • Secured NUST Faculty Development Program (FDP) Abroad Scholarship, 2014-2015.
  • Awarded the President’s Gold Medal for securing 1st position in the MS program at the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Pakistan, graduating with a perfect GPA of 4.0/4.0, 2014.
  • Awarded a laptop under the Prime Minister’s National Laptop Scheme 2013-2014.
  • Awarded the Gold Medal for securing 1st position in the BS program at the University of Peshawar, Pakistan, with a perfect GPA of 4.0/4.0, 2012.

 

Grants

  • National Research Program for Universities (NRPU) 2021: Reference research project No 15091 entitled “Evaluation of therapeutic potential of a natural HDAC inhibitor sulforaphane against HPV infected carcinomas” having a total cost of PKR 6.51 million (equivalent to USD 25,000). The project was conducted from April 2022 to December 2024. 

Dissertations, Presentations, and Publications

Ayman M, Irfan A, Sultana N, Farouq K, Usman M, Asghar S, Javed A, Justin S. HPV and Urological Cancers: Investigating Renal and Prostate Cancer Associations. Urologic Oncology: Seminars and Original Investigations. Accepted Sep 2025. IF 2.3.

Yousaf H, Javed A, Sultana N, Farouq K, Usman M, Khan GR, Gomez MK, Asghar S, Justin S. Unlocking the Secrets: Exploring the Connection between HPV and Bladder Cancer in Pakistan. Urologic Oncology: Seminars and Original Investigations. 15 April 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.urolonc.2025.03.014. IF 2.4.

Ghani U, Ghori FH, Qamar MU, Khan H, Azad B, Habib S, Justin S, Khan IN, Shah TA, Jardan YAB, Bourhia M, Perveen F, Javed A. SLNP-based CDK4 targeted Nano therapy against Glioblastoma. Frontiers in Oncology, 2024 Nov 22:14:1455816. https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2024.1455816. IF 3.5.

Ali A, Lateef A, Waheed Z, Waseem M, Zaheer T, Gomez MK, Blaheta RA, Justin S, Mutation S249C of FGFR3b Promotes Bladder Cancer through Downstream Signaling Proteins FRS2 and FRS3: A Computational Approach. Current Signal Transduction Therapy. 2023 Aug; 18(2).  https://doi.org/10.2174/1574362418666230810094626.

Khan N, Khan K, Badshah Y, Trembley JH, Ashraf NM, Shabbir M, Danish L, Afsar T, Almajwal A, Justin S, Hasan Z, Razak S. Investigating pathogenic SNP of PKCι in HCV-induced hepatocellular carcinoma. Scientific Reports. 2023 Aug 2; 13(1):12504. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-39804-0. IF 3.8.

Fatima B, Masud R, Sultana N, Javed A, Justin S. Detection of human papillomavirus in archival bladder and ovarian cancer samples. Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health. 2023 June, 22: 101339.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cegh.2023.101339. IF: 2.6

Justin S, Rutz J, Maxeiner S, Chun FK, Juengel E, Blaheta RA. Bladder Cancer Metastasis Induced by Chronic Everolimus Application Can Be Counteracted by Sulforaphane In Vitro. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2020 Aug 4; 21(15):5582. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21155582. IF: 5.6

Justin S, Rutz J, Maxeiner S, Chun FK, Juengel E, Blaheta RA. Chronic Sulforaphane Administration Inhibits Resistance to the mTOR-Inhibitor Everolimus in Bladder Cancer Cells. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2020 June 4; 21(11):4026. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21114026. IF: 5.6

Rutz J, Maxeiner S, Justin S, Bachmeier B, Bernd A, Kippenberger S, Zöller N, Chun FK, Blaheta RA. Low-dosed Curcumin Combined with Visible Light Exposure Inhibits Renal Cell Carcinoma Metastatic Behavior In Vitro. Cancers. 2020 Jan 28;12(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers12020302. IF: 6.6

Rutz J, Juengel E, Euler S, Maxeiner S, Justin S, Roos F, Chun FK, Blaheta RA. Chronic sulforaphane application does not induce resistance in renal cell carcinoma cells. Anticancer Research. 2018 Nov; 38(11):6201-6207. https://doi.org/10.21873/anticanres.12974. IF: 2.45

Juengel E, Euler S, Maxeiner S, Rutz J, Justin S, Roos F, Khoder W, Nelson K, Bechstein WO, Blaheta RA. Sulforaphane as an adjunctive to everolimus counteracts everolimus resistance in renal cancer cell lines. Phytomedicine. 2017 Apr 15; 27:1-7.mhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2017.01.016. IF: 3.126

Khalid A, Shakeel R, Justin S, Iqbal G, Shah SAA, Zahid S, Ahmed T. Pharmacological effects of turmeric on learning, memory, and expression of muscarinic receptor genes (M1, M3, and M5) in stress-induced mouse model. Current Drug Targets.  2017; 18(13):1545-1557.https://doi.org/10.2174/1389450118666170315120627. IF:3.021

Juengel E, Maxeiner S, Rutz J, Justin S, Roos F, Khoder W, Tsaur I, Nelson K, Bechstein WO, Haferkamp A, Blaheta RA. Sulforaphane inhibits proliferation and invasive activity of everolimus-resistant kidney cancer cells in vitro. Oncotarget. 2016 Dec 20; 7(51):85208-85219.https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.13421. IF: 6.359

 

Conference Papers/ Poster Presentation/ Research Blog: 

  • Justin S. Unveiling the Link Between HPV and Bladder Cancer: A Call for Public Awareness. NUST Research and Innovation Blog. June 24, 2025. Link.
  • Ayman M, Irfan A, Farouk K, Sultana N, Asghar S, Javed A, Justin S. HPV and Cancer in Pakistan: Investigating Renal and Prostate Cancer Association. International Conference on Integrative Life Sciences (ICiLS). September 2024.
  • Anjum H, Ahfaz HA, Kashaf, Bajwa H, Iqbal B, Justin S. Exploring Bacopa monnieri as a Nutraceutical Stimulant Against Sleep Deprivation. International Conference on Integrative Life Sciences (ICiLS). September 2024.
  • Shakeel A, Sajid L, Ahmad MZ, Zafar Sameera, Justin S. Investigating Accumulative Effect of Fluoxetine and Fagonia indica as an Anti-Stress Therapy. 9th Annual Neuroscience Conference. August 2023.
  • Sajid L, Shakeel A, Ahmad MZ, Zafar Sameera, Justin S. Does Fagonia indica Application Mitigates Side Effects of Fluoxetine or Do We Need a Deeper Insight? 9th Annual Neuroscience Conference. August 2023.
  • Justin S, Maxeiner S, Rutz J, Roos F, Chun F, Juengel E, Blaheta RA. Combined Application of the Natural HDAC Inhibitor Sulforaphane with the mTOR Inhibitor Everolimus in the Therapy of Bladder Cancer. 10th Symposium Urological Research of German Society of Urology in Mainz, Germany. 2018
  • Maxeiner S, Justin S, Rutz J, Roos F, Chun F, Juengel E, Blaheta RA. Der mTOR Inhibitor Everolimus supprimiert in Kombination mit Sulforaphan das Invasions- und Adhäsions-Verhalten von Blasen Tumorzellen in vitro. 10th Symposium Urological Research of German Society of Urology in Mainz, Germany. 2018.