Job title: Professor
Department: BMS
Email: sakhtar@inaya.edu.sa
Extension: 227
Education:
Ph.D. (1986 – 1990): University of Reading, U.K;
MTech (1981 – 1983): University of Reading, U.K
Area of Expertise
Prior to coming to the Inaya college, I worked in King Saud University for 12 years and in the UK for 18 years at Reading University; Oxford Brooks University; Oxford Research Unit, Open University, and Cardiff University.
Most of my research involves investigating re-modelling of collagen fibrils and proteoglycans in normal and pathological cornea such as keratoconus, post-LASIK cornea, cross-linked cornea, and corneal dystrophies. We are the 1st research group who published the origin of the keratoconus from the peripheral cornea.
Human cornea has five layers. I have discovered a new layer of the peripheral cornea. The layer is called pre-endothelial layer (PENL).
Recently, Dr Sami encouraged high profile research and authorized to purchase of state-of-the-art JEOL transmission electron microscopy technology. Prof Akhtar is carrying out a ground breaking research on the cornea with help of the transmission electron microscope attached with a 24-megapixel camera. With new technology, I have explained the structure of PENL with 3D tomography on transmission electron microscope (Figure 1, 2).
3D image of collage fibrils present in the pre-endothelial layer.
3D image of pre-endothelial layer
I have also investigated the role of collagen fibrils and proteoglycans of intervertebral disc, bicuspid heart valve and arthritis cartilage. Last few years I have been carrying out research on optic nerve and of glaucoma eyes and published in Q1 journal in collaboration with Finland and Poland.
Conference Presentations