Muhammad Rai

Muhammad Rai is an Assistant Professor at Khalifa University, affiliated with the College of Medicine and Health Sciences in the Department of Biological Sciences. Previously, he served as a research faculty member at Washington University School of Medicine, USA. Dr. Rai earned his PhD in Biochemistry from the Free University of Berlin, Germany, and holds a Master of Science in Cellular and Molecular Biology from Washington University School of Medicine.

• PhD - Freie Universität Berlin, Germany
• MSc - Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, USA
• MS - University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan

Dr. Rai’s research focuses on:

• Understanding early molecular mechanisms in post-traumatic osteoarthritis
• Developing nanoparticle-RNAi therapies targeting periostin
• Investigating genetic heterogeneity in cartilage repair
• Proteomic and transcriptomic profiling of joint tissues
• Linking obesity to osteoarthritis via gene expression
• Elucidating heritability of regenerative capacity

His publications span biochemistry, genetics, orthopedics, and nanomedicine, with a focus on post-traumatic osteoarthritis, RNA interference, and mouse models. Key trends include identifying preclinical biomarkers and inflammatory pathway modulation.

• Awards: K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award, T32 Postdoctoral Fellowship, multiple ORS and OARSI recognitions
• Students: Supervising 3 PhD candidates and 2 SRP students
• Labs: Leads research on musculoskeletal repair at the Center for Biotechnology Research