Saima Riazuddin

Dr. Saima Riazuddin is a Professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, with joint appointments in Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology. Her research focuses on the molecular genetics of inherited disorders, particularly hearing loss, vestibular dysfunction, intellectual disability, and Usher syndrome, utilizing human genetics, mouse models, and zebrafish models to identify disease-causing genes and elucidate their functional mechanisms.

• PhD in Molecular Genetics (University of Punjab, Pakistan)
• MPH in Leadership Management & Policy (University of Cincinnati)
• MBA in Business Administration (University of Cincinnati)

Her lab investigates the genetic factors determining hearing sensitivity, pathogenic mutations affecting ear/eye structure, and molecular mechanisms of auditory/vision functions. Publications in Nature Genetics, Cell, and Molecular Psychiatry highlight discoveries in genes like TRIOBP, CIB2, and ELMOD3 linked to deafness syndromes.

Scientific accolades include the Medal of Honor from Pakistan's President. Research spans linkage analysis, functional gene characterization, and therapeutic design for genetic hearing/visual impairments.