Rubina Aktar

Rubina Aktar is a Post-Doctoral Research Scientist at Queen Mary University of London, affiliated with the Blizard Institute's Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery and Trauma. Her work focuses on enteric neuroscience, particularly the interplay between gut microbes, nutrients, and the enteric nervous system (ENS) in health and disease. She employs advanced electrophysiological techniques to study vagal afferents and colonic nerve activity, with a parallel interest in connective tissue disorders like Ehlers-Danlos syndrome affecting gut physiology.

• Education: PhD in Enteric Neuroscience (2016), BSc at Queen Mary University of London

Research Highlights: Aktar investigates the role of extracellular matrix proteins (e.g., Tenascin-X) in ENS function, identifies novel drug targets (GPCRs, ion channels), and explores appetite regulation via natural supplements through clinical trials. Her work bridges basic science and translational medicine, with applications in gastrointestinal motility disorders and metabolic diseases.

Teaching: Lectures MSc students in gut physiology and facilitates problem-based learning for MBBS medical students.