Dr Najla Yussuf Moosa

I am a Lecturer in Medical Sciences in the School of Medicine and currently serve as Year 2 Academic Lead and Histology Lead. I have a multidisciplinary background in medicine, pathology, molecular biology and cancer research, with particular expertise in molecular pathology and the molecular mechanisms of disease.

I graduated in Medicine (MBBS) before developing a specialist interest in pathology and biomedical research. I subsequently completed an MPhil in Pathology, where my research focused on cellular morphology, cytology and molecular diagnostics, including work on cervical cancer screening. This experience strengthened my interest in understanding disease at the cellular and molecular level and led me to pursue a PhD in Molecular Pathology at the University of Sunderland.

My PhD research focused on the molecular and biological characterisation of glioblastoma stem-like cell culture models, with particular emphasis on tumour metabolism and metabolic pathways involved in cancer cell survival and progression. Following my PhD, I worked as a Research Associate, gaining further experience in histology, immunohistochemistry, cancer biomarker discovery and the development and validation of tissue-based diagnostic assays.

I subsequently returned to medical education, combining my research background with my longstanding interest in teaching. In my current role, I teach across the early years of the medical programme, with particular interests in histology, pathology, molecular and cellular biology and cancer biology. As Year 2 Academic Lead and Histology Lead, I contribute to the coordination and development of teaching and learning, with a particular focus on integrating histology and pathology with biomedical and clinical concepts to help students understand the relationship between normal structure, function and disease.

My research interests continue to centre on molecular pathology and cancer biology, particularly glioblastoma biology, tumour metabolism and the use of 2D and 3D cell culture models to investigate metabolic pathways involved in cancer cell survival. My recent research has explored the role of the vitamin B6 pathway in maintaining glioblastoma cell survival in 3D spheroid cultures. I am also interested in molecular biomarkers, histology and immunohistochemistry, molecular diagnostics and translational biomedical research.

Alongside my teaching and research, I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) and contribute to academic peer review and undergraduate research supervision.