Dr. Nasna Nassir is an Assistant Professor in Human Genetics at the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU), Dubai Health, and Center for Applied and Translational Genomics. Her research lies at the interface of human genomics and translational neuroscience, focusing on how genetic variation shapes neurodevelopmental disorders, neurodegeneration, and brain tumors. She combines population-scale genomics with functional biology to bridge the gap between DNA sequence variation and disease mechanisms. 

Dr. Nassir received her doctoral training in Biological Sciences from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras and completed postdoctoral training in human genetics at MBRU. She has further strengthened her translational perspective through a professional certification in Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare from MIT Sloan School of Management. Her work integrates whole-genome sequencing and pangenome graphs to improve variant interpretation in Middle Eastern and South Asian populations, contributing to regional genome initiatives and precision medicine efforts. 

Dr. Nassir’s group employs CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, stem cell-derived neuronal models, brain organoids, and single-cell transcriptomics to functionally validate disease-associated variants and advance allele-specific therapeutic strategies such as antisense oligonucleotides. More recently, her research has expanded into glioblastoma, where she combines spatial multi-omics and machine learning to identify early biomarkers, stratify disease subtypes, and discover therapeutic targets. Since joining MBRU, Dr. Nassir is engaged in teaching, supervising students and fostering national and international collaborations. She is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of scientists and advancing genomics and precision medicine in the region.