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Saif Ahmad, PhD
Saif Ahmad, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at Barrow Neurological Institute.
Dr. Ahmad’s expertise includes molecular studies of neurodegenerative diseases. He is a member of the American Heart Association and Indian Academy of Neurosciences.
Dr. Ahmad earned his doctorate in biotechnology from Hamdard University in New Delhi, India, and his Master of Science in organic chemistry from Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India. He began his postdoctoral fellowship in the Program in Molecular Medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester. The laboratory moved to Augusta University in Augusta, Georgia, where he completed his training.
Dr. Ahmad’s current research focuses on the inflammatory mechanisms of stroke. He is particularly fascinated with the molecular mechanisms governing complement-mediated neurodegeneration, neurovascular dysfunction, and synapse elimination in stroke. He is also interested in vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia.
- Research Scientist, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 2015-2016
- Associate Professor, King Abdulaziz University, 2012-2015
- Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Massachusetts Medical School and Augusta University 2007-2012
- PhD, Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University), New Delhi, Biotechnology, 2004
- MSc, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University, Chemistry, 1998
- BSc; Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University; Botany, Zoology, & Chemistry, 1996
- American Heart Association
- Indian Academy of Neuroscience
- Research Associate Fellowship, Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy; Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, 2004-2005
- Junior and Senior Research Fellowship, Technology Mission on Oilseeds and Pulses, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, 2004
- Senior Research Fellowship, Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India 2000-2002
- Hamdard National Foundation Research Fellowship, Hamdard University, New Delhi, 2003-2004
Complement C3a receptor-mediated vascular dysfunction: A complex interplay between aging and neurodegeneration
Date: 01/2021
Authors: Kanchan Bhatia, Saif Ahmad, Adam Kindelin, Andrew F. Ducruet
C3a receptor antagonist therapy is protective with or without thrombolysis in murine thromboembolic stroke.
Date: 06/2020
Authors: Saif Ahmad, Chirayu Pandya, Adam Kindelin, Kanchan Bhatia, Rafay Chaudhary, Alok Kumar Dwivedi, Jennifer M Eschbacher, Qiang Liu, Michael F Waters, Michael F. Waters, Md Nasrul Hoda, Andrew F. Ducruet
ZPR1 prevents R-loop accumulation, upregulates SMN2 expression and rescues spinal muscular atrophy
Date: 01/2020
Authors: Annapoorna Kannan, Xiaoting Jiang, Lan He, Saif Ahmad, Laxman Gangwani
Remote Ischemic Post-Conditioning Therapy is Protective in Mouse Model of Traumatic Optic Neuropathy
Date: 01/2020
Authors: Muhammad Nadeem, Adam Kindelin, Laura Mahady, Kanchan Bhatia, Md Nasrul Hoda, Andrew F. Ducruet, Saif Ahmad
The Role of Complement C3a Receptor in Stroke
Date: 12/2019
Authors: Saif Ahmad, Kanchan Bhatia, Adam Kindelin, Andrew F. Ducruet

Saif Ahmad, PhD
Saif Ahmad, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at Barrow Neurological Institute.
Dr. Ahmad’s expertise includes molecular studies of neurodegenerative diseases. He is a member of the American Heart Association and Indian Academy of Neurosciences.
Dr. Ahmad earned his doctorate in biotechnology from Hamdard University in New Delhi, India, and his Master of Science in organic chemistry from Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India. He began his postdoctoral fellowship in the Program in Molecular Medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester. The laboratory moved to Augusta University in Augusta, Georgia, where he completed his training.
Dr. Ahmad’s current research focuses on the inflammatory mechanisms of stroke. He is particularly fascinated with the molecular mechanisms governing complement-mediated neurodegeneration, neurovascular dysfunction, and synapse elimination in stroke. He is also interested in vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia.
- Research Scientist, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 2015-2016
- Associate Professor, King Abdulaziz University, 2012-2015
- Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Massachusetts Medical School and Augusta University 2007-2012
- PhD, Jamia Hamdard (Hamdard University), New Delhi, Biotechnology, 2004
- MSc, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University, Chemistry, 1998
- BSc; Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University; Botany, Zoology, & Chemistry, 1996
- American Heart Association
- Indian Academy of Neuroscience
- Research Associate Fellowship, Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy; Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, 2004-2005
- Junior and Senior Research Fellowship, Technology Mission on Oilseeds and Pulses, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, 2004
- Senior Research Fellowship, Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India 2000-2002
- Hamdard National Foundation Research Fellowship, Hamdard University, New Delhi, 2003-2004
Complement C3a receptor-mediated vascular dysfunction: A complex interplay between aging and neurodegeneration
Date: 01/2021
Authors: Kanchan Bhatia, Saif Ahmad, Adam Kindelin, Andrew F. Ducruet
C3a receptor antagonist therapy is protective with or without thrombolysis in murine thromboembolic stroke.
Date: 06/2020
Authors: Saif Ahmad, Chirayu Pandya, Adam Kindelin, Kanchan Bhatia, Rafay Chaudhary, Alok Kumar Dwivedi, Jennifer M Eschbacher, Qiang Liu, Michael F Waters, Michael F. Waters, Md Nasrul Hoda, Andrew F. Ducruet
ZPR1 prevents R-loop accumulation, upregulates SMN2 expression and rescues spinal muscular atrophy
Date: 01/2020
Authors: Annapoorna Kannan, Xiaoting Jiang, Lan He, Saif Ahmad, Laxman Gangwani
Remote Ischemic Post-Conditioning Therapy is Protective in Mouse Model of Traumatic Optic Neuropathy
Date: 01/2020
Authors: Muhammad Nadeem, Adam Kindelin, Laura Mahady, Kanchan Bhatia, Md Nasrul Hoda, Andrew F. Ducruet, Saif Ahmad
The Role of Complement C3a Receptor in Stroke
Date: 12/2019
Authors: Saif Ahmad, Kanchan Bhatia, Adam Kindelin, Andrew F. Ducruet