Dr. Muntasirul Hoq

Assistant Professor

Details

Dr. Muntasirul Hoq is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology at Notre Dame University Bangladesh. He is a biomedical scientist and interdisciplinary researcher with academic and research experience spanning microbiology, biotechnology, experimental medicine, immunology, molecular biology, artificial cells, synthetic enzymes, cell preservation, and translational biomedical research.

He obtained his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Experimental Medicine from McGill University, Canada, where his doctoral research focused on developing next-generation preservation and therapeutic solutions using synthetic enzymes and polyhemoglobin. His work investigated the ability of these systems to protect human liver and cardiac cells from warm ischemic and ischemia-reperfusion injury under the supervision of Professor Thomas M. S. Chang, internationally recognized as the Father of Artificial Cells.

Following completion of his PhD, Dr. Hoq continued as a Postdoctoral Researcher at McGill University, focusing on advancing synthetic enzyme and artificial oxygen-carrying technologies toward translational and preclinical biomedical applications.

Dr. Hoq also earned a Master of Science (Applied) in Biotechnology from McGill University and a Bachelor of Science with a double major in Biotechnology and Microbiology from BRAC University. His earlier research included immunoinformatic vaccine design against Klebsiella pneumoniae, molecular and microbiological laboratory research, cancer metabolomics and proteomics, and plant molecular biotechnology.

Prior to joining Notre Dame University Bangladesh, he gained extensive university teaching experience at McGill University by conducting tutorials and laboratory sessions in microbiology, immunology, genetics, genomics, biochemistry, bioinformatics, and artificial cells. He has supervised laboratory instruction, scientific communication, assessment development, experimental planning, data interpretation, and student research activities.

His teaching philosophy emphasizes conceptual understanding, scientific reasoning, active learning, and the integration of contemporary biomedical research into undergraduate education. He is particularly interested in developing undergraduate research opportunities focused on microbiology, biotechnology, food microbiology, environmental microbiology, biomedical science, and public health.

Dr. Hoq has published research articles in internationally recognized peer-reviewed journals including Scientific Reports and Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology. He has also presented his research at international scientific conferences and contributed a book chapter on polyhemoglobin and synthetic enzymes for ischemic cell preservation.

Education

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Experimental Medicine
  McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
  2025
• Master of Science (Applied) in Biotechnology
  McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
  2021
• Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology and Microbiology (Double Major)
  BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  2018

Research Interests

• Molecular and Medical Microbiology
• Host–Microbe Interactions and Microbial Pathogenesis
• Gut Microbiome, Microbiome-Associated Inflammation, and the Gut–Brain Axis
• Microbial Biotechnology and Microbiome-Based Therapeutic Strategies
• Vaccine Design and Immunoinformatics for Microbial Pathogens
• Antimicrobial and Enzyme-Based Biotherapeutics
• Artificial Cells, Synthetic Enzymes, and Oxygen Therapeutics
• Polyhemoglobin-Based Oxygen Carriers
• Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury and Organ Preservation
• Oxidative Stress and Cellular Protection
• Molecular Biology, Cell Culture, and Biomedical Biotechnology
• Bioinformatics, Molecular Modelling, and Computational Biology
• Translational Microbiology and Precision Healthcare

Research Focus

Dr. Hoq’s research aims to bridge fundamental and applied microbiology with biotechnology, immunology, bioengineering, and translational medicine. His work investigates how microorganisms, microbial products, and microbial communities influence inflammation, metabolism, immune responses, and human disease while developing innovative therapeutic and preventive strategies.

One of his major research directions focuses on the gut microbiome and the gut–brain axis. He investigates the potential contribution of microbial dysbiosis, microbial metabolites, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation to neurodegenerative disorders, particularly Alzheimer’s disease. His long-term objective is to develop microbiome-based interventions and biotechnology-driven therapeutic approaches that improve human health.

Another major area of research involves the development of synthetic enzyme and artificial-cell-based therapeutic systems. His studies examine engineered enzymes, oxygen carriers, and biomaterials capable of protecting cells and tissues against oxidative damage, oxygen deprivation, and ischemia-reperfusion injury.

By integrating microbiology, molecular biology, computational biology, metabolomics, and cell-based experimental models, Dr. Hoq aims to establish an interdisciplinary research program that contributes directly to the development of novel diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic technologies for human diseases.

Research Experience

• Postdoctoral Researcher
  McGill University, Montreal, Canada
  June 2025 – June 2026

  Investigated the therapeutic potential of synthetic enzymes and polyhemoglobin-based oxygen carrier solutions for protecting organs and tissues from ischemia-reperfusion injury, emphasizing translational and preclinical biomedical applications.

• Doctoral Researcher (PhD Research)
  McGill University, Montreal, Canada
  September 2021 – April 2025

  Developed next-generation preservation solutions containing synthetic enzymes and polyhemoglobin for protecting warm ischemic human hepatocytes and cardiomyocytes using advanced experimental medicine approaches.

• Graduate Researcher
  McGill University, Montreal, Canada
  May 2020 – January 2021

  Evaluated the biomedical applications, stability, and therapeutic feasibility of synthetic enzymes for future clinical applications.

• Research Associate
  Ahsania Mission Cancer Hospital, Bangladesh
  January 2019 – August 2019

  Participated in pathological testing together with metabolomic and proteomic analyses associated with cancer research and biomedical investigations.

• Undergraduate Researcher
  BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  2016 – 2018

  Conducted an immunoinformatics-based research project to design an epitope-based vaccine against Klebsiella pneumoniae and investigated its incorporation into an edible vaccine platform using computational biology approaches.

Selected Research Publications

1. Hoq, M., & Chang, T. M. S. (2025).
   Effect of Polyhemoglobin and Synthetic Enzymes on Ischemic Cardiomyocytes.
   Journal: Journal of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine, 2, 28–40.
   DOI: https://doi.org/10.29328/journal.jccm.1001207
2. Wang, T., Zhao, C., Hoq, M., & Chang, T. M. S. (2025).
   A Comparison of the Size Distribution and Batch Size Based on the Use of Emulsion or Microfluidizer for the Preparation of Ferric Oxide-Based Superparamagnetic Polymeric Nanocapsule Artificial Cells.
   Journal: International Journal of Cell and Tissue Engineering: Artificial Cells and Regenerative Medicine.
   DOI: https://doi.org/10.1142/S2972497X25500014
3. Hoq, M., & Chang, T. M. S. (2024).
   Next Generation Preservation Solution Using Synthetic Enzymes Added to Polyhemoglobin to Protect Warm Ischemic Human Hepatocytes and Cardiomyocytes.
   Journal: Scientific Reports, 14, Article 23104.
   DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-73862-2
4. Hoq, M., & Chang, T. M. S. (2023).
   Preliminary Feasibility Study Using a Solution of Synthetic Enzymes to Replace the Natural Enzymes in Polyhemoglobin-Catalase-Superoxide Dismutase-Carbonic Anhydrase: Effect on Warm Ischemic Hepatocyte Cell Culture.
   Journal: Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 11, Article 1231384.
   DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2023.1231384

Book Chapter

• Hoq, M., & Chang, T. M. S. (2026).
  The Addition of a Simple Aqueous Solution of Synthetic Neocatalase, Neosuperoxide Dismutase, and Neocarbonic Anhydrase Improves the Effectiveness of Oxygen Carriers for the Preservation of Warm Ischemic Cell/Tissue.
  In: Liu, H., Kaye, A. D., & Jahr, J. S. (Eds.), Blood Substitutes and Oxygen Biotherapeutics. Springer, Cham.
  DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-22656-3_46

Conference Presentation

1. Hoq, M., & Chang, T. M. S.
   Polyhemoglobin and Synthetic Enzymes for the Preservation of Warm Ischemic Hepatocytes and Myocardiocytes.
   Conference: XIX Biennial International Symposium on Blood Substitutes, Maryland, USA, 2024.
   Selected as a Special Presentation.

Awards and Academic Achievements

• Recruitment Award
  Department of Biological and Biomedical Engineering, McGill University, Canada (CAD 30,000).
• Performance-Based Scholarship
  BRAC University – Awarded a 100% tuition scholarship from 2016 to 2018.
• Vice Chancellor’s List
  Achieved in every undergraduate semester at BRAC University.
• Vice Chancellor’s Certificate
  BRAC University.
• Academic Excellence
  Graduated with a CGPA of 3.97/4.00 in the Bachelor of Science program.
• Academic Excellence
  Graduated with a CGPA of 3.92/4.00 in the Master of Science (Applied) program.

Professional Expertise

• Molecular Microbiology
• Medical Microbiology
• Microbial Pathogenesis
• Host–Microbe Interactions
• Gut Microbiome Research
• Microbiome and Gut–Brain Axis
• Microbial Biotechnology
• Experimental Medicine
• Immunology
• Molecular Biology
• Cell Culture Techniques
• Biomedical Biotechnology
• Artificial Cells
• Synthetic Enzymes
• Polyhemoglobin-Based Oxygen Carriers
• Oxygen Therapeutics
• Organ Preservation Technologies
• Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
• Oxidative Stress Biology
• Cell Preservation
• Vaccine Design
• Immunoinformatics
• Bioinformatics
• Molecular Modelling
• Computational Biology
• Biomedical Data Analysis
• Metabolomics
• Proteomics
• Scientific Research Methodology
• Research Project Design
• Experimental Planning
• Scientific Writing
• Research Mentoring
• Laboratory Instruction
• University Teaching
• Assessment Design
• Data Interpretation
• Translational Biomedical Research
• Precision Medicine