About
Dr. Tania Islam is a Postdoctoral Research Officer in the Translational Neurogenomics Laboratory at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute. She completed her PhD in Bioinformatics and Statistical Genetics at The University of Queensland (UQ), supported by the prestigious Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship.
Her research focuses on uncovering the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying complex human traits. By integrating large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS) with multi-trait genetic modelling, she identifies disease-relevant genes, causal pathways, and actionable therapeutic targets.
A major component of her work involves drug repurposing to reveal new therapeutic uses for existing compounds. Her discoveries of genetic markers associated with cardiovascular disease, stroke, and neurodegeneration are advancing early disease detection, improving risk stratification, and informing personalized therapeutic strategies.
Dr. Islam’s research excellence has been recognized through several competitive awards, including the QIMR Seed Funding Grant (2026), the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) People’s Choice Award, and Best Oral Presentation Award. Her high-impact publications in leading international journals highlight her commitment to translating genetic discoveries into clinically meaningful outcomes that improve patient care.
Research Skills
- Bioinformatics
- Statistical genetics
- Drug repurposing
Area of Interest
- Statistical genetics in human complex traits
- Drug repurposing
- Neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases
- Precision medicine and translational genomics
Professional Associations
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute
- The University of Queensland
Funding
- Seed Funding Grants 2026
Research Projects
Current Research Projects
Translating genetic findings into novel treatments for obsessive compulsive disorder. Our aim is to discover new treatments for obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) by integrating computational drug repurposing with patient-derived stem cell models. We will identify new candidate drugs by linking genetic risk factors of OCD to approved drugs and validate drug effects in OCD-specific stem cells for highly translatable outcomes.
Publications
Islam, T., Rahman, M. R., Khan, A., Moni, M.A. (2023). Integration of Mendelian randomisation and systems biology models to identify novel blood-based biomarkers for stroke. Journal of Biological Informatics, 141, 104345.
Islam, T., Rahman, M. R., Aydin, B., Beklen, H., Arga, K. Y., & Shahjaman, M. (2020). Integrative transcriptomics analysis of lung epithelial cells and identification of repurposable drug candidates for COVID-19. European Journal of Pharmacology, 887, 173594.
Islam, T., Rahman, M. R., Shuvo, M. A. H., Shahjaman, M., Islam, M. R., & Karim, M. R. (2019). Drug repositioning and biomarkers in low-grade glioma via bioinformatics approach. Informatics in Medicine Unlocked, 17, 100250.