Khurshid Iqbal Andrabi

Khurshid Iqbal Andrabi (born 15 July 1963) is an Indian academic, researcher, and former administrator who served as the 19th vice-chancellor of the University of Kashmir from 2014 to 2018. He is a professor in the Department of Biotechnology at the same university and a researcher in the field of cell signaling, with particular contributions to the study of the mTORC1 pathway and its role in cancer, diabetes, and aging.

Andrabi was born to Syed Habibullah Andrabi on 15 July 1963 in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India.^[1][2] He completed his master's degree in Biochemistry at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh in 1985, where he was awarded a gold medal and distinction. He went on to obtain a PhD in Biochemistry from PGIMER in 1990.^[1]

Following his doctoral studies, Andrabi pursued postdoctoral research at several institutions, including Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston (1991–1992), Harvard Medical School - Massachusetts General Hospital (1992–1996), where he worked on insulin receptor signaling in collaboration with Nobel Laureate Edwin G. Krebs. He served as assistant professor of Ophthalmic Research at Cleveland Clinic Foundation, USA (1999–2000).^[3]

On returning to India, he joined the University of Kashmir as faculty, where he played a pioneering role in establishing the Department of Biotechnology in 2003. The department later gained national recognition under the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).^[1] Prior to his appointment as vice-chancellor, he served as a director, research at the same university.^[4]

He has supervised more than 25 doctoral and 20 MPhil students, published over 85 research papers.^[1]

Andrabi has held several administrative positions at the University of Kashmir such as dean from 2012 to 2014, head, Department of Biotechnology (2003–2012), and Department of Biochemistry from 1997 to 2003.^[1]

Andrabi has been associated with several academic and professional bodies. He has served on the Board of Award Nominators for Infosys India and on the Board of Advisors for Knimbus India. He has also held editorial positions, including membership of the editorial boards of the International Journal of Case Reports in Medicine, United States and the Asian Journal of Biosciences, India. In addition, he has been a reviewer for several international journals such as Cellular and Molecular Biochemistry, Springer, New Mexico, the Austin Journal of Biotechnology & Bioengineering, USA, Mutation Research, USA, the International Journal of Cellular Biochemistry (USA), and Biochemistry (USA).^[1]

Within academic bodies, Andrabi has been a member of the Indo-Australian Higher Education Commission and the British Council for Higher Education. In India, he has served as a member of the University Grants Commission (UGC) Peer Team, and has contributed to the Project Advisory Boards of both the UGC and the Department of Science and Technology (DST).^[1]

Andrabi's research focuses on cell signaling, especially the mTORC1 pathway and its downstream effectors such as S6K1 and 4EBP1. His work has provided new insights into the regulation of these kinases, mechanisms of translation control, and implications in cancer, diabetes, and aging.^[1]

He has also investigated the molecular mechanisms of inhibitors like rapamycin and torin, offering alternate perspectives beyond classical kinase activity. His research also contributed to translational medicine, including immunotherapy and stress response in cancer biology.^[1]

Andrabi is accused of "illegal appointments" during his tenure as vice-chancellor following which he was removed from the position. He was subsequently appointed as dean at School of Unani & Ayurvedic Medicines and head of department of Bio-chemistry, University of Kashmir.^[5] Later in 2018, the Jammu and Kashmir State Vigilance Commission (JKSVC) filed a case against Andrabi's alleged role in nominating ineligible candidate for the post of medical officer at SMHS Hospital, Srinagar.^[6]

• Sanofi Award (2017): Best original research in diabetes, Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India (RSSDI).
• Young Scientist Award (1998): Department of Science & Technology, Kashmir.
• Certificates of Excellence in Teaching (2006, 2019): Kashmir University
• Most Downloaded Paper Award (2019): Journal of Cellular Biochemistry
• Certificate of Merit for Excellent Overall Performance (2007-08): University of Kashmir
• NET-JRF Fellowship (1986): Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.
• Gold Medal in MSc Biochemistry (1985) at PGIMER, Chandigarh.^[1]

• Ali, S.; Afroze, D.; Rasool, J.; Rah, B.; Andrabi, K. I. (2020). "Frontiers in Clinical Drug Research – Anti-Cancer Agents". Immunomodulating agents in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia: A combinatorial immunotherapeutic approach. Bentham Science Publishers. pp. 1–22.
• Majeed, S. T.; Majeed, R.; Shah, G.; Andrabi, K. I. (2018-11-05). "Homeostasis – An Integrated Vision". In Lasakosvitsch, Fernanda; Dos Anjos Garnes, Sergio (eds.). S6 Kinase: A Compelling Prospect for Therapeutic Interventions. IntechOpen.
• Mudassar, S.; Khan, M. S.; Masoodi, S. R.; Wani, K. A.; Hussain, M. U.; Andrabi, K. I. (2016). "Thyroid Cancer – Advances in Diagnosis and Therapy". Molecular Alterations and Expression Dynamics in the Etiopathogenesis of Thyroid Cancer. IntechOpen.
• Prabhu, P. S.; Patravale, P. B.; Andrabi, K. I.; Sheikh, F. A. (2016). "Frontiers in Drug Design and Discovery". Nanotherapeutics: Future medicine for infectious diseases. Vol. 7. Bentham Science Publishers. pp. 248–297.
• S.; Khan, M. S.; Khan, N. P.; Hussain, M. U.; Andrabi, K. I. (2014). "Colorectal Cancer – Surgery, Diagnostics and Treatment". In Khan, Jim S. (ed.). Possible Role of Proto-Oncogenes in Colorectal Cancer — A Population Based Study. IntechOpen. ISBN 978-953-51-1231-0.

• Batool, A.; Malik, F.; Andrabi, K. I. (2020). "Expansion of the CRISPR/Cas genome-sculpting toolbox: Innovations, applications and challenges". Molecular Diagnosis and Therapy.
• Batool, A.; Aashaq, S.; Andrabi, K. I. (2019). "Eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E): A recap of the cap binding protein". Journal of Cellular Biochemistry.
• Aashaq, S.; Batool, A.; Andrabi, K. I. (2019). "TAK1 mediates convergence of cellular signals for death and survival". Apoptosis. 24 (1–2): 3–20.
• Raja, V.; Majeed, U.; Kang, H.; Andrabi, K. I.; John, R. (2017). "Abiotic stress: Interplay between ROS, hormones and MAPKs". Environmental and Experimental Botany.
• Batool, A.; Aashaq, S.; Andrabi, K. I. (2017). "Reappraisal to the study of 4E-BP1 as an mTOR substrate – A normative critique". European Journal of Cell Biology. 96 (4): 325–336.
• Shiekh, F. A.; Farooq, O.; Mian, S. H.; Bautista, R. L.; Arja, S. B.; Andrabi, K. I. (2016). "The pitfalls of growing nanomaterials". Nanomedicine (London). 11 (13): 1635–1638.

• Majeed, Sheikh Tahir; Batool, Asiya; Majeed, Rabiya; Bhat, Nadiem Nazir; Zargar, Muhammad Afzal; Andrabi, Khurshid Iqbal (2021-05-03). "mTORC1 induces eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E interaction with TOS-S6 kinase 1 and its activation". Cell Cycle. 20 (9). Informa UK Limited: 839–854. doi:10.1080/15384101.2021.1901038. ISSN 1538-4101. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
• Beigh, Afaq H.; Rasool, Roohi; Kawoosa, Fizalah; manzoor, Sharika; Rashid, Rabiya; Andrabi, Khurshid Iqbal; shah, Zafar A.; Qureshi, Taha (2021). "Improved pulmonary function test (PFT) after 1 one year of Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT) in unison with pharmacotherapy in mild allergic asthmatics". Immunology Letters. 230. Elsevier BV: 36–41. doi:10.1016/j.imlet.2020.12.004. ISSN 0165-2478.
• Aashaq, Sabreena; Batool, Asiya; Andrabi, Khurshid I. (2018-10-04). "TAK1 mediates convergence of cellular signals for death and survival". Apoptosis. 24 (1–2). Springer Science and Business Media LLC: 3–20. doi:10.1007/s10495-018-1490-7. ISSN 1360-8185.
• Batool, Asiya; Majeed, Sheikh Tahir; Aashaq, Sabreena; Majeed, Rabiya; Bhat, Nadiem Nazir; Andrabi, Khurshid Iqbal (2019-11-28). "Eukaryotic initiation factor 4E is a novel effector of mTORC1 signaling pathway in cross talk with Mnk1". Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry. 465 (1–2). Springer Science and Business Media LLC: 13–26. doi:10.1007/s11010-019-03663-z. ISSN 0300-8177.
• Majeed, Sheikh Tahir; Batool, Asiya; Majeed, Rabiya; Bhat, Nadiem Nazir; Zargar, Muhammad Afzal; Andrabi, Khurshid Iqbal (2021-05-03). "mTORC1 induces eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E interaction with TOS-S6 kinase 1 and its activation". Cell Cycle. 20 (9). Informa UK Limited: 839–854. doi:10.1080/15384101.2021.1901038. ISSN 1538-4101. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
• Bhat, Nadiem Nazir; Padder, Bilal A.; Barthelson, Roger A.; Andrabi, Khurshid I. (2019). "Compendium of Colletotrichum graminicola responsive infection-induced transcriptomic shifts in the maize". Plant Gene. 17. Elsevier BV: 100166. doi:10.1016/j.plgene.2018.11.001. ISSN 2352-4073.
• Iqbal, Mir Khurshid; Zargar, Mohammad Afzal; Mudassar, Syed; Lone, Ghulam Nabi; Yaseen, Syed Besina; Andrabi, Khurshid Iqbal (2016-06-28). "Expression Profiling and Cellular Localization of Stress Responsive Proteins in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Human Esophagus". Cancer Investigation. 34 (6). Informa UK Limited: 237–245. doi:10.1080/07357907.2016.1178760. ISSN 0735-7907.
• Akther, Nayeema; Andrabi, Khursheed; Nissar, Albeena; Ganaie, Showkat; Chandan, B.K.; Gupta, A.P.; Khuswant, Manoj; Sultana, Sarwat; Shawl, Abdul S. (2014). "Hepatoprotective activity of LC–ESI-MS standardized Iris spuria rhizome extract on its main bioactive constituents". Phytomedicine. 21 (10). Elsevier BV: 1202–1207. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2014.04.007. ISSN 0944-7113.
• Showkat, Mehvish; Beigh, Mushtaq A.; Bhat, Basharat B.; Batool, Asiya; Andrabi, Khurshid I. (2014). "Phosphorylation dynamics of eukaryotic initiation factor 4E binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) is discordant with its potential to interact with eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E)". Cellular Signalling. 26 (10). Elsevier BV: 2117–2121. doi:10.1016/j.cellsig.2014.06.008. ISSN 0898-6568.
• Beigh, Mushtaq Ahmad; Showkat, Mehvish; Bashir, Basharat; Bashir, Asma; Hussain, Mahboob ul; Andrabi, Khurshid Iqbal (2014). "Growth Inhibition by Bupivacaine Is Associated with Inactivation of Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinase 1". BioMed Research International. 2014. Wiley: 1–9. doi:10.1155/2014/831845. ISSN 2314-6133.
• Waza, Ajaz Ahmad; Andrabi, Khurshid; Hussain, Mahboob Ul (2014). "Protein kinase C (PKC) mediated interaction between conexin43 (Cx43) and K+(ATP) channel subunit (Kir6.1) in cardiomyocyte mitochondria: Implications in cytoprotection against hypoxia induced cell apoptosis". Cellular Signalling. 26 (9). Elsevier BV: 1909–1917. doi:10.1016/j.cellsig.2014.05.002. ISSN 0898-6568.