Hi, I'm Khaja Shameem, Postdoctoral fellow at Huntington Medical Research Institutes.

Dr. Khaja Shameem Mohammed Abdul served as a judge for the Pasadena Unified School District Innovation Exposition 2025 at Blair High School in Pasadena, where middle school students showcased creative STEM projects and shared their exciting new ideas.

Dr. Khaja Shameem Mohammed Abdul delivered a TED-style talk titled “How Vaping Harms the Heart” at the Explore Caltech 2025 event organized by the Caltech Postdoc Association. His presentation highlighted recent research uncovering how nicotine damages heart cells and emphasized the growing public health concern of youth vaping.

In Press: Dr. Khaja Shameem’s review article, “Recent advances in PHLPP1 and PHLPP2 research: an update in the heart” has been accepted for publication in Current Opinion in Physiology.

This review provides a comprehensive overview of the emerging roles of PHLPP1 and PHLPP2 phosphatases in cardiac signaling and disease. It discusses how these enzymes regulate key survival pathways such as Akt, their transcriptional and post-translational control mechanisms, and their involvement in cardiovascular injury and remodeling. The article also explores the therapeutic potential of targeting PHLPP1/2 through small molecules, peptides, non-coding RNAs, and natural compounds.

By summarizing recent discoveries and highlighting unanswered questions, this review underscores the need for continued investigation into PHLPP1/2 signaling to develop novel strategies for cardiac protection and repair.

Read article on ScienceDirect

Dr. Khaja Shameem took part in the American Heart Association’s 5K Heart Walk. The event highlights the importance of community engagement in advancing cardiovascular health, complementing his ongoing research into the molecular mechanisms of heart disease.

In Press: Dr. Khaja Shameem’s review article, “Protein Phosphatases in Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease: Emerging Mechanisms and Therapeutic Strategies” has been accepted for publication in Current Opinion in Physiology.

This review highlights the pivotal role of protein phosphatases in the pathogenesis of MASLD and MASH, focusing on their regulation of insulin signaling, lipid metabolism, inflammation, and fibrosis. It emphasizes how targeting phosphatase activity may offer new therapeutic opportunities to reduce steatosis, improve insulin sensitivity, and alleviate fibrosis, addressing a critical unmet need in liver disease treatment.

Read article on ScienceDirect

Dr. Khaja Shameem marked the conclusion of the 2025 SURF and AHA-SURE programs at HMRI, where he mentored undergraduate students.

Begining of SURF and AHA-SURE program at  HMRI.

Dr. Khaja Shameem delivered the Bob Mackin Scientific Lecture at HMRI, presenting recent advances in cardiovascular research to a general public audience.

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