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Azmat Riaz
- Clinical Assistant Professor
- Ext: 5326
As a dedicated obstetrician and gynecologist with extensive clinical and academic experience, Dr. Azmat is committed to advancing women's health through both practice and education. Her career has been marked by a commitment to excellence, innovation, and mentorship. She received the President of Pakistan Academic Excellence Award, which recognized her contributions to medical education and clinical practice. Additionally, she serves as an examiner for internationally recognized clinical exams, contributing to the assessment and training of future specialists in her field. A notable highlight of her career was being featured by the BBC in a medical documentary (Life and Birth), where she performed a complex procedure. This experience underscored the importance of her sharing medical knowledge with a broader audience and highlighted the critical nature of her work. In addition, she holds a double Master's degree in reproductive health, human genetics, and female infertility from the University of Sydney, Australia. In clinical practice, she prioritizes patient-centered care, ensuring each individual receives personalized and compassionate treatment. Her teaching roles have allowed her to mentor the next generation of medical professionals, fostering a learning environment that emphasizes critical thinking and continuous improvement. Dr. Azmat is always eager to connect with fellow professionals, educators, and innovators in the field of women's health.
Education
- FCPS in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (Fellow of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Pakistan).
- MRCOG, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, UK
- MPhil, University of Sydney, Australia.
- MMed, Reproductive Health and Human Genetics, Sydney Medical School, Australia.
- MBBS, University of Health Sciences, Pakistan.
FCPS in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (Fellow of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Pakistan).
MRCOG, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, UK
MPhil, University of Sydney, Australia.
MMed, Reproductive Health and Human Genetics, Sydney Medical School, Australia.
MBBS, University of Health Sciences, Pakistan.
Experience
- Specialist in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dubai.
- Clinical Fellow in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospitals Birmingham, UK.
- Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aga Khan Health Services, Pakistan.
- Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Government of Pakistan.
Specialist in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dubai.
Clinical Fellow in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospitals Birmingham, UK.
Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Aga Khan Health Services, Pakistan.
Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Government of Pakistan.
Teaching Area
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Reproductive Health
Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Reproductive Health
Research
- Immune cell changes in female infertility
- Reproductive Health
- Gynaecological cancer screening
Immune cell changes in female infertility
Reproductive Health
Gynaecological cancer screening
Publications
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Circulating and Endometrial Regulatory T Cell and Related Populations in Endometriosis and Infertility: Endometriosis Is Associated with Blunting of Endometrial Cyclical Effects and Reduced Proportions in Moderate-Severe Disease. A J Hey-Cunningham, A Riaz , P D Fromm , F Kupresanin , R Markham 1, H M McGuire. Reprod Sci . 2021
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Dendritic cells and impaired immune tolerance in infertility. C. Wong, A. Riaz, M. Berbic, D Hart, P.D. Fromm, F Kupresanin, R.P.S. Jansen, R. Markham, I.S. Fraser, A.J. Hey-Cunningham. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.
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JournalFatme Al Anouti, Luai A. Ahmed, Azmat Riaz, William B. Grant, Nadir Shah, Raghib Ali , Juma Alkaabi, and Syed M. Shah , Vitamin D Deficiency and Its Associated Factors among Female Migrants in the United Arab Emirates, Nutrients, Mar 2022
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JournalAzmat Riaz, Khaldoun Tabbah, Riaz, A., & Tabbah, K. (2024). Folic acid allergy in pregnancy: a case report. Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 75(1), 119–121. https://doi.org/10.47391/JPMA.10691, JPMA, Jan 2025
Circulating and Endometrial Regulatory T Cell and Related Populations in Endometriosis and Infertility: Endometriosis Is Associated with Blunting of Endometrial Cyclical Effects and Reduced Proportions in Moderate-Severe Disease. A J Hey-Cunningham, A Riaz , P D Fromm , F Kupresanin , R Markham 1, H M McGuire. Reprod Sci . 2021
Evidence to date supports regulatory T cell (Treg) alterations in endometriosis; however, the relationship remains unclear and Tregs have not previously been investigated with respect to infertility in endometriosis. This prospective cross-sectional cohort study details circulating and endometrial tissue specific disturbances in Tregs and broader gated populations in women of reproductive age with and without endometriosis (n = 57 and 29 respectively) using flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Participants were characterised by menstrual cycle phase, r- ASRM endometriosis disease stage and fertility status. In the endometrium of women with endometriosis, endometrial Tregs and CD4+ lymphocyte proportions did not change between the proliferative and secretory phases, while in women without the disease, they significantly decreased (p = 0.045 and p = 0.039, respectively). In women with endometriosis, endometrial Tregs were lower than in women without endometriosis overall (p = 0.050 as a proportion of all CD45+ immune cells). We have shown for the first time that proportions of CD4+ lymphocytes (p = 0.021), overall lymphocytes (p = 0.034), and non-granulocytes (p = 0.027) were significantly decreased in the endometrium of women with moderate-severe (r-ASRM stages III and IV) compared to minimal-mild (r-ASRM stages I and II) endometriosis. During the secretory phase, circulating Treg proportions were significantly increased in infertile compared to fertile women (p = 0.049). This study confirms differences in endometrial Tregs in women with endometriosis, with blunting of normal menstrual cyclical variations, reduced proportions during the proliferative phase and disease stage-specific relationships.
About the journal
Dendritic cells and impaired immune tolerance in infertility. C. Wong, A. Riaz, M. Berbic, D Hart, P.D. Fromm, F Kupresanin, R.P.S. Jansen, R. Markham, I.S. Fraser, A.J. Hey-Cunningham. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.
About the journal
Fatme Al Anouti, Luai A. Ahmed, Azmat Riaz, William B. Grant, Nadir Shah, Raghib Ali , Juma Alkaabi, and Syed M. Shah , Vitamin D Deficiency and Its Associated Factors among Female Migrants in the United Arab Emirates, Nutrients, Mar 2022
Vitamin D is important for bone health, and vitamin D deficiency could be linked to noncommunicable diseases, including cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and its associated risk factors among female migrants from Philippines, Arab, and South Asian countries residing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). We used a cross-sectional study to recruit a random sample (N = 550) of female migrants aged 18 years and over in the city of Al Ain, UAE. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations ≤20 ng/mL (50 nmol/L). We used multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify risk factors associated with vitamin D deficiency. The mean age of participants was 35 years (SD ± 10). The overall prevalence rate of vitamin D deficiency was 67% (95% CI 60–73%), with the highest rate seen in Arabs (87%), followed by South Asians (83%) and the lowest in Filipinas (15%). Multivariate analyses showed that low physical activity (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 4.59; 95% CI 1.98, 10.63), having more than 5 years duration of residence in the UAE (aOR = 4.65; 95% CI: 1.31, 16.53) and being obese (aOR = 3.56; 95% CI 1.04, 12.20) were independently associated with vitamin D deficiency, after controlling for age and nationality. In summary, vitamin D deficiency was highly prevalent among female migrants, especially Arabs and South Asians. It is crucial that health professionals in the UAE become aware of this situation among this vulnerable subpopulation and provide intervention strategies aiming to rectify vitamin D deficiency by focusing more on sun exposure, physical activity, and supplementation.
About the journal
Azmat Riaz, Khaldoun Tabbah, Riaz, A., & Tabbah, K. (2024). Folic acid allergy in pregnancy: a case report. Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 75(1), 119–121. https://doi.org/10.47391/JPMA.10691, JPMA, Jan 2025
Folic acid intake prevents neural tube defects in the developing foetus. Folic acid allergy in pregnancy is very rare. Most physicians are unaware of this complication. Only 29 cases of folic acid allergy, mainly in non-pregnant women, have been reported in literature worldwide since 1949. In most reported cases, the involvement of folic acid was confirmed by the absence of symptoms after withdrawing folic acid. We present a case of folic acid allergy in a primigravida. The patient developed severe urticaria within hours of folic acid intake, followed by mild vaginal bleeding. Her symptoms improved within days of stopping folic acid. She delivered a healthy baby at term without anomalies or pregnancy complications. Allergy to folic acid was confirmed postnatally by oral intake of a lower dose of folic acid, where the patient again had urticaria that resolved when the medication was stopped.
About the journal
Conference Presentation
- Roles of Regulatory T Cells in Endometriosis-associated Infertility (2017) at The International Congress of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Prague, Czech Republic.
- Maternal Health: Challenges and Opportunities in a Developing Country, The 4th Annual Queen Elizabeth II Centre Conference, Gerringong, Australia.
- Infertility in Endometriosis: Is It Curable? Three-Minute Talk Competition, The University of Sydney, Australia.
- T Cell Disturbances Are Associated with Female Infertility, RCOG Congress, Hyderabad, India.
- Dysregulated Immuno-Suppression in Women with Endometriosis-Associated Infertility, Annual Scientific Meeting of the RANZCOG, Sydney, Australia.
- Infertility in Endometriosis: Are the Suppressor Cells Dysregulated? Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society for Reproductive Biology, Sydney, Australia.
- Folic Acid Allergy in Pregnancy: A Case Report. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Congress, 2024
- Surrogacy After Breast Cancer: A Case Report from the UAE. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Congress, 2024
- Physicians' Awareness of Cancer Screening in the UAE: A Cross-Sectional Study. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Congress, 2024 Oman
Roles of Regulatory T Cells in Endometriosis-associated Infertility (2017) at The International Congress of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Prague, Czech Republic.
Maternal Health: Challenges and Opportunities in a Developing Country, The 4th Annual Queen Elizabeth II Centre Conference, Gerringong, Australia.
Infertility in Endometriosis: Is It Curable? Three-Minute Talk Competition, The University of Sydney, Australia.
T Cell Disturbances Are Associated with Female Infertility, RCOG Congress, Hyderabad, India.
Dysregulated Immuno-Suppression in Women with Endometriosis-Associated Infertility, Annual Scientific Meeting of the RANZCOG, Sydney, Australia.
Infertility in Endometriosis: Are the Suppressor Cells Dysregulated? Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society for Reproductive Biology, Sydney, Australia.
Folic Acid Allergy in Pregnancy: A Case Report. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Congress, 2024
Surrogacy After Breast Cancer: A Case Report from the UAE. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Congress, 2024
Physicians' Awareness of Cancer Screening in the UAE: A Cross-Sectional Study. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Congress, 2024 Oman
Memberships, Awards and Honors
- Society for Reproductive Biology, Birmingham, UK.
- Society of Reproductive Biology, Australia.
- Member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, UK.
- Grant: Circulating and Endometrial Regulatory T Cells and Related Populations in Endometriosis and Infertility: Endometriosis is Associated with Blunting of Endometrial Cyclical Effects and Reduced Proportions in Moderate-Severe Disease, Balnaves Foundation 42 Kick Start Grant, 2021 (NSW, Australia).
- Presentation: Roles of Regulatory T Cells in Endometriosis-Associated Infertility (2017) at The International Congress of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Prague, Czech Republic.
- Maternal Health: Challenges and Opportunities in a Developing Country, The 4th Annual Queen Elizabeth II Centre Conference, Gerringong, Australia.
- T Cell Disturbances Are Associated with Female Infertility, RCOG Congress, Hyderabad, India.
- Dysregulated Immuno-Suppression in Women with Endometriosis-Associated Infertility, Annual Scientific Meeting of the RANZCOG, Sydney, Australia.
- Infertility in Endometriosis: Are the Suppressor Cells Dysregulated? Annual Scientific Meeting of the Society for Reproductive Biology, Sydney, Australia.