This time Scientific Bangladesh has interviewed Dr. Md Nurul Islam. He is a Non resident 
Bangladeshi Microbiologist working in the USA. Currently, He is a Director of Product Development at Intact Genomics Inc.
1.Scientific Bangladesh: Would you like to tell us about your academic and research life? In another way, how would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?
Dr. Md Nurul Islam: I completed BSc Honours and MSc in Microbiology from the University of Dhaka and a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology (Protein Engineering) from Kyushu Institute of Technology (KIT), Japan. During my Ph.D. studies at KIT, I elucidated the protein engineering studies of pyruvate carboxylase (PC), an important biotin-dependent enzyme that is responsible for the ATP-dependent carboxylation of pyruvate, yielding oxaloacetate. My focus was on the poorly understood molecular mechanism of PC activation and its regulation by the allosteric regulator, acetyl-CoA. After my graduation in 2005, I received a coveted postdoctoral fellowship at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where I have investigated the functional role of the very important helicase, RECQL5 gene in DNA repair and its impact on cancer. During my tenure there, I made major discoveries of two novel domains in RECQL5, namely KIX and SRI, which are essential for the transcriptional regulation. I established a model that RECQL5 protects genome stability and reduces cancer risk via two parallel mechanisms: by regulation of homologous recombination and by the interaction with RNA polymerase II. In 2010, I joined as a Research Assistant Professor at the Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University School of Medicine. At Yale, I have conducted independent research projects to discover a novel Breast Cancer (BRC) repeat in tumor suppressor genes, RECQL5, and RTEL1. Currently, I am working as a Director of Product Development at Intact Genomics Inc.
2.Scientific Bangladesh: What has made you a researcher and/or teacher? In another way, what is the story behind your becoming a researcher?
Dr. Md Nurul Islam: Interesting and tricky question, it is the predestination (Qadr of Allah). I wanted to go to the USA for the Ph.D. program but 9-11 happened, then changed my direction toward Japan. My first experiment was cloning a gene (Pyruvate Carboxylase) to express a protein which motivated me to become a researcher. My Ph.D. supervisor, Professor Hiroki Kondo inspired me a lot who used to say: “if you work hard, I will not starve you”.
3.Scientific Bangladesh: How do you manage the fund for research? From where you get funds for research?
Dr. Md Nurul Islam: To manage research funds, you need to have unique technology. We have invented the unique Fungal Artificial Chromosome (FAC) technology (patent protected) which was highlighted as the Nature Chemical Biology cover paper in August 2017. FAC technology can capture large DNA fragments up to 300 kb and shuttle them into advanced or engineered fungal hosts for heterologous expression. This enables robust production and rapid identification of fungal secondary metabolites as leading drug candidates. Last 2-3 years, we have received more than 10 millions of dollars of funding from NIH and CDC. Moreover, I have developed and commercialized more than 50 molecular biological products and in vitro diagnostic kits from where we are generating millions of dollars revenues.
4.Scientific Bangladesh: Do you think Bangladeshi researchers apply enough for international funds?
Dr. Md Nurul Islam: I do not think so. Only a limited number of researchers from Bangladesh are getting international funds through international collaborations. This is due to the lack of research infrastructures in Bangladesh because most of the universities are teaching based, not research-based.
5.Scientific Bangladesh: Inadequate fund for research is a major problem in Bangladesh. What would you say in response to pointing fingers by many to this basic problem worldwide, not only in Bangladesh?
Dr. Md Nurul Islam: Funding is essential to run high-quality research especially in biological fields. It is true, inadequate funding is a major problem in Bangladesh. To improve the funding opportunities following steps could be helpful: a). The government should establish a Biotech hub with state-of-art facilities where small startup companies can do their research, and develop new technologies. b). The government should set up small business innovative research (SBIR) funding for small startup companies. Proper management with proper distribution of funding and identification of the potential research areas could help to increase the success in research and development. c). Need collaboration between public universities and private companies to increase funding opportunities. d). Bangladeshi researchers should collaborate with international scholars including Bangladeshi origin scholars living abroad.
6.Scientific Bangladesh: What is your research area? What type of research facilities/ infrastructures you have or developed over years and how?
Dr. Md Nurul Islam: My research areas: • In vitro diagnostic (IVD) kits and molecular biology products development • Protein engineering, protein production and downstream process development • CRISPR-Cas9 based genome editing • Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) • Cellular/Cancer biology-based assay development • Secondary metabolites based drug discovery Recently, I have developed Real-Time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) based SARS-CoV-2 virus detection kit. This kit allows efficient cDNA synthesis and qPCR in a single tube. This probe-based one-step RT-qPCR 2x master mix contains Reverse Transcriptase, Taq DNA polymerase, RNase inhibitor, MgCl2, dNTPs, stabilizers, and low ROX reference dye with proprietary buffer providing improved RT-qPCR efficiency, wider dynamic range, superior sensitivity and specificity. I have also developed reverse transcriptase recombinase polymerase amplification (RT-RPA) based on a simple, rapid, and inexpensive kit for diagnostic of SARS-CoV-2. This detection kit works in three steps and can be completed in less than 30 minutes. Step (1): 5 min incubation – A patient swab having few cells from the inside of the nose or mouth will be dipped into a tube containing proprietary buffer to break the cells to release RNA; Step (2): 15 min incubation – isothermal amplification of the extracted RNA using RT-RPA; Step (3): 2 min incubation – visual readout of the result by eye using a commercially available paper dipstick. Moreover, I have developed and commercialized more than 50 molecular biological and in vitro diagnostic products at Intact Genomics Inc. To see these products, please visit https://www.intactgenomics.com/products/
7.Scientific Bangladesh: Tell us about your publications and patent, if any. Tell more about your most loved publication/s and/or patents.
Dr. Md Nurul Islam: I have published papers in high-quality peer-reviewed journals such as Nature chemical biology, Cell Stem Cell, Molecular & Cellular Biology, Journal of Biological Chemistry, Biochemistry, European Journal of Biochemistry, Protein Engineering Design, and Selection, and so on. I have also a few patents pending on the construction of high-fidelity DNA polymerase and the development of enhanced Recombinase Polymerase Amplification (eRPA) kit and its diagnostic application.
8.Scientific Bangladesh: Would you like to share your google scholar, LinkedIn, or any other profile?
Dr. Md Nurul Islam: Sure, here is my LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/md-nurul-islam-phd-93332a57/
9. Scientific Bangladesh: Tells us about research grants and awards you have obtained till now.
Dr. Md Nurul Islam: We have received several fundings from NIH and CDC, some of them listed below:
1. NIH grant: Rapid discovery of thousands of intact biosynthetic gene pathways for bioactive natural product compounds from un-sequenced filamentous fungi using a novel FAC-NGS tool
2. NIH grant: Rapid dissection of the biosynthesis of anti-MRSA antibiotics produced in co-culture by extremophilic fungi through the development of Fungal Artificial Chromosomes
3. NIH grant: A robust heterologous expression system of intact fungal secondary metabolite gene clusters for natural product discovery in Aspergillus nidulans.
4 CDC grant: Single 100 kb-200 kb molecule sequencing to rapidly and cost-effectively assemble high-quality Arthropod genomes de novo.
I have received the following awards:
1. National Institutes of Health (NIH) Postdoctoral Award (2005 – 2010).
2. Japanese Government Scholarship for postgraduate studies (2004 – 2005).
3. Uemura Scholarship for postgraduate studies in Japan (2003 – 2004).
10. Scientific Bangladesh: How many researchers (PhDs and Masters) have you developed by this time? In other words, share your supervising story.
Dr. Md Nurul Islam: I have supervised undergraduates, graduates, and postdoctoral fellows during my tenure at Yale University. Currently, I am supervising and mentoring research associate, junior and senior scientists, assisting marketing teams, leading a multi-disciplinary team, and serving as a team member on additional projects.
11. Scientific Bangladesh: What 1. qualities and 2. skills you expect in prospective researchers?
Dr. Md Nurul Islam: I would expect the following qualities and skills:
Intelligence
Confidence
Time management
Commitment
Hard-working mindset
Curiosity to learn
Self-motivation
Critical thinking
12.Scientific Bangladesh: What are the professional organizations of researchers you involved with? How important it is for researchers to join such professional bodies?
Dr. Md Nurul Islam: I was involved in the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Now I am working in a biotech company, not much involved with any professional organizations.
13.Scientific Bangladesh: Do you think different professional bodies of scientists playing their due role in Bangladesh? What are your suggestions for the leading professional organizations of scientists?
Dr. Md Nurul Islam: I have been out of the country for the last 18 years, so it is difficult to comment on different professional bodies of scientists and what roles they are playing in Bangladesh.
14. Scientific Bangladesh: How important is leadership ability to become a great researcher? Should researchers take leadership training? Did you ever get training on Leadership?
Dr. Md Nurul Islam: I have worked in three different sectors: US Government as an NIH postdoctoral fellow, Academia as a Research Assistant Professor at Yale University, and Private Biotech Company as a Director of Product Development at Intact Genomics. It doesn’t matter where you work but you need leadership ability. Out of the three sectors, I feel working in a private company needs the most leadership skills. Doing Ph.D., Postdoc and any other professional training will help to buildup leadership skills.
15.Scientific Bangladesh: If asked what will be your three suggestions for the Science Ministry of Bangladesh?
Dr. Md Nurul Islam: Three suggestions are :
i) Set up a Biotech hub with state-of-art facilities where small startup companies can develop new technologies.
(ii) Set up small business innovative research (SBIR) as seed funding for small startup companies.
(iii) Take initiatives to bring back talented Bangladeshi researchers working abroad to establish a strong research team in Bangladesh. We should take lessons from what India and China are doing.