Dr. Faisal Khan
- BS, University of Peshawar
- MSc, University of Oxford
- DPhil, University of Oxford
- PGCert, Harvard Medical School
Dr Faisal Khan is a biologist and technology entrepreneur. For more than a decade, his interdisciplinary laboratory is responsible for pioneering work in biology and at its interfaces, including the federally-funded precision medicine pilot and the ground-breaking SynBioKP project funded by the provincial government.
With a rare blend of academic excellence and policy leadership, Dr. Khan stands at the intersection of cutting-edge research and action on the ground, transforming scientific innovation into tangible benefits for underserved communities. Dr Khan is led by a firm belief that science should not only push boundaries but also serve humanity, particularly in regions where it’s needed most, making him a strong advocate of ‘home-grown, world-class’ science.
Beyond research, Dr. Khan is a trailblazer in shaping Pakistan’s life sciences ecosystem. He heads the Centre for Genomic Sciences at Rehman Medical Institute and serves as Director of the Joint Center for Bioeconomy, where he has been instrumental in fostering innovation and building capacity in the biotechnology sector. Dr Khan has also served on numerous boards and advises both the Federal and Provincial governments on science, technology, innovation, higher education, youth and the industries.
Dr Khan’s stellar academic career started as an Oxford-Noon as well as an HEC scholar at the University of Oxford, and has since won numerous awards in academia, industry and the government. In 2019, he was nominated as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, where he also serves on the Global Future Councils. In 2021, he was tapped as the Advisor to the Minister for Science and Technology and IT in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where he designed and spearheaded the transformative Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Science Agenda, launched in 2022.
Affiliations
- Director and PI, Precision Medicine Lab, National Centre for Big Data and Cloud Computing, Pakistan
- Head, Centre for Genomic Sciences, Rehman Medical Institute, Peshawar
- Director, Joint Centre for Bioeconomy, IMSciences, Peshawar
- Visiting Faculty, School of Visual Arts and Design, BNU, Lahore
- Visiting Faculty, Institute of Integrative Biosciences, CECOS University, Peshawar
Academic Service
- Member, Steering Committee for New Projects, Directorate of S&T, GoKP
- Member, Global Future Council on Synthetic Biology, World Economic Forum, 2021-24
- Advisor to the Minister for Science and Technology, Government of KP, 2021–23
- Member, National Core Group on Biotechnology, 2019
- Member, National Committee on Research and Development, HEC, 2019
- Member, Prime Minister’s National Youth Council, 2019
- Board Member, KP Information Technology Board, 2016–2021
- Board Member, KP Higher Education Research Endowment Fund, 2017
- Member, HEC National Curriculum Revision Committee on Bioinformatics, 2015
- Focal Person for the Government of Pakistan on Synthetic Biology, UN Convention on Biodiversity
Key Awards and Honors
- Young Global Leader, World Economic Forum, 2019
- Harvard Medical School Continuing Education Scholarship, 2019
- Young Development Leaders Award (Biotechnology), Government of Pakistan, 2016
- BSCB Honor Fell Awards, 2009, 2012
- Oxford University-Noon Foundation Award, 2009
- HEC Overseas Scholarship for Masters and PhD, 2008–2013
- Novartis Biotechnology Leadership Camp, 2009
- Peshawar University Merit Scholarship, 2004–2007