Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Vice Chair for Research Professor of Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology Ph.D., All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India Office: 2085 Health Science North             (304) 293-2554 Laboratory: 2085 HSN rnaz@hsc.wvu.edu Curriculum Vitae

Academic Interests:

Dr. Naz’s research interests are in the area of testis-specific gene expression, contraceptive vaccine development, fertilization, and infertility. Besides various modalities of contraception available, the world population has exceeded 6.3 billion, increasing at the rate of 1 billion every ~12 years, and there are over 1 million elective abortions every year in the U.S. due to unintended pregnancies. There is an urgent need for a better method for contraception that is acceptable and effective.

His laboratory focuses on delineating sperm-specific antigens that have a role in antisperm antibody-mediated in infertility, and can be used for the development of contraceptive vaccines in men and women. Over 10% of infertility is caused by antisperm antibodies produced in male and/or female partner of an infertile couple. The molecules and mechanisms causing the development of antisperm antibodies and infertility are unclear. Various advanced techniques of molecular biology, immunology, cell biology, reproductive biology, proteomics, and genomics are employed. Over ten genes that are specifically expressed in human testis, ovary, and prostate have been cloned and sequenced, and published from the laboratory. Novel genes are actively being searched that have a role in gamete (sperm/oocyte) function and signal transduction pathways. Recombinant, DNA, and peptide vaccines are developed based upon these novel genes/recombinant proteins/bioactive peptide epitopes for contraceptive vaccine development. Another approach for immunocontraception is using preformed recombinant human antibodies of defined specificities. Human recombinant antibodies against defined sperm antigens that cause infertility are being engineered in vitro by the recombinant technology for immunocontraception. Dr. Naz has some developing interests in prostate cancer, immunopathology of pregnancy, and endocrine disruptors. Presently, several basic, clinical, and translational research projects are going on.

Dr. Naz has published over 165 peer- reviewed full length articles in reputed journals including Science, PNAS, and JCI, authored/edited 6 books, served on several study sections of the NIH, DOD, and  various international funding agencies, and is presently in the editorial boards of seven journals including Human Reproduction, Molecular Reproduction and Development, and Journal of Andrology. The research activities are funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health and Child Development (NICHD/NIH). Some of the articles published recently are listed below:

Selected Recent Publications:

Naz, R. K. Contraceptive vaccines. Drugs, 65, 593-603, 2005.

Naz, R. K., Gupta, S. K., Gupta, J. C., Vyas, H. K., and Talwar, G. P. Recent advances in contraceptive vaccine development. Hum. Reprod. 20, 3271-3283, 2005.

Naz, R. K. Effect of sperm DNA vaccine on fertility of female mice. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 73, 918-928, 2006.

Naz RK, Sellamuthu R. Receptors in spermatozoa: Are they real? J. Androl. 27: 627-636, 2006.

Naz RK, Dabir P. Peptide vaccines against cancer, infectious diseases, and conception. Frontiers in Bioscience, 12:1833-1844, 2007.

Bhande S, Naz RK. Molecular identities of human sperm proteins reactive with antibodies in sera of immunoinfertile women. Mol. Reprod. Develop.74:332-340, 2007.

Naz RK. Immunocontraceptive effect of Izumo and enhancement by combination vaccination. Mol. Reprod. Develop. 75:336-344, 2008.

Laboratory