Dr Ayesha Sabah Rahman

Associate Professor in Microbiology:

• PhD (Molecular Microbiology) University of Birmingham, 2005 (2001-2005).
• MSc (Applied Biomolecular Technology) University of Nottingham, 2000-2001.
• Bachelor of Pharmacy, 1999.

Professional Memberships

• Member of the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• Member of the British Society of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)

After completing her undergraduate degree in Pharmacy, Ayesha studied for a Masters in Applied Biomolecular Technology at the University of Nottingham. Ayesha’s research career commenced with doctoral studies at the University of Birmingham (UoB), where she read to elucidate the biosynthetic pathway of the antibiotic, mupirocin, in Pseudomonas fluorescens NCIMB 10586. After completing her doctoral thesis, she worked at UoB as a post-doctoral research fellow on a BBSRC-funded project investigating the molecular pathways and mechanism of acid resistance in E.coli K12 and E.coli O157:H7 (Sakai) using transcriptomics (microarrays) and metabolomics. This was followed by an exciting opportunity at Aston University where she was tasked with setting up and applying genomic evaluation technologies to projects at the interface between drug delivery and genomics.

Ayesha began her academic career as a Senior Lecturer in Pharmaceutical Microbiology at the University of Wolverhampton's School of Pharmacy. Subsequently, she moved to the University of Leicester as an Associate Professor in Pharmaceutical Science, where she co-led the design and establishment of the new MPharm program. In 2024, she joined the University of Birmingham to develop oral biofilm research and lead on the infection theme.

• BDS

Current projects:

• MIBTP-Case award: Mechanistic Evaluation of the effect of dry coated antibiotic amino-acid complexes in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
• Preparation of Micro/Nanoparticles for the delivery of high-dose antimicrobial agents to the respiratory system in cystic fibrosis patients
• Investigation of the effect of amino acids on P. aeruginosa biofilms and pigment formation.

Ayesha’s vision is to develop a portfolio of preventative and therapeutic strategies to combat oral infections by deploying cutting-edge science and research inspired education to promote oral health and well-being. 

Research interests

• Study the formation of polymicrobial biofilms and dissect interspecies and host-pathogen interactions
• Design and develop effective formulations using antimicrobial agents and multifunctional excipients to treat and prevent biofilm related infections.
• Design, synthesis and characterisation of novel heterocyclic compounds with potential antimicrobial activity.
• Evaluation of clinical effectiveness of antibiotics and vaccines. 

• As part of her external academic activities, Ayesha periodically reviews grant applications for various funding bodies including BBSRC, European Society of Clinical Microbiology, and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID), Royal Society of Chemistry
• Reviews research articles for journals such as BMJ Public Health, BMC Pharmacology and Colloids and Surface B and MDPI group of journals
• She is currently the Academic Editor of PLOS ONE journal.
• She is the external examiner for MSc in Antimicrobial resistance at Coventry University.
• Ayesha has extensive experience in developing modules and courses for external accreditation bodies such as the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) for the MPharm programme and the Royal Society of Biology (RSB) for BSc programmes.