Postdoctoral Research Fellow
PhD (Otago) MRSNZ
Office Room LG-13, Lower ground, School of Medicine Building, University of Christchurch, New Zealand
Tel +64 3 364 1790
Email mak.sarwar@otago.ac.nz
Dr Sarwar is a postdoctoral research fellow in gynaecologic oncology, University of Otago, Christchurch. He specialised in molecular and cellular oncology research. He is an author of several peer-reviewed publications in notable international journals related to the tumour microenvironment and key intracellular signalling molecules in ovarian cancer.
As a lead investigator, Dr Sarwar is involved in a range of ovarian cancer translational projects with a special focus on inhibitory effects of non-receptor tyrosine kinases on ovarian cancer progression. The current research includes the investigation of the novel multi-targeted treatment for chemoresistant high-grade ovarian cancer and the mechanisms of disease development in low-grade ovarian cancer.
Publications
Evans, G. E., Mahajan, V., Wakeman, S., Slatter, T., Ponnampalam, A. P., Anderson, T. P., Sarwar, M., & Evans, J. J. (2023). A pilot study using unique targeted testing of the urogenital microbiome has potential as a predictive test during IVF for implantation outcome. Archives of Gynecology & Obstetrics. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s00404-023-06987-w
Sarwar, M., Sykes, P. H., Chitcholtan, K., & Evans, J. J. (2022). Collagen I dysregulation is pivotal for ovarian cancer progression. Tissue & Cell, 74, 101704. doi: 10.1016/j.tice.2021.101704
Sarwar, M., & Evans, J. J. (2021). Bioimprinting: Bringing together 2D and 3D in dissecting cancer biology [Expert opinion]. Biotechniques, 71(5), 543-546. doi: 10.2144/btn-2021-0058
Sarwar, M., Sykes, P. H., Chitcholtan, K., & Evans, J. J. (2021). Deciphering biophysical modulation in ovarian cancer cells. Cell Biochemistry & Biophysics, 79, 375-386. doi: 10.1007/s12013-020-00964-9
Sarwar, M., Sykes, P., & Evans, J. J. (2020). A doctrine of ovarian cancer translational research needs revisiting. International Journal of Cancer Management, 13(8), e105436. doi: 10.5812/ijcm.105436
Evans, G. E., Mahajan, V., Wakeman, S., Slatter, T., Ponnampalam, A. P., Anderson, T. P., Sarwar, M., & Evans, J. J. (2023). A pilot study using unique targeted testing of the urogenital microbiome has potential as a predictive test during IVF for implantation outcome. Archives of Gynecology & Obstetrics. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1007/s00404-023-06987-w
Journal - Research Article
Sarwar, M., Sykes, P. H., Chitcholtan, K., & Evans, J. J. (2022). Collagen I dysregulation is pivotal for ovarian cancer progression. Tissue & Cell, 74, 101704. doi: 10.1016/j.tice.2021.101704
Journal - Research Article
Sarwar, M., Sykes, P. H., Chitcholtan, K., & Evans, J. J. (2021). Deciphering biophysical modulation in ovarian cancer cells. Cell Biochemistry & Biophysics, 79, 375-386. doi: 10.1007/s12013-020-00964-9
Journal - Research Article
Sarwar, M., Sykes, P. H., Chitcholtan, K., Alkaisi, M. M., & Evans, J. J. (2019). The extracellular topographical environment influences ovarian cancer cell behaviour. Biochemical & Biophysical Research Communications, 508, 1188-1194. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.12.067
Journal - Research Article
Jones, A. M., Ferguson, P., Gardner, J., Rooker, S., Sutton, T., Ahn, A., Chatterjee, A., … Sarwar, M., Emanuel, P., Kenwright, D., … Eccles, M. R. (2016). NRAS and EPHB6 mutation rates differ in metastatic melanomas of patients in the North Island versus South Island of New Zealand. Oncotarget, 7(27), 41017-41030. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.9351
Journal - Research Article
Sarwar, M., & Evans, J. J. (2021). Bioimprinting: Bringing together 2D and 3D in dissecting cancer biology [Expert opinion]. Biotechniques, 71(5), 543-546. doi: 10.2144/btn-2021-0058
Journal - Research Other
Sarwar, M., Sykes, P. H., Chitcholtan, K., & Evans, J. J. (2020). Extracellular biophysical environment: Guilty of being a modulator of drug sensitivity in ovarian cancer cells [Short communication]. Biochemical & Biophysical Research Communications, 527(1), 180-186. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.04.107
Journal - Research Other
Sarwar, M., Sykes, P., & Evans, J. J. (2020). A doctrine of ovarian cancer translational research needs revisiting. International Journal of Cancer Management, 13(8), e105436. doi: 10.5812/ijcm.105436
Journal - Research Other
Sarwar, M., Chitcholtan, K., Sykes, P. H., & Evans, J. J. (2018). Microenvironment biophysics: It is vital to tumour cell behaviour including resistance to chemotherapy. Proceedings of the New Zealand Society for Oncology (NZSO) Conference. Retrieved from http://www.nzsoncology.org.nz/
Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract
Sarwar, M., Chitcholtan, K., Sykes, P. H., & Evans, J. J. (2018, August). Unseen to be seen: A hidden microenvironment regulates ovarian cancer cell behaviour. Poster session presented at the Medical Sciences Congress (MedSci), Queenstown, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)
Eccles, M. R., Chatterjee, A., Rodger, E. J., Ahn, A., Leichter, A., Motwani, J., Stockwell, P., Parry, M., … Gardner, J., … Sarwar, M., … multiple other members of The Maurice Wilkins Centre. (2017, September). Can research involving NZ melanoma patient participation and extensive networking by researchers help reduce the melanoma burden in NZ? Verbal presentation at the Queenstown Molecular Biology (QMB) Meetings, Queenstown, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Sarwar, M., Chitcholtan, K., Alkaisi, M. M., Sykes, P. H., & Evans, J. J. (2017, September). The cell-environment handshake: An interaction that regulates gene expression. Verbal presentation at the Medical Sciences Congress (MedSci), Queenstown, New Zealand.
Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs
Sarwar, M. M. (2020). The influence of aspects of the biophysical environment on ovarian cancer cell behaviour (PhD). University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10523/9887
Awarded Doctoral Degree
