M. Hashim Raza

Hashim Raza
  • Associate Professor, Child Language Doctoral Program

Contact Info

785-864-4569

Biography —

Dr. Raza received his Ph.D. degree in 2011 in Molecular Biology from the University of Punjab, Lahore. He conducted his Ph.D research project at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) where he later completed his post-doctoral training. During his tenure at the NIH, he studied the genetics of persistent stuttering using advanced tools of human genetics and genomics. He used a family-based approach and identified several new genes with mutations associated with stuttering. Dr. Raza joined the faculty in Child Language Doctoral Program (CLDP) at the University of Kansas (KU), Lawrence campus in December 2015 where his research focused to the genetics of specific language impairment (SLI).

Research —

Research Interests

The long-term goals of Professor Raza’s research are to identify the molecular architecture of language development using individuals and families with language impairment. A significant fraction of children in the United States have unexplained and persistent problems acquiring proficient language skills despite adequate intelligence, no hearing loss or other developmental disabilities like autism. Children with specific language impairment (SLI) are at the higher risk of lifelong issues with lower academic achievements, reading impairments, difficulty in developing peer relationships and social anxiety. SLI is highly heritable and cluster in families, suggesting genetic factors are involved in this disorder, but the underlying molecular basis remains unclear. The etiological basis of SLI is important for improved diagnosis, early intervention strategies, genetic counseling, bridging the gap between genetic basis and the neurological basis of language related disorders. The aims of this research program are:

  1.     Behavior data collection in extended families and map genes associated with SLI using state of the art tolls in human genetics.  
  2.     Identify candidate genes and molecular pathways to be associated with neural and brain development in families with SLI.
  3.     Functional characterization of the identified candidate genes in SLI.

The expected outcomes are to demonstrate disease mechanisms in SLI or determine genotype-phenotype correlations through functional molecular assays and next-generation sequencing/genotyping. We expect to identify key language related genes and their potential to contribute our understanding in language development. Our findings will allow us in future to characterize neural circuits underlying vocal learning in animal models, which could provide opportunities to develop models of spoken language in human.

Selected Publications —

Andres, E. M., Earnest, K. K., Zhong, C., Rice, M. L., & Raza, M. H. (in review). Family-based whole exome analysis of specific language impairment (SLI) identifies rare variants in BUD13, a component of the retention and splicing (RES) complex. Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders. (Peer Reviewed)

Martinelli, A., Rice, M. L., Talcott, J. B., Diaz, R., Smith, S., Raza, M. H., Snowling, M., Hulme, C., Stein, J., Hayiou-Thomas, M., Hawi, Z., Kent, L., Pitt, S., Newbury, D., & Paracchini, S. (in review). A rare missense variant in the ATP2C2 gene is associated with language impairment and related measures. Human Molecular Genetics. doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.01.12.21249315 (Peer Reviewed)

Yasmin, T., Hafeez, H., Raza, M. H., Sadia, A., Mubarak, L., Tarar, S. A., & Basra, M. A. R. (in review). Working memory span and receptive vocabulary in Urdu speaking children with speech sound disorder (SSD). International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology. (Peer Reviewed)

Andres, E. M., Earnest, K. K., Smith, S. D., Rice, M. L., & Raza, M. H. (2020). Pedigree-based gene mapping supports previous loci and reveals novel suggestive loci in specific language impairment. Journal of speech language and hearing research, 63(12), 4046-4061. https://doi.org/10.1044/2020_JSLHR-20-00102 (Peer Reviewed)

Andres, E. M., Hafeez, H., Yousaf, A., Riazuddin, S., Rice, M. L., Basra, M. A. R., & Raza, M. H. (2019). A genome-wide analysis in consanguineous families reveals new chromosomal loci in specific language impairment (SLI). European Journal of Human Genetics, 27(8), 1274-1285. doi:10.1038/s41431-019-0398-1 PMID: 30976110 PMCID: PMC6777459 (Peer Reviewed)

Basra, M., Saher, M., Athar, M. M., & Raza, M. H. (2016). Breast cancer in Pakistan a critical appraisal of the situation regarding female health and where the nation stands? Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention: APJCP, 17(7), 3035--3041. PMID: 27509926 (Peer Reviewed)

Raza, M. H., Mattera, R., Morell, R., Sainz, E., Rahn, R., Gutierrez, J., Paris, E., Roots, J., Solomon, B., Brewer, C., Basra, M. A. R., Khan, S., Riazuddin, S., Braun, A., Bonifacino, J. S., & Drayna, D. (2015). Association between rare variants in AP4E1, a component of intracellular trafficking, and persistent stuttering. American Journal of Human Genetics. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajhg.2015.10.007 PMID: 26544806 PMCID: PMC4667129 (Peer Reviewed)

Raza, M. H., Domingues, C. E. F., Webster, R., Sainz, E., Paris, E., Rahn, R., Gutierrez, J., Chow, H. M., Mundorff, J., Kang, C., Riaz, N., Basra, M. A. R., Khan, S., Riazuddin, S., Moretti-Ferreira, D., Braun, A., & Drayna, D. (2015). Mucolipidosis types II and III and non-syndromic stuttering are associated with different variants in the same genes. European Journal of Human Genetics. doi:10.1038/ejhg.2015.15 PMID: 26130485 (Peer Reviewed)

Oh, S.-K., Baek, J.-I., Weigand, K. M., Venselaar, H., Swarts, H. G., Park, S.-H., Raza, M. H., Jung, D. J., Choi, S.-Y., Lee, S.-H., Friedrich, T., Vriend, G., Koenderink, J. B., Kim, U.-K., & Lee, K.-Y. (2014). A missense variant of the ATP1A2 gene is associated with a novel phenotype of progressive sensorineural hearing loss associated with migraine. Eur J Hum Genet. doi:10.1038/ejhg.2014.154 PMID: 25138102 (Peer Reviewed)

Raza, M. H., Gertz, E. M., Mundorff, J., Lukong, J., Kuster, J., Schaffer, A. A., & Drayna, D. (2013). Linkage analysis of a large African family segregating stuttering suggests polygenic inheritance. Hum Genet, 132, 385-396. doi:10.1007/s00439-012-1252-5 PMID: 23239121 PMCID: 3600087 (Peer Reviewed)

Raza, M. H., Ali, R. A., Riazuddin, S., & Drayna, D. (2012). Studies in a consanguineous family reveal a novel locus for stuttering on chromosome 16q. Hum Genet, 131(2), 311-313. doi:10.1007/s00439-011-1134-2 PMCID: 3474244 (Peer Reviewed)

Raza, M. H., Riazuddin, S., & Drayna, D. (2010). Identification of an autosomal recessive stuttering locus on chromosome 3q13.2-3q13.33. Hum Genet, 128(4), 461-463. doi:10.1007/s00439-010-0871-y PMID: 20706738 PMCID: 3030966 (Peer Reviewed)

Rao, A. Q., Hussain, S. S., Shahzad, M. S., Bokhari, S. Y. A., Raza, M. H., Rakha, A., Majeed, A., Shahid, A. A., Saleem, Z., Husnain, T., & Riazuddin, S. (2006). Somatic embryogenesis in wild relatives of cotton (Gossypium Spp.). Journal of Zhejiang Univ SCIENCE B, 7(4), 291-298. PMCID: 1447513 (Peer Reviewed)

Shahzad, M. S., Abbas, S. Y., Rao, A. Q., Raza, M. H., Ullah, O., Rehman, Z.-u., Shahid, A. A., Ahmad, Z., & Riazuddin, S. (2004). Population Studies of STR Loci (D3S1358, D5S818, D7S820, D18S51and FGA) in NWFP and Sindhi Populations of Pakistan for Forensic Use. ARCH. MED. SAD. KRYM, LIV, 215-222. PMID: 15782779 (Peer Reviewed)

Grants & Other Funded Activity —

Description of the project

Specific language impairment (SLI) affects up to 7-10% of individuals in the United States. SLI affects communication, learning, and social abilities, and requires additional attention in school. The causes of SLI are not well understood. Several studies have been performed to mostly small and outbred families with SLI. These studies have had limited success identifying causative genes for this disorder. We initiated genetic investigation in extended families with a high rate of cousin marriages. The long-term goal of this project is to identify genes responsible for SLI using next-generation tools in human genetics.

Projects

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

5R21DC017830

Genetic studies of specific language impairment (SLI) using consanguineous families (Principal Investigator, M. Hashim Raza)

4/10/2020 to 03/31/2023

 

Opportunities

Graduate students

Interested students in this program can apply online Child Language Doctoral Program Admissions. The students can also contact me at razam@ku.edu to enquire more about my program of research.

Undergraduate students

I am interested in bright and hardworking undergrads who like to involve in my research project. Please shoot me a quick email.

Postdocs

I do not have funding to support a postdoc in my lab right now. Keep in touch for future opportunities in my lab.