I am Shafqat Ahmad, Associate Professor (Senior Lecturer) in Epidemiology. My research focuses on understanding the development of obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease by integrating molecular and genetic epidemiology approaches. My research combine methods from biochemistry, genomics, metabolomics, proteomics and microbiota research with lifestyle factors in large-scale, population-based studies. The goal of my work is to enhance our understanding of cardiometabolic disease pathophysiology and improve disease prediction.

Keywords

Cardiovascular disease • Epidemiology • Gut microbiota • Metabolomics • Obesity • Population genetics • Type 2 diabetes

Biography & Honors

• Docent in Molecular Epidemiology
• Career Starting Research Grant (4 years 2023-2026) from Swedish Research Council, Sweden
• Career Starting Research Grant (4 years 2021-2024) from FORMAS, Sweden
• Rising Star Award, European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD)
• Finalist for the Young Investigator Award, American Heart Association
• Best Young Researcher Award, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University Sweden
• Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation Fellow, Sweden
• Nutricia Research Fellow, Singapore
• Henning och Johan Throne-Holst Stiftelse Fellow, Sweden
  
• Tegger Foundation Fellow, Sweden

Selected Publications

1. Arage G, Dekkers KF, Rašo LM, Hammar U, Ericson U, Larsson SC, Engel H, Baldanzi G, Pertiwi K, Sayols-Baixeras S, Landberg R, Sundström J, Smith JG, Engström G, Ärnlöv J, Orho-Melander M, Lind L, Fall T, Ahmad S. Plasma metabolite profiles of meat intake and their association with cardiovascular disease risk: A population-based study in Swedish cohorts. Metabolism. 2025 Mar 11:156188. doi: 10.1016/j.metabol.2025.156188.
2. Ahmad S, Hammar U, Kennedy B, Salihovic S, Ganna A, Lind L, Sundström J, Ärnlöv J, Berne C, Risérus U, Magnusson PKE, Larsson SC, Fall T. Effect of General Adiposity and Central Body Fat Distribution on the Circulating Metabolome: A Multicohort Nontargeted Metabolomics Observational and Mendelian Randomization Study. Diabetes. 2022 Feb 1;71(2):329-339. doi: 10.2337/db20-1120.
3. Ahmad S, Moorthy MV, Demler OV, Hu FB, Ridker PM, Chasman DI, Mora S. Assessment of Risk Factors and Biomarkers Associated With Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Among Women Consuming a Mediterranean Diet. JAMA Netw Open. 2018 Dec 7;1(8):e185708. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.5708.
4. Ahmad S, Mora S, Franks PW, Orho-Melander M, Ridker PM, Hu FB, Chasman DI. Adiposity and Genetic Factors in Relation to Triglycerides and Triglyceride-Rich Lipoproteins in the Women's Genome Health Study. Clin Chem. 2018 Jan;64(1):231-241. doi: 10.1373/clinchem.2017.280545.
5. Ahmad S, Rukh G, Varga TV, Ali A, Kurbasic A, Shungin D, Ericson U, Koivula RW, Chu AY, Rose LM, Ganna A, Qi Q, Stančáková A, Sandholt CH, Elks CE, Curhan G, Jensen MK, Tamimi RM, Allin KH, Jørgensen T, Brage S, Langenberg C, Aadahl M, Grarup N, Linneberg A, Paré G; InterAct Consortium; DIRECT Consortium, Magnusson PK, Pedersen NL, Boehnke M, Hamsten A, Mohlke KL, Pasquale LT, Pedersen O, Scott RA, Ridker PM, Ingelsson E, Laakso M, Hansen T, Qi L, Wareham NJ, Chasman DI, Hallmans G, Hu FB, Renström F, Orho-Melander M, Franks PW. Gene × physical activity interactions in obesity: combined analysis of 111,421 individuals of European ancestry. PLoS Genet. 2013;9(7):e1003607. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003607.