Academic Staff

Jan. 15, 2026, 9:23 a.m.
Ahmed Mohammed Salih (PhD) Dean of College of Nursing (CNUR)
Professor
Professor in Professor of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology,

Medical Microbiology
College of Medicine
University of Duhok

Welcome to my academic biography, where I am excited to share my journey of academic and scientific exploration. With a strong foundation in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, I have dedicated my career to advancing knowledge and fostering excellence in education and research within the field of healthcare.

Qualifications:

I obtained my Ph.D. in Molecular Microbiology from the University of Nottingham, UK, in collaboration with the University of Duhok as a Split-Side program in 2006. Prior to this, I earned an M.Sc. degree from the University of Nottingham (UK) in 2005 and another M.Sc. degree in Immunology from the University of Salahaddin-Hawler in 1996.

PhD, Molecular microbiology, University of Duhok [Iraq] in collaboration with the University of Nottingham [UK]
MSc, Molecular Medical Microbiology, University of Nottingham, UK
MSc, Immunology, University of Salahaddin- Hawler, Iraq
BSc, Biology, University of Mosul, Iraq

My teaching philosophy is rooted in a dedication to fostering a deep understanding of molecular microbiology and immunology among both undergraduate and postgraduate students. I believe in the power of integrated and module-based teaching approaches to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of complex subjects. By incorporating research-driven insights and practical applications into my teaching, I aim to inspire curiosity and critical thinking while preparing students for real-world challenges in the field.

Teaching History:

For over two decades, I have been privileged to contribute to the academic journey of students at the University of Duhok. Beginning in 1996, I embarked on a journey of teaching medical immunology to third-year medical students, a role I passionately fulfilled until 2018. During this time, I obtained my first M.Sc. in immunology, enriching my understanding of the subject and refining my pedagogical approach.

In 2006, following the completion of my second M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Molecular Medical Microbiology, in collaboration with the esteemed University of Nottingham, UK, I expanded my teaching scope to include Molecular Microbiology and Immunology for postgraduate students. This marked the beginning of a new chapter in my teaching career, where I had the opportunity to engage with both Ph.D. and M.Sc. candidates in the medical and science disciplines.

With the transition of the curriculum at the College of Medicine in 2018 to an integrated and module-based system, I assumed the role of teaching the Infection and Immunity module to third-year medical students. This transition not only challenged me to adapt my teaching methodologies but also provided an exciting opportunity to contribute to a more holistic and interdisciplinary approach to medical education.

• University of Glasgow, Erasmus Plus workshop, Scotland, UK, 2022
• Medi-Tach workshop, Leipzig, Germany, September 2019
• Medi-Tech workshop, Malta, June 2019
• EACR-ESMO joint conference on liquid biopsies, Bergamo, Italy, 15-17 May
• Medical education, Slovakia, sponsored by Erasmus Mondos + (EU), MediTech, 21-24
November 2018
• Professional Development Workshop, Bridgewater State University, Boston, USA, 2013.
• Collaboration workshop between Michigan State University and University of Duhok on
Higher Education, Michigan State University Michigan, USA, 2013.
• Best practices in publishing research, UoD, 2012
• University staff development, UoD, 2012
• Scientific conference of the faculty of medical sciences, UoD, 2012.
• Staff Development training for medium level leaders of universities (University of
Kassel, Germany), 2012.
• Infection control in hospitals, Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Tehran, Iran, 2009.
• Molecular techniques in the diagnosis of trans-boundary diseases, Razi Research
Center,
• Tehran, Iran, 2008
• Molecular Techniques in Disease Diagnosis, Pendik Research Center, Istanbul, Turkey,
2008
• Molecular Techniques, UoD, 2007
• ELISA Technique (FAO, UN), UoD, 2001

Research

• Determination of Dyspepsia Causes in Patients Attending Endoscopy dept (2018). Barwari, W., Goreal, A., Salih, A., & Ibraheem, N. N.of Azadi Teaching Hospital in Duhok City. Zanco Journal of Medical Sciences (Zanco J Med Sci), 14(1 Special), 121–126. Retrieved from https://zjms.hmu.edu.krd/index.php/zjms/article/view/528

• Risk factors for multi-drug resistant tuberculosis: a review, Duhok Medical Journal
• First insight into the genetic diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains from patients in Duhok, Iraq, Chemotherapy, (56), 2010.

• First insight into the drug resistance pattern of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Dohuk, Iraq: Using spoligotyping and MIRU-VNTR to characterize multidrug resistant strains, Journal of Infection and Public Health, (4), 2011.

• The Most Predominant Spoligopatterns of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Isolates among Iranian, Afghan-Immigrant, Pakistani and Turkish Tuberculosis Patients: A Comparative Analysis, International journal of Mycobacteriology, (1), 2012.

• Ophthalmia neonatorum in Duhok, North of Iraq, bacteria causative agents and their antibiotic sensitivity pattern, ISRA medical jornal, (4), 2012.

• Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) typing by polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP) in comparison with serological methods, Duhok Medical Journal, (6), 2012.

• Molecular determination of Echinococcus granulosus isolated from human hydatid cyst using mitochondrial nad1 gene sequencing in Duhok Province- Kurdistan Region, Iraq, The first scientific international Conference of Zakho University, 2013.

• Molecular Characterization of Echinococcus granulosus isolated from human hydatid cyst using mitochondrial cox1 gene sequencing in Dohuk Province- Kurdistan Region, Iraq, The Journal of University of Zakho, (1), 2013.

• BRAFV600 gene mutation in thyroid cancer in Duhok-Iraq. Duhok Med J 2015; 9 (2): 30-36.

• Association of Complement Factor H Gene (CFH) Single Nucleotide Polymorphism with Recurrent Aphthus Stomatitis. Duhok Med J. 2018; 12(1).

• Latent Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Infections among Diabetic Patients Attending Shilan Private Hospital, Duhok City; Prevalence and Risk Factors. JSMJ. 2020. 10:2

• Molecular detection of oral Helicobacter pylori with vacA, cagA, and dupA virulence genes in Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis patients in Duhok, Kurdistan region, Iraq. 2020. Duhok medical journal, 14(2)

• BRAF gene mutation and cd56 immunoexpression in papillary thyroid carcinoma in duhok-iraq. 2017. JSMC. 7(3)

• MTHFR C677T polymorphism and thyroid cancer risk in Duhok, Kurdistan Region –Iraq. 2018. ZJPAS. 30(1)

• The significance of serum anti- rituximab (anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody) antibodies in treatment response of patients with B- cells malignancy. Al-Kufa university journal of biology. 2019. 11(2)

• Immunological and biochemical parameters of chronic hepatitis b infection among patients in duhok city – Kurdistan region / Iraq. Awaz A. Saadi, Ahmed Mohamed Salih, Muayad A. Merza. Duhok Med J. 2019. 13(2). P54-65.

• S100A4 and S100A6 Proteins Expression Promote Migration of Bladder Cancer Cells in Zebrafish. Hanaa Al Mahmoodi, Ibtihal Alshamarti1, Qais Ibraheem Al Ismaeel2, Ahmed Mohamed Salih3, Hishyar Azo Najeeb4, Rusul Mohammed Al Rubaay5
Medical Journal of Babylon, 2019, 16: 3, Pages 192-198

• First insight into latent tuberculosis infection among household contacts of tuberculosis patients in Duhok, Iraqi Kurdistan: using tuberculin skin test and QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus test. Fatima Nawaf Abdulkareem, Muayad Aghali Merza, Ahmed Mohammed Salih. IJID. 2020. 96, 97-104

• Serum hsp 70 levels of chronic hepatitis b patients are substantially correlated with HBsAg. Awaz A. Saadi , Ahmed M. Salih , Muayed A. Merza. EMBJ. 2020. 15(20) 85-89.

• p53, PTEN tumor suppressor gene methylation in thyroid cancer. Ghazwan Fawzi Ahmed, Intisar Salim Pity, Ahmad Muhammad Salih. Al-Kufa University Journal for Biology. 2019. 3(11).

• Hussein HQ, Salih AM, Merza MA. PREVALENCE AND OUTCOMES OF DIABETES AMONG COVID-19 PATIENTS IN DUHOK COVID-19 HEALTH FACILITIES: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY. Health Problems of Civilization. 2023;17(1):24-35. doi:10.5114/hpc.2022.122344.

• Hishyar Azo Najeeb, Karzan Khowaraham Karim, Galawezh Obaid Othman, Ayad Ahmad Mohammed, Ahmed Mohammed Salih, Soleen Sardar Zuhdi, Dian Jamel, DNA damage level in lymphocytes and buccal epithelial cells in Narghile smokers and non-smokers in Duhok city-KRG-Iraq, Oral Oncology Reports, Volumes 1–2, 2022, 100002, ISSN 2772-9060,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oor.2022.100002.(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772906022000024)

• M-Amen K, Abdullah OS, Amin AMS, Mohamed ZA, Hasan B, Shekha M, Najmuldeen HH, Rahman FM, Housein Z, Salih AM, Mohammed AS, Sulaiman LR, Barzingi BT, Mahmood D, Othman HE, Mohammad DK, Salih FM, Ali SAK, Mohamad TS, Mahmood K, Othman GO, Aali MH, Qader G, Hussen BM, Awla FA, Kareem SW, Qadir FA, Taher DM, Salihi A. Cancer Incidence in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: Results of a Seven-Year Cancer Registration in Erbil and Duhok Governorates. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2022 Feb 1;23(2):601-615. doi: 10.31557/APJCP.2022.23.2.601. PMID: 35225473; PMCID: PMC9272643.

• Nadia Tawfiq Jaffer, Aleen Sardar Al-noori, Ahmed Mohammed Salih, Soleen Sardar Zuhdi. Molecular Detection of Oral Trichomonas Tenax among Individuals Attending Dental Care Units Using Pcr in Duhok City – Kurdistan Region. The journal of University of Duhok. 2019, 22:2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.26682/sjuod.2019.22.2.22

• AHMED MOHAMMED SALIH. MOLECULAR DETECTION OF ORAL HELICOBACTER PYLORI WITH VACA, CAGA, AND DUPA VIRULENCE GENES IN RECURRENT APHTHOUS STOMATITIS PATIENTS IN DUHOK, KURDISTAN REGION, IRAQ. Duhok Medical Journal. 2020, 14:2

Welcome to my research folio, where I am delighted to share my journey and contributions to the fields of Molecular Medical Microbiology, Molecular and Medical Immunology, Molecular Oncology, Immunotherapy, and Medical Education. Through a combination of rigorous investigation, innovative methodologies, and a passion for advancing scientific knowledge, I have had the privilege of exploring diverse facets of these disciplines.

Molecular Medical Microbiology
Molecular and Medical Immunology
Molecular Oncology
Immunotherapy
Medical Education

Molecular Medical Microbiology & Medical Immunology

KEYWORDS: Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, University of Duhok, Medical Education, Infectious Diseases & Oncology Research, Kurdistan Region Healthcare

• Assessment of hospital acquired infections due to MRSA in Duhok city, 2007. M.Sc.
• Sensitization of human cord blood lymphocytes against CEA under heat shock
conditions, 2008, M.Sc.
• HLA typing using SSP-PCR in comparison with the serological methods in Duhok City,
2008, M.Sc.
• Using nested PCR in detecting Rifampicin resistant TB, 2011, M.Sc.
• Clinical and epidemiological characterization of Mycobacterium TB isolated from Duhok
province, 2012. Ph.D.
• Detection of BRAF mutation among thyroid cancer patients in Duhok, 2013, M.Sc.
• Genotyping of Echinococcus granulosis isolated from human and some domestic
animals using RFLP, 2013, Ph.D.

• The role of PCT in Streptcoccus pneumonia infections, 2014, M.Sc.
• The role of PCT in Salmonella typhi infections, 2014, M.Sc.
• The level of IL-1 & IL-8 secreted in Saliva in Bahjet disease patients, 2014, M.Sc.
• Detection of H-pylori in aphthus stomatis patients using PCR, 2015, M.Sc.
• Anti- cellular compartment antibody level in Behcets disease patients, 2015, M.Sc.
• The validity of HBsAg test in active chronic hepatitis B diagnosis. 2016, ongoing M.Sc.
project
• Heat shock (40, 70 , 90) profile among hepatitis B patients in Duhok city. 2020, Ph.D.
project
• Braf gene methylation in thyroid cancer patients. 2016, Ph.D. project 2020
• Hepatitis C infection, PhD project, 2019
• Latent TB infections among close contact. M.Sc project. 2020
• Prevalence and outcomes of diabetes among covid-19 patients
in Duhok covid-19 health facilities: a cross-sectional study. MSc
project, 2022
• Covid 19 association with vitamin D, PhD project, ongoing
• Incidence of enterococci in Kurdistan Region, PhD prohect, ongoing.