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Farha Ramzan

PhD (Biomedical Sciences; Nutrigenomics), MSc (Clinical Research), PgDip (Drug Regulatory Affairs), BSc (Medical Microbiology), Registered Nutritionist

Dr Ramzan is a researcher at the Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, and a lecturer in Nutrition and Lifelong Health at the University’s School of Biological Sciences.

A registered nutritionist with the Nutrition Society of New Zealand, she is also trained in supervising undergraduate (Bachelor’s and Honours) and postgraduate (PhD and Master’s) students.

With a foundation in Molecular Nutrition and Nutrigenomics, Dr Ramzan’s research focuses on the impact of dietary choices on the body’s inflammatory responses. She investigates how specific nutrients, bioactive compounds, and dietary patterns interact with the immune system, influencing the development and progression of inflammatory diseases.

Her goal is to discover evidence-based approaches that could transform lives and enhance our understanding of the connection between diet and inflammation, especially in the context of chronic metabolic diseases.

Articles written by Farha Ramzan
Publications

Articles:

  1. Day F, O’Sullivan J, Ramzan F, Pook C. Polar metabolomics using trichloroacetic acid extraction and porous graphitic carbon stationary phase. Metabolomics. 2024
  2. Jayaprakash R, Pook C, Ramzan F, Miles-Chan JL, Mithen RF, & Foster M. Human metabolism and excretion of kawakawa (Piper excelsum) leaf chemicals; Mol. Nutr. Food Res. 2024; e2300583.
  3. Ramzan F., Jayaprakash, R., Pook. C et al. Kawakawa Tea Intake and its anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory effects: An integrative microRNA and mRNA analysis; 2024 (Under review)
  4. Ramzan F, Sequeira-Bisson I, Lu LW, Mitchell CJ, D’Souza R, Vickers MH, Poppitt S, Cameron-Smith D. Circulatory miRNAs as Correlates of Elevated Pancreatic Fat in a Mixed Ethnic Female Cohort from the TOFI Asia Study; Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023 24(18):14393.
  5. Jayaprakash R, Ramzan F, Miles-Chan JL, Foster M, Mithen RF, & Pook C. Exploring the Chemical Space of Kawakawa Leaf (Piper excelsum). Nutrients; 2022 14 (23): 5168
  6. Ramzan F, Jayaprakash R, Pook C et al. Acute Effects of Kawakawa (Piper excelsum) Intake on Postprandial Glycemic and Insulinaemic Response in a Healthy Population. Nutrients, 2022;14(8):1638
  7. Ramzan F, Vickers MH & Mithen RF. Epigenetics, microRNA and Metabolic Syndrome: A Comprehensive Review. Int. J. Mol. Sci, 2021; 22, 5047
  8. Itani L, Gathercole JL, Grosvenor AJ, Lee E, Thomas A, Mitchell CJ, Ramzan F et al. Analysis of Human Faecal Host Proteins: Responsiveness to 10-Week Dietary Intervention Modifying Dietary Protein Intake in Elderly Males. Front Nutr 2021; 1:595905
  9. Draxler A, Franzke B, Cortolezis JT, Gillies NA, Unterberger S, Aschauer A, Zöhrer PA, Bragagna L, Kodnar J, Ramzan F et al. The Effect of Elevated Protein Intake on DNA Damage in Older People: Comparative Secondary Analysis of Two Randomized Controlled Trials. Nutrients, 2021;13(10):3479
  10. Gillies NA, Milan AM, Chia PHP, Ramzan F et al. Responsiveness of one-carbon metabolites to a high-protein diet in older men: Results from a 10-wk randomised controlled trial. Nutrition. 2021; 89:111231
  11. Bridge-Comer PE, Plows JF, Ramzan F, Patel R, Ganapathy TP, Stanley JL, Vickers MV, Reynolds CM. Interleukin 1 Receptor 1 Knockout and Maternal High Fat Diet Exposure Induces Sex-Specific Effects on Adipose Tissue Adipogenic and Inflammatory Gene Expression in Adult Mouse Offspring. Front. Physiol. 2020; 11:601
  12. Ramzan F, D’Souza RF, Durainayagam BR, Roy NC, Poppitt SD, Mitchell CJ, Cameron-Smith D. Inflexibility of the plasma miRNA response following a high carbohydrate meal in overweight insulin-resistant women. Genes Nutr. 2020; 15:2
  13. Mitchell SM, McKenzie EJ., Mitchell. CJ, Milan AM, Zeng N, D’Souza RF, Ramzan F, Rettedal E, Roy NC, Sjodin A, Wagner KH, O’Sullivan JM, Cameron-Smith D. A period of 10 weeks of increased protein consumption does not alter faecal microbiota or volatile metabolites in healthy older men: a randomised controlled trial. J Nutr Sci. 2020; 9: e25
  14. Mitchell SM, Milan AM, Mitchell CJ, Gillies NA, D’Souza RF, Zeng N, Ramzan F, Sharma P, Knowles S, Roy NC, Sjodin A, Wagner KH, Cameron-Smith D. Protein intake at twice the RDA in older men increases trimethylamine-N-oxide but not markers of cardiovascular disease: a randomised control trial. Nutrients 2019;11(9):2207
  15. Ramzan F, Mitchell CJ, Milan AM, Schierding W, Zeng N, Sharma P, Mitchell SMM, D’Souza RF, Knowles S, Roy NC, Sjodin A, Wagner KH, Cameron-Smith D. Comprehensive profiling of the circulatory miRNAome response to a high protein diet in elderly men: a potential role in inflammatory response modulation. Mol Nutr Food Res 2019; (Front Cover) 63 (8): e1800811
  16. Ramzan F, D’Souza RF, Durainayagam BR, Milan AM, Markworth JF, Miranda Soberanis V, Sequeira IR, Roy NC, Poppitt SD, Mitchell CJ, Cameron-Smith D. Circulatory microRNAs as biomarkers of metabolic syndrome. Acta Diabetol 2020;57(2):203-214
  17. Durainayagam BR, Mitchell CJ, Milan AM, Zeng N, Sharma P, Mitchell SM, Ramzan F, Sharma P, Knowles S, Roy NC, Sjodin A, Wagner KH, Cameron-Smith D. Impact of high protein intake on the plasma metabolome in elderly males: 10 weeks randomised dietary intervention. Front Nutr 2019; 6:180
  18. Mitchell CJ, D’Souza RF, Schierding W, Zeng N, Ramzan F, O’Sullivan JM, Poppitt SD, Cameron-Smith D. Identification of human skeletal muscle miRNA related to strength by high throughput sequencing. Physiol Genomics. 2018 Mar.
  19. Mitchell CJ, Milan AM, Mitchell SMM, Zeng N, Ramzan F, Sharma P, Knowles S, Roy NC, Sjodin A, Wagner KH, Cameron-Smith D. The effects of dietary protein intake on appendicular lean mass and muscle function in elderly men; A 10-wk randomized controlled trial. AM J Clin Nutr; 2017; 106:1375–83.
  20. Zeng N, Prodhan U, D’Souza RF, Ramzan F, Mitchell S, Sharma P, Knowles S, Roy NC, Sjodin A, Wagner KH, Milan AM, Cameron-Smith D, Mitchell CJ. Regulation of amino acid transporters and sensors in response to a high protein diet: a randomized control trial in elderly men. J Nutr Health Aging. 2019; 23(4):354-363.
  21. Ramzan M, Ramzan F, Thakur S. A Systematic Review of Type-2 diabetes by Hadoop/ MapReduce. Indian J Sci Technol. 2016; 9.16.

Conference Proceedings:

  1. Mitra N, Ramzan F, Phua H.H, Blenkiron C, Artuyants A, Pook C, Lithander F, Foster M, Mithen R. Role of Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) in Mediating Antioxidant Response to a Glucoraphanin Rich Meal. (2024) Proceedings of The Nutrition Society
  2. Ramzan F, Rong J, Roberts C, O’Sullivan J, Perry JK, Taylor R, McCowan L, Vickers MH. MicroRNAs In Maternal Plasma At 15 Weeks Gestation as Biomarkers For Later Preterm Birth: Evidence For Dysregulated Mirna Biogenesis And Implications For Pregnancy-related Endocrine Signaling Pathways. (2023) Journal of the Endocrine Society
  3. Jayaprakash R, Ramzan F, Miles-Chan J, Foster M, Pook C, Mithen R. Bioavailability of kawakawa (Piper excelsum) tea metabolites in healthy human volunteers (2023). Annals of nutrition and metabolism
  4. Vickers, M., Perry, J., O’Sullivan, J., McCowan, L., & Ramzan, F. (2022) DOHaD World Congress
  5. Ramzan F, D’Souza RF, Durainayagam BR, Milan AM, Markworth JF, Roy NC, Mitchell CJ, Cameron-Smith D. Metabolic Disease Risk Alters Circulating Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell microRNAs in Response to A High Glycemic Meal. (2019) Conference Proceedings.
  6. Gillies N, Milan AM, Sharma P, Durainayagam B, Mitchell SM, Zeng N, Ramzan F, Mitchell CJ, Knowles SO, Sjödin A, et al. Effect of a Tailored Dietary Intervention with High or Standard Protein Intake on B-Vitamin and One Carbon Metabolism Status in Healthy Older Males: A 10 Week Randomised Controlled Trial. (2019) Conference Proceedings

Qualifications

  • 2016–2020 PhD in Biomedical Sciences, Thesis: Circulatory microRNA responses to Dietary Interventions, Metabolic Health and ageing, Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
  • 2013–2014 PgDip, Drug Regulatory and Pharmaceutical Affairs, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India
  • 2011–2013 MSc Clinical Research, Thesis: Retrospective study to evaluate compliance and early results of preoperative Chemo-radiotherapy in Carcinoma oesophagus, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India
  • 2007–2011 BSc Medical Microbiology with Honours, HNB Garhwal University, Uttrakahand, India
Professional Interests & Specialist Areas
  • Nutrigenomics
  • Randomised clinical trials
  • Molecular biology
  • Drug regulatory affairs
Find out more about Farha Ramzan