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Pre-Conference Workshops
Conference D​ay 1
Conference ​Day 2

Pre-Conference Workshops | Monday, November 3, 2025
CME Credits available

NB: Program subject to schedulling changes as we​ get closer to the event.

WORKSHOP 1 - Navigating Women and Youth’s Mental Health in Changing Climates
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM | Learning Space, 1st Floor, Princess Zahra Pavilion
WORKSHOP 2 - Research Re-Invented: The Power of AI in Mental Health Research
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM | Learning Space 2A, 2nd Floor, CIME Building

Conference Day 1
Tuesday, November 4, 2025 | AKU Auditorium

Program subject to schedulling changes as we get closer to the event.

Masters of Ceremony: Falak Madhani, Jasmit Shah, Laila Cassum & Aatika Ahmed

Conference Opening
8:30 AM - 9:05 AM
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM | Registration and Live Music
 
9:00 AM - 9:05 AM | Recitation from the Qur’an

Syeda Asifa Ikhlas (BScN Year IV Student)

Opening Keynotes
9:05 AM - 9:20 AM
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09:05 AM - 09:20 AM | Keynote Address | Prioritizing Mental Healthcare in Pakistan: Challenges & Opportunities

09:15 AM - 09:25 AM | Conference Objectives and Schedule Overview

09:25 AM - 09:35 AM | Setting the Stage for the Panel Discussion

From Fragmentation to Integration: Can Primary Health Care (PHC) Revolutionize Mental Health in Pakistan?

Inaugural Panel Session
9:35 AM - 10:05 AM
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09:35 AM - 10:05 AM | Inaugural Panel: Policy in Action

Bringing Together Government, Academia, and Partners for a Dialogue on Integrating Mental Health into Primary Health Care

​​Dr Murad Moosa Khan
Moderator: Dr Murad Moosa Khan
Suicide Prevention & Mental Health Consultant, BMI | Professor Emeritus, Department of Psychiatry, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan​ | Aga Khan University


Panellists:
  1. Dr Asma Humayun - National Advisor on Mental Health, Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Pakistan
  2. Dr Karim Ahmed Khawaja - Former Senator & Chairman Sindh Mental Health Authority, Pakistan
  3. Dr Atif Rahman - Professor, Child Psychiatry & Global Mental Health, University of Liverpool, UK
  4. Syed Nadeem Hussain Abbas - >CEO, Aga Khan Health Service, Pakistan (AKHSP)
  5. Dr Lukoye Atwoli - Deputy Director, BMI, Professor & Dean, AKU Medical College, Kenya
  6. Dr Farhat Abbas - Professor & CEO, Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Pakistan
  7. Senior Government Representatives
Aga Khan University Leadership
10:05 AM - 10:25 AM | Leadership Keynotes
10:05 AM - 10:15 AM | President’s Address

10:15 AM - 10:25 AM | Vice Provost’s Address
Thematic Session I – Reimagining Brain and Mental Healthcare: Context-sensitive Innovations
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Chairs: Drs Saara Muddasir & Asad Ali
11:00 AM - 11:15 AM | Keynote Address: Biomarkers of Transgenerational Trauma in Humans: Just a Matter of Fa(c)T

Overview: Childhood trauma significantly increases the risk of psychiatric and physical illness in adulthood. Emerging evidence suggests these effects may be biologically transmitted across generations. Our research investigates the epigenetic mechanisms underlying this phenomenon, focusing on microRNAs in serum, sperm, and milk from ethnically diverse trauma-exposed human cohorts. Samples include Pakistani children who experienced paternal loss and maternal separation, adult men with early-life trauma, Polish mothers with adverse childhood experiences, and survivors of the Srebrenica genocide and their children. Across these groups, we identified a conserved microRNA signature linked to cholesterol signaling—implicating lipid pathways in the biological embedding and intergenerational transmission of trauma. Ongoing studies using ethologically relevant mouse models and ex vivo systems aim to further elucidate the role of lipids and lipid-associated factors in mediating trauma’s enduring effects across generations.


11:15 AM - 11:25 AM | Presentation: From Evidence to Action: Integrating Mental Health into Primary Care Practice

11:25 AM - 11:35 AM | Presentation: Context-specific Innovations for Perinatal Mental Health in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

11:35 AM - 11:50 AM | Question and Answer Session
Thematic Session II – Untangling Ties between Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Brain Health
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | Chairs: Drs Zainab Samad & Aysha Almas
12:00 PM - 12:10 PM | Presentation: Connecting Mental Health and Cardiometabolic Disease

12:10 PM - 12:25 PM | Keynote Address - Improving Brain Health in young people with First Episode Psychosis through a holistic approach involving spiritual healers

Overview: This session aims to highlight the impact of First Episode Psychosis (FEP) on the developing brains of young people, a critical period during which the illness can lead to significant emotional and cognitive deterioration. To address this challenge, we will describe a novel, collaborative framework designed to integrate traditional and spiritual healers with primary care and specialized mental health services. The goal of this partnership is to improve the early detection and management of FEP within the community. Finally, we present our ongoing work in developing a culturally appropriate and context-specific model for Early Intervention in Psychosis (EIP), crafted to be both effective and sustainable within the local setting.


12:25 PM - 12:35 PM | Presentation - Cost Effective Approaches to Integrate Mental Health within Primary Health Care

12:35 PM - 12:50 PM | Question and Answer Session
E-Poster Presentations (schedule attached) & Lunch Break
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM | Lunch and Prayer break
Lunch location:Male hostel lawn
Thematic Session III – Mental Health Journey of Young Migrants
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Chairs: Drs Stephen Lyon & Tazeen Saeed​
2:00 PM - 2:15 PM | Keynote Address - Strengthening Health Systems for the Mental Well-Being of Young Migrants: Access, Standards, and Equity

2:15 PM - 2:25 PM | Presentation - International Migration and Mental Health Issues

2:25 PM - 2:40 PM | Question and Answer Session

2:40 PM - 3:10 PM | The Quiet Shift – A Live Performance | Lived Experience of Migration
Thematic Session IV – The Gut-Brain Connection: Resilience from the Inside Out
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM | Chair & Moderator: Dr Shahab Abid
3:30 PM - 3:45 PM | Keynote Address - Gut-Brain Interaction and its Role in Neurodegenerative and Neuropsychiatric Disorders

03:45 PM - 4:15 PM | Panel Discussion
Dr Shahab Abid
Moderator: Dr Shahab Abid
Professor, Department of Medicine, Aga Khan University


Panellists:
  1. Dr Iqbal Afridi - Psychiatrist, HEC Distinguished National Professor, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan
  2. Prof Zul Merali - Professor & Founding Director, Brain and Mind Institute, Aga Khan University
  3. Dr Jawed Akbar Dars - Consultant Psychiatrist AKU & Associate Professor of Psychiatry, National Institute of Child Health Pakistan
  4. Dr Nashiz Inayet - Consultant Gastroenterologist, Aga Khan University
  5. Dr Mohammad Wasay - Professor, Section of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Aga Khan University
  6. Dr Qasim Aziz - Professor Neuro-gastroenterology, Director of the Wingate Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK
  7. Dr Faisal Ismail - Associate Professor & Director, Centre for Innovation Medical Education, Aga Khan University
​4:15 PM - 4:30 PM | Question and Answer Session
Panel Discussion - Research to Practice
4:40 PM - 5:25 PM | The Aga Khan Development Network Experience
4:40 PM - 5:25 PM | Research to Practice: An Integrated Mental Health Framework
Dr Zul Merali
Moderator: Prof Zul Merali
Professor & Founding Director, Brain and Mind Institute, Aga Khan University


Panellists:
  1. Dr Salim Virani - Professor & Vice Provost, Research, Aga Khan University
  2. Dr Karim Damji - Dean & Professor, Medical College, Aga Khan University
  3. Dr Salimah Walani - Dean & Associate Professor, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Aga Khan University
  4. Mr Syed Nadeem Hussain Abbas - CEO, Aga Khan Health Service, Pakistan
  5. Ms Nusrat Nasab - CEO, Aga Khan Agency for Habitat, Pakistan
  6. Ms Farida Shah - Head of Community Health and Donor-Funded Projects, Aga Khan Health Service, Pakistan
  7. Ms Khairunnisa Hooda - Chief Nursing Officer, Aga Khan University Hospital
  8. Ms Falak Madhani - Chief Health Service & Research Liaison, Brain and Mind Institute, Aga Khan University & Aga Khan Health Service, Pakistan
​5:25 PM - 6:25 PM | E-Poster Presentation (repeat)
Film Screening
6:00 PM - 7:15 PM | Film Screening - “Voices from the Roof of the World”
6:00 PM - 6:35 PM | A Cry from the Mountains (31 mins)

Episode Director: Karim Shallwanee

 
6:35 PM - 7:05 PM | The Valleys our Ancestors Chose (34 minutes)

Episode Director: Tazeen Bari

 
7:05 PM - 7:15 PM | Conversation with the Film Makers (10 minutes)

Conference Day 2
Wednesday, November 5, 2025 | AKU Auditorium

 Program subject to schedulling changes as we get closer to the event.

Masters of Ceremony: Falak Madhani, Jasmit Shah, Laila Cassum & Aatika Ahmed

Recap of Day 1​
9:00 AM - 9:05 AM
9:00 AM - 9:05 AM | Recap of the previous day
Opening Keynotes
9:05 AM - 9:35 AM
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09:05 AM - 09:20 AM | Keynote Address - Prioritizing Mental Healthcare in Pakistan: Challenges & Opportunities

09:20 AM - 09:35 AM | Keynote Address - Controversy as Advocacy: Progress in Decriminalisation of Suicide Attempts in Kenya

09:35 AM - 09: AM | Keynote Address 
Thematic Session V – Digital Mental Health: Transforming Care, Connecting Communities
9:35 AM - 9:50 AM | Chairs: Dr Saleema Gulzar & Ms. Azra Naseem​
9:35 AM - 9:50 AM | Keynote Address - Thriving Together: How Peers and Avatars Are Reimagining Support for Mothers and Families

9:50 AM - 10:00 AM | Presentation - Healthy Minds for All: Empowering Frontline Health Workers with Digital Mental health tools;

10:00 PM - 10:35 PM | Panel Discussion
Dr Jasmit Shah
Moderator: Dr Jasmit Shah
Data Scientist, Brain and Mind Institute, Aga Khan University


Panellists:
  1. Dr Fauziah Rabbani - Chief Implementation Scientist, Brain and Mind Institute & Professor CHS, Aga Khan Unversity
  2. Ms Ambareen Thompson - CEO, SINA Health, Education & Welfare Trust, Pakistan
  3. Dr Sara Saeed Khurram - CEO, Sehat Kahani, Pakistan
  4. Dr Atif Rahman - Professor, Child Psychiatry & Global Mental Health, University of Liverpool, UK
  5. Dr Shariq Khoja - Global CEO & Lead Researcher, Tech4Life Enterprises, Canada and Pakistan
  6. Dr Rubeena Kidwai - CEO, Taskeen
  7. Ms Kamyla Marvi - Director, British Asian Trust, Pakistan
  8. Dr Asma Humayun - National Advisor on Mental Health, Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Pakistan
​10:35 PM - 10:50 PM | Question and Answer Session
Thematic Session VI – Climate, Crisis & Coping: Mental Health in Uncertain Times
11:00 AM - 11:55 AM | Chairs: Drs Sara Khan & Ambreen Tharani
11:30 AM - 11:45 AM | Keynote Address - Connecting Climate Minds: Synergistic Research and Action for a Safe Climate and Healthy Minds

11:45 AM - 11:55 AM | Presentation - Examining the Economic Impact of Climate Shocks on Brain Health in the Global South

10:00 PM - 10:35 PM | Panel Discussion
Dr Farid Panjwani
Moderator: Dr Farid Panjwani
Dean and Professor, Institute for Educational Development, Pakistan, Aga Khan University


Panellists:
  1. Ms Miriam Kugele - Director, Environment and Sustainability, Aga Khan Unversity
  2. Dr Jai Das - Associate Professor, Paediatrics and Child Health & Associate Director, Institute for Global Health & Development, Aga Khan Unversity
  3. Dr Zafar Fatmi - Professor, Environmental, Occupational Health & Climate Change, Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan Unversity/span>
  4. Dr Emma Lawrance - Lead, Climate Cares Centre & Mental Health, Institute of Global Health Innovation, Imperial College London, UK
  5. Ms Nusrat Nasab - CEO, Aga Khan Agency for Habitat
  6. Dr Renzo R. Guinto (virtual) - Associate Professor of Global and Planetary Health, SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute, Singapore
​12:25 PM - 12:40 PM | Question and Answer Session
Lunch
12:50 PM - 1:45 PM | Lunch and Prayer break
Location:Male hostel lawn
Thematic Session VII – Brain Aging and Dementia: Strategies for Cognitive Longevity
1:45 PM - 2:45 PM | Chairs: Drs Saniya Sabzwari & Rubina Barolia
1:45 PM - 2:00 PM | Keynote Address - Impact of Comorbidities on Brain Resilience and Blood-based Biomarkers

2:00 PM - 2:15 PM | Keynote Address - The What, Why, and How of Resilience to Alzheimer’s Disease

2:15 PM - 2:45 PM | Panel Discussion
Dr Zul Merali
Moderator: Dr Zul Merali
Professor & Founding Director, Brain & Mind Institute, Aga Khan University


Panellists:
  1. Dr Ali Jawaid - Head, Translational Research Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Centre for Technology Development, Poland
  2. Dr Mohammad Wasay - Professor, Section of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Aga Khan Unversity
  3. Dr Rozina Karmaliani - Professor & Associate Director, Brain and Mind Institute, Aga Khan Unversity/span>
  4. Dr Michelle Mielke - Professor, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, North Carolina, United States
  5. Dr Ozioma Okonkwo - Professor of Medicine, University of Wisconsin–Madison, USA
  6. Dr Shireen Najam - Senior Instructor, Department of Psychiatry, Aga Khan Unversity
​2:45 PM - 3:00 PM | Question and Answer Session
Thematic Session VIII – Suicide Prevention: Upstream Approaches to Reducing Risk
2:00 PM - 3:25 PM | Chairs: Drs Nargis Asad & Mahboob Ali Shah
3:30 PM - 3:45 PM | Keynote Address - Suicide Prevention: Prioritising 'Upstream Approaches' to Reducing Risk

3:45 PM - 3:55 PM | Presentation - A Research Strategy for Suicide Prevention in Pakistan: Evidence, Ethics and Policy-translation

3:45 PM - 3:55 PM | Presentation - Adaptation of Mental Health Programs for Youth Suicide Prevention in Pakistan
Film Screening and Conversation with the Film Maker
4:05 PM - 4:50 PM
4:05 PM - 4:50 PM | “Darya ke iss paar (On this side of the river) (30 minutes)
Evidence to action: Preventing Suicides in Youth: Integrating Youth Mental Health into PHC in Low-Resource Settings
4:50 PM - 5:20 PM
4:50 PM - 5:20 PM | Panel Discussion
Dr Murad Moosa Khan
Moderator: Dr Murad Moosa Khan
Senior Scientist, Brain and Mind Institute and Professor Emeritus, Department of Psychiatry,Aga Khan University


Panellists:
  1. Dr Linda Kaljee - Henry Ford Global Health Initiative, Professor, Department of Medicine, Michigan State University USA
  2. Dr Saqib Ali Shaikh - Director Health Services Karachi
  3. Ms Anamta Ghur - Manager, Research Global Health Function, PHC Global, Pakistan
  4. Dr Rozina Karmaliani - Associate Director, BMI & Professor, SONAM & CHS, AKU
  5. Dr Tania Nadeem - Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, AKU
  6. Syed Jalal Shah - Global CEO, Rupani Foundation
  7. Dr Salman Shahzad - Professor, Institute of Clinical Psychology, University of Karachi
  8. Dr Sadiq Hussain - Professor, Head of Social Sciences, Karakoram Int’l University
​5:20 PM - 5:35 PM | Question and Answer Session
Recap and Next Steps
5:45 PM - 6:05 PM | Overview and call to action
3:30 PM - 3:45 PM | Keynote Address - Suicide Prevention: Prioritising 'Upstream Approaches' to Reducing Risk

5:55 PM - 6:05 PM | Call to Action
Poster Presentation Award Distribution
6:05 PM - 6:20 PM | Dr Laila Ladak & Dr Jasmit Shah
Distribution of Best Poster/Best Presenter Awards​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
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