Academic Staff

Aug. 2, 2026, 12:36 p.m.
Ahmed Mohammed Salih (PhD) Dean of College of Nursing (CNUR)
Professor
Professor in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology

Medical Microbiology
College of Medicine
University of Duhok

  • Ph.D. Molecular Medical Microbiology - University of Duhok (Split site with Nottingham University, UK)(2006)
  • M.Sc. Molecular Medical Microbiology - Nottingham University, UK (2005)
  • M.Sc. Immunology - University of Salaheddin- Hawler (1996)
  • B.Sc. Biology - University of Mosul (1986)

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.

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.

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.

As a Professor of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, I am committed to teaching duties for both undergraduate and postgraduate students, and I devote much of my time to research, supervising M.Sc. and Ph.D. students and collaborating with other researchers at the University.

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. The remainder of my working time has largely been devoted to research management. As Head of the Medical Research Center in 2015 , I collaborated with academic departments to prioritize and coordinate research projects in fulfillment of the College’s scientific plan, all of my research has been conducted in the field of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology.

  • University of Cologne, College of Medicine, Infectious disease collaboration, 2025
  • Leadership skills development - workshop- university of Duhok- 2024
  • University of Glasgow, Erasmus+ Workshop, Scotland, UK, 2022
  • Medi-Tech Workshop, Leipzig, Germany, September 2019
  • Medi-Tech Workshop, Malta, June 2019
  • EACR-ESMO Joint Conference on Liquid Biopsies, Bergamo, Italy, 15–17 May 2019
  • Medical Education, Slovakia, sponsored by Erasmus Mundus+ (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, USA, 2013
  • Best Practices in Publishing Research, University of Duhok, 2012
  • University Staff Development, University of Duhok, 2012
  • Scientific Conference of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Duhok, 2012
  • Staff Development Training for Medium-Level University Leaders, 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, University of Duhok, 2007
  • ELISA Technique (FAO, UN), University of Duhok, 2001

Research

  • Antibiogram of Enterococci Species and Association of Van A/B Genes Frequencies in Clinical Samples Isolated from Patients in Kurdistan Region Hospitals, Iraq HS Hasan, AT Saadi, AM Salih, Medical Journal of Babylon 22 (4), 1029-1035 2025
  • Vaccination and vitamin D in relation to disease severity and mortality in patients with COVID-19 disease: a follow-up study. MMA Al-Noori AS, Salih AM, Cell Mol Biol (Noisy-le-grand), doi: 10.14715/cmb/2025.71.11.13. 71 (11 … 2025
  • P2X7 GENE POLYMORPHISMS AND PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS SUSCEPTIBILITY: A GLOBAL SYSTEMATIC REVIEW MA Salih, D. A., Salih, A. M., & Merza, Health Problems of Civilization 12 (11) 2025
  • Curcumin inhibits IFN-γ induced PD-L1 expression via reduction of STAT1 phosphorylation in A549 non-small cell lung cancer cells DJ Salih, SH Barsoom, GF Ahmed, SQ Hussien, Q Al Ismaeel, ... Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal 33 (3), 16 2025
  • Isolation and characterization of extracellular vesicles from EGFR mutated lung cancer cells DJ Salih, KS Reiners, R Alfieri, AM Salih, ZA Percario, M Di Stefano, ... Clinical and Experimental Medicine 25 (1), 114 2025
  • Molecular Detection of Virulence Factors and Antibiotic Resistance among Enterococcus Species Isolates from Kurdistan Region of Iraq HS Hasan, AM Salih, AT Saadi Passer Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences 6 (2), 324-332 2024
  • High Isoniazid Preventive Therapy Completion Rate among Household Contacts of Tuberculosis Patients in Duhok Province AIR Fatima Nawaf Abdulkareem, Muayad Aghali Merza, Ahmed Mohammed Salih, Journal of Population Therapeutics and Clinical Pharmacology 30 (12), e366-e371 2023
  • Prevalence and outcomes of diabetes among Covid-19 patients in Duhok Covid-19 health facilities: a cross-sectional study, H Hussein, A Salih, M Merza, Health Problems of Civilization 17 (1), 24-35 2023
  • DNA damage level in lymphocytes and buccal epithelial cells in Narghile smokers and non-smokers in Duhok city-KRG-Iraq, HA Najeeb, KK Karim, GO Othman, AA Mohammed, AM Salih, SS Zuhdi, ... Oral Oncology Reports 1, 100002 2022
  • Cancer incidence in the Kurdistan region of Iraq: Results of a seven-year cancer registration in Erbil and Duhok Governorates, M Karwan, OS Abdullah, AMS Amin, ZA Mohamed, B Bestoon, M Shekha, ... Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention: APJCP 23 (2), 601 2022
  • DNA damage level in lymphocytes and buccal epithelial cells in Narghile smokers and non-smokers in Duhok city-KRG-Iraq,Hishyar Azo Najeeb, Karzan Khowaraham Karim, Galawezh Obaid Othman, Ayad ...Oral Oncology Reports 2 (100002) 2022
  • Cancer Statistics in Kurdistan Region of Iraq: A Tale of Two Cities,M Karwan, O Abdullah, A Amin, B Hasan, Z Mohamed, L Sulaiman, ... 2021
  • PREVALENCE OF LATENT MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS INFECTIONS AMONG DIABETIC PATIENTS ATTENDING SHILAN PRIVATE HOSPITAL, DUHOK CITY, A SALIH, JOURNAL OF SULAIMANI MEDICAL COLLEGE Учредители: Journal of Zankoy Sulaimani … 2020
  • First insight into latent tuberculosis infection among household contacts of tuberculosis patients in Duhok, Iraqi Kurdistan: using tuberculin skin test and QuantiFERON-TB Gold …FN Abdulkareem, MA Merza, AM Salih, International Journal of infectious diseases 96, 97-104 2020
  • MOLECULAR DETECTION OF ORAL HELICOBACTER PYLORI WITH VACA, CAGA, AND DUPA VIRULENCE GENES IN RECURRENT APHTHOUS STOMATITIS PATIENTS IN DUHOK, KURDISTAN REGION, IRAQ, AMA AHMED MOHAMMED SALIH, NAZDAR M. OMER, Duhok Medical Journal 14 (2), 20-27 2020
  • SERUM HSP 70 LEVELS OF CHRONIC HEPATITIS B PATIENTS ARE SUBSTANTIALLY CORRELATED WITH HBsAg, AA Saadi, AM Salih, MA Merza, EuroMediterranean Biomedical Journal 15 2020
  • p53, PTEN Tumor Suppressor Gene Methylation in Thyroid Cancer, GF AHMED, IS PITY, AM SALIH, Al-Kufa University Journal for Biology 11 (3), 1-13 2019
  • S100A4 and S100A6 proteins expression promote migration of bladder cancer cells in zebrafish, H Al-Mahmoodi, I Alshamarti, QI Al-Ismaeel, AM Salih, HA Najeeb, ...Medical Journal of Babylon 16 (3), 192-198 2019
  • The significance of serum anti-rituximab (anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody) antibodies in treatment response of patients with B-cells malignancy, AS Al-Noori, ZA Mohammed, AM Salih, SS Zuhdi, HA Njeeb, Al-Kufa University Journal for Biology 11 (2), 8-14 2019
  • Immunological and Biochemical Parameters of Chronic Hepatitis B Infection Among Patients in Duhok City–Kurdistan Region/Iraq, AA Saadi, AM Salih, MA Merza, Duhok Med J 13 (2), 54-65 2019
  • Molecular detection of oral Trichomonas tenax among individuals attending dental care units using PCR in Duhok City–Kurdistan region, NT Jaffer, AS Al-noori, AM Salih, SS Zuhdi, Journal of Duhok University 22 (2), 195-202 2019
  • ASSOCIATION OF COMPLEMENTFACTOR H GENE (CFH) SINGLE NUCLEOTIDE POLYMORPHISM WITH RECURRENT APHTHUS STOMATITIS, AM SALIH, HS HASAN, SS ZUHDIN, AM ABDULRAHMAN, Duhok Medical Journal 12 (1), 84-95 2018
  • MTHFR C677T polymorphism and thyroid cancer risk in Duhok, Kurdistan Region-Iraq, IP Soleen Sardar Zuhdi, Ahmed Mohammed Salih, Zeki Ali Mohammad, ZANCO Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences 30 (12) 2018
  • BRAF gene mutation and CD56 immunoexpression in papillary thyroid carcinoma in Duhok-Iraq, AM Salih, MM Naqshabandi, NA Hassan, DA Hadji, IS Pity, ...Journal of Sulaimani Medical College 10 2017
  • Prognosis of liver disorders in DNA positive HBV patients based on fuzzy soft sets, RA Mohammed, AM Salih, MA Mirza, TH Ismail, AA Allam, Science Journal of University of Zakho 5 (1), 112-119 2017
  • EVALUATION OF SERUM ZINC LEVEL IN PATIENTS WITH LIVER CIRRHOSIS IN DUHOK GOVERNORATE: P1119, BA Qasim, A Salih, M Habibe, LS Aldohuky, RF Abduljaqbbar, United European Gastroenterology Journal 4 (5), A539-A540 2016
  • In silico prediction of a novel universal multi-epitope peptide vaccine in the whole spike glycoprotein of MERS CoV, MM Badawi, MA SalahEldin, MM Suliman, SA AbduRahim, ... American Journal of Microbiological Research 4 (4), 101-121 2016
  • BRAFV600 gene mutation in thyroid cancer in Duhok-Iraq, IS Pity, AM Salih, N Hassan, Duhok Med J 9 (2), 30-6 2015
  • Molecular Characterization of Echinococcus Granulosus Isolated from Human Hydatid Cyst Using Mitochondrial Cox1 Gene Sequencing in Dohuk Province-Kurdistan Region, Iraq, BD AHMED, WMS MERO, AM Salih, A CASULLI, JM ABDO, Science Journal of University of Zakho 1 (1), 72-80 2013
  • First insight into the genetic diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains from patients in Duhok, Iraq, MA Merza, AM Salih, International journal of mycobacteriology 1 (1), 13-20 2012
  • Ophthalmia neonatorum in duhok, north of iraq: bacterial causative agents and their antibiotic sensitivity pattern, AA Akrem, S Ahmed, S Tahir 2012
  • Molecular Characterization of Echinococcus granulosus Cysts Isolated From Human and Animal Intermediate Hosts in Duhok Province, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, BD Ahmed, WM Mero, AM Salih, Degree of Doctor in University of Duhok 2012
  • First insight into the drug resistance pattern of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Dohuk, Iraq: using spoligotyping and MIRU-VNTR to characterize multidrug resistant strains, MA Merza, P Farnia, AM Salih, MR Masjedi, AA Velayati, Journal of infection and public health 4 (1), 41-47 2011
  • First insight into the drug resistance pattern of mycobacterium tuberculosis in Dohuk, Iraq: using spoligotyping and MIRU-VNTR to characterize multidrug resistant strains, M Muayad A, F Parissa, S Ahmad M, V Ali Akbar 2011
  • The Most Predominant Spoligopatterns of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Isolates among Iranian, Afghan-Immigrant, Pakistani and Turkish Tuberculosis Patients: A … MA Merza, P Farnia, AM Salih, MR Masjedi, AA Velayati, Chemotherapy 56 (3), 248-257 2010
  • Determination of Dyspepsia Causes in Patients Attending Endoscopy dept. of Azadi Teaching Hospital in Duhok City, W Barwari, A Goreal, A Salih, NN Ibraheem, Zanco Journal of Medical Sciences (Zanco J Med Sci) 14 (1 Special), 121-126 2010
  • Risk factors for multi-drug resistant tuberculosis: A review, AM Salih, MA Merza, hospitals 6, 17 2010
  • Investigating the Role of Chapironin 60/GroEL of Neisseria meningitides in Induction of Host Cell Cytokine Responses, AM SALIH 2005, ZANCO Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences, SS Zuhdi, AM Salih, ZA Mohammad, IS Pity
  • HUMAN LEUKOCYTE ANTIGEN (HLA) TYPING BY POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION–SEQUENCE SPECIFIC PRIMERS (PCR–SSP) IN COMPARISON WITH SEROLOGIC METHODS, AM SALIH, SS SALMAN, Medical, 24
  • The significance of serum anti-rituximab (anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody) antibodies in treatment response of patients with B-cells malignancy, ZA Mohammed
  • BRAF V600E Mutation in Thyroid Carcinoma and Thyroiditis, GF Ahmed, IS Pity, AM Salih
  • Association of Complement factor H gene (CFH) Single Nucleotide Polymorphism with Recurrent Aphthus Stomatitis. Haliz saddeq hasan, , Soleen Sardar Zuhdi, AM SALIH. Duhok Medical Journal.

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 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 granulosus isolated from human and domestic animals using RFLP, 2013 – Ph.D.
  • The role of PCT in Streptococcus pneumoniae 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 Behçet’s disease patients, 2014 – M.Sc.
  • Detection of H. pylori in aphthous stomatitis patients using PCR, 2015 – M.Sc.
  • Anti-cellular compartment antibody level in Behçet’s disease patients, 2015 – M.Sc.
  • The validity of HBsAg testing in active chronic hepatitis B diagnosis, 2016 – M.Sc.
  • Heat shock (40, 70, 90) profile among hepatitis B patients in Duhok city, 2020 – Ph.D.
  • BRAF gene methylation in thyroid cancer patients, 2016–2020 – Ph.D.
  • Hepatitis C infection, 2019 – Ph.D.
  • Latent TB infection among close contacts, 2020 – M.Sc.
  • Prevalence and outcomes of diabetes among COVID-19 patients in Duhok COVID-19, health facilities: a cross-sectional study, 2022 – M.Sc.
  • Incidence of enterococci in the Kurdistan Region – Ph.D. 2022
  • Characterization of COVID-19 Patients in Clinical, Epidemiological, and Laboratory Settings: The Role of Vitamin D Binding Protein and Vitamin D Level in Severity (PhD) 2026
  • The NRAMPI, VDR and TNF-α gene polymorphisms among tuberculosis patients in Duhok, Iraqi Kurdistan (PhD) ongoing project
  • Genetic polymorphisms of P2X7, TLR7, TLR8 and TLR9 genes in association with tuberculosis susceptibility in Duhok province. (PhD) ongoing project
  • Exploring the Role of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection in Oral and Cervical Lesions in Childbearing-Age Females: Genotyping and miRNA Expression Profiling (PhD) ongoing project