Professor Dr. Laila Anjuman Banu
MBBS, M. Phil, MMEd, MS, PhD
Professor, Genetics and Molecular Biology
Department of Anatomy
Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Dr. Laila Anjuman Banu is a leading physician-scientist, academician, and researcher in genetics, molecular biology, and precision medicine. Serving as Professor of Genetics and Molecular Biology in the Department of Anatomy at Bangladesh Medical University (BMU), she pioneered the establishment of the university’s flagship Genome Research Laboratory with support from the Government of Bangladesh and international partners.

Her clinical and translational research centers on establishing precision medicine and oncology in South Asia. Her specialized work covers germline and somatic genetic testing (including BRCA1/BRCA2), liquid and tissue biopsies, tumor profiling, cardiogenetics, and human genomics. Dr. Banu has led major national research initiatives, serving as Principal Investigator for the Integrated Health Research Project (Ministry of Health), the Gut Microbiome Project (Ministry of Education), and Bangladesh’s COVID-19 Genome Sequencing Initiative, which established national genomic surveillance capacity during the pandemic.

Dr. Banu holds an MBBS, an M.Phil in Anatomy, a Master of Medical Education (MMEd), and an MS and PhD in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology. She completed advanced specialized training in molecular genetics and genomics at world-renowned institutions, including Amsterdam University Medical Center and the Wellcome Genome Campus (UK).

Global Engagement & Academic Leadership

Dr. Banu actively contributes to international scientific governance, peer review, and regional collaboration:

British Medical Journal (BMJ): Regional Advisory Board Member for South Asia, guiding editorial and research policy across the region.

Asia-Pacific Research Network (Japan): Active collaborator fostering institutional partnerships, scientific exchange, and joint research between Bangladesh and the wider Asia-Pacific region.

Global Peer Review & Ethics: Peer reviewer for leading scientific journals and an international contributor to discussions surrounding the Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI) of human genomics.

Selected Honors & Recognition

Two-time Recipient: Next Generation Sequencing Bioinformatics Research Award (India)

Three-time Recipient: Best Oral Presenter Award, BSMMU Research Day

Dr. Banu welcomes international academic collaborations, research partnerships, and opportunities to mentor the next generation of researchers in precision medicine, cancer genomics, and biomedical education.

Achievements

Established “Plastination Lab” at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University funded by the Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project (HEQEP) a subproject of the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh

Established “Genomic Research Laboratory” at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University funded by the Higher Education Quality Enhancement Project (HEQEP) a subproject of the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh.

Member Secretary, Initiative for establishing a Biobank at BSMMU in Science summit at UNGA77, 27 September 2022,

https://www.businessinsiderbd.com/bangladesh/news/28993/bio-bank-to-open-up-new-horizon-of-possibilities-in-medical-research-in-bangladesh-discussants

• Best Oral Presenter, Research Day, BSMMU, 2019
• Best Oral Presenter, Research Day, BSMMU, 2021
• Best Scientific Paper (Oral) Presentation, Research Day, BSMMU, 2022

Attendance in International Trainings and Conference

• Twenty Third International Conference of Genetics and Genomics, Melbourne, Australia from 16 – 21 July.
• Training on sample preparation on Spectrum Compact Instrument Training from 09-10 November, 2022, Singapore
• 6th Batch “Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP), in Thimphu, Bhutan, 5th – 7th November, 2019” Faculty of Postgraduate Medicine, Khesar Gyalpo University Medical Sciences of Bhutan with WHO-TDR full scholarship
• Training on sample preparation for Real Time PCR from 25-26 October, 2017, Bangkok, Thailand
• International workshop on “Genetic and molecular screening for cancer” December 16th, 2016, Kamineni Institute of Medical Scineces, Sreepuram, Narketpally, Nalgonda (Dist), T.S, India
• International conference on “Genetic and Molecular Diagnosis in Modern Medicine
• Conference” December 17th-18th, 2016, Kamineni Institute of Medical Scineces, Sreepuram, Narketpally, Nalgonda (Dist), T.S, India
• International conference on next generation sequencing bioinformatics Conference Oct 3rd-5th, 2016 Cochin, India
• Wellcome Genome Campus Advanced Courses: Vertebrate Genomics: Bioinformatics Tools and Resources Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand 7-12 February 2016
• Training on sample preparation and data analysis using next generation DNA sequencer. Singapore 6th April -8th April 2015
• Application training of PikoReal Real Time PCR from 16-18 September, 2013, Mumbai, India.
• International Training Program on Policy Concerns Planning & Management in HIV/AIDS, 2006, Joipur, India. Commonwealth fellowship, Governance and Institutional division, Commonwealth Secretariat, London
• International training on Research Ethics and Good Clinical Practice Training Curriculum 17-19th August-2010, Dhaka, Bangladesh organized by Family Health International