Research Council of Pakistan

We are delighted to share that our mentees’ work on the effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists on muscle has been published in Global Cardiology. Their study shows that while GLP-1 therapies reduce lean mass on paper, muscle function can remain stable or even improve.

This collaboration was made possible only through RCOP mentorship, which connected our mentees with renowned physician-scientists in Cardiology and enabled them to contribute to a project with strong clinical relevance.

Congratulations, Muhammad Sameer Arshad, Maaz Ali, and Asad Ali Ahmed Cheema!

Read their full article
https://www.globalcardiology.info/site/article/view/101. [ , , , ]

Modern anti-obesity therapies have redefined weight management, but what are some important effects of these medications that often go unnoticed? 💊

This infographic, based on a recent European Heart Journal review co-authored by RCOP mentee Muhammad Hamza Dawood alongside RCOP co-founder Dr. Shahzeb Khan and other renowned physician-scientists, highlights an important conversation surrounding GLP-1 receptor agonists and related anti-obesity treatments. 📝

While medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide produce substantial fat loss and cardiovascular benefit, they may also lead to reductions in lean body mass and skeletal muscle.💪🏻

This loss in muscle mass may contribute to reduced metabolic resilience, potentially counteracting the medications’ long-term cardiovascular benefit.🫀

Read more:
https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/eurheartj/ehag201/8566002?redirectedFrom=fulltext

Swipe through to see what our previous Level 1 participants had to say 🔬

From gaining confidence to understanding core concepts, our students experienced real growth in just two days. 🚀📚

Now it’s your turn to be part of the journey ✨

📅 Dates: May 23 & 24
💻 Platform: Zoom
🌍 Open across Pakistan

📩 Register now: [email protected]

Limited spots available—don’t miss out! [ ]

Laiba, a 2022 graduate of Akhtar Saeed Medical and Dental College, Pakistan, matched into Internal Medicine at the Capital Health Regional Medical Center, NJ, USA. She was under RCOP’s constant, personalized mentorship and worked on multiple research projects with us, which made her profile stand out among the candidates.

Laiba notes: “I had a great experience with RCOP. I was in regular contact with the mentors whenever I needed guidance, and they were always supportive and responsive.
Throughout the year, I was added to multiple research groups and had the opportunity to attend all their workshops, which were very helpful. They also reviewed my application and personal statement in detail, helping me polish it and correct any mistakes.
Their mock interviews were especially valuable, providing constructive feedback that improved my confidence and performance. I truly appreciate their support throughout the process.”

Dr. Faisal Khosa, a Pakistani-Canadian physician, radiologist, and Professor at the University of British Columbia, has been named a Top 75 finalist for the Top 25 Canadian Immigrant Awards.

Dr. Khosa is widely respected for his leadership in advancing equity, diversity, and excellence in medicine. He is also a devoted mentor who has consistently supported international medical graduates by offering guidance and mentorship. His efforts have helped many IMGs successfully match into residency training and become leaders in the field. Beyond his clinical and academic contributions, his work has earned multiple international recognitions and continues to inspire trainees and physicians worldwide.

We strongly encourage all RCOP students to vote for Dr. Khosa and show their support for this well-deserved recognition through the link below:

https://canadianimmigrant.ca/canadas-top-25-immigrants/vote

RCOP LEVEL 1 Workshop is BACK! 🚨
The workshop that launched the research journey of 6,000+ students!

🗓️ Dates: May 23 & 24
📍 Platform: Zoom
🌍 Open to everyone in Pakistan!

No prior research experience needed — just curiosity & motivation! ✨

🔍 What you’ll learn:
✅ Letter to the Editors
✅ Case Reports
✅ Original Studies (including cross-sectionals)
✅ How to choose a research topic
✅ Study design, data collection & analysis
✅ Publishing your own research article 📝🚀

🌟 Bonus:
-Guidance on applying for postgraduate training in 🇺🇸 US & 🇬🇧 UK
-Long-term career & research mentorship by RCOP mentors 🌐👩‍⚕️👨‍⚕️

📩 To register:
Email us at [email protected] with:
-Full name
-Medical school/institute

⏳ Seats are limited! First come, first served.

🚫 Note: RCOP Level 1 is mandatory to attend advanced workshops (NIS, Meta-Analysis, & CDC Wonder)

📞 Questions?
Reach out via:
✉️ Email
💬FB Messenger
WhatsApp: +92 324 1804127

🔥 Don’t miss this chance to LEVEL UP your research journey!

Disclaimer: RCOP neither conducts nor guarantees publications. RCOP only offers mentorship. All responsibility for the content, authorship, and publication of any study lies solely with the respective authors.

[RCOP, research, mentorship, publication, IMG, medicine, USMLE, step 1, step 2]

RCOP is delighted to introduce our Mentorship Rank System - a structure designed to recognize the efforts, leadership, and commitment of our hardworking and dedicated mentors.

As a mentor, you will gain meaningful opportunities to advance through the ranks as you guide more RCOP research groups toward publication. These include first authorship on your publications, free access to RCOP classes, research recognition, strong letters of recommendation, elective support, pathways to research fellowship opportunities, and much more.

This system is one of the ways RCOP continues to build a strong research community, where mentors grow as leaders while helping their mentees develop strong research skills and publish meaningful work.

Disclaimer: All benefits are applicable April 2025 onwards. Subject to terms and conditions. All mentors will be required to sign a contract, and will be required to be in good standing to be eligible for benefits. The RCOP leadership may change benefits without prior notice.

Hepatorenal syndrome-related mortality has risen again after years of decline in the United States, and who is being hit the hardest?

RCOP mentees from our CDC WONDER Masterclass explored trends in mortality caused by this condition and found clear disparities by s*x, race, region, and metropolitan status. Through this workshop, our students were taught to make full use of this free, publicly available database and to produce original, impactful research to fill persistent research gaps.

Congratulations, Khawaja Abdul Rehman, Syed Sarmad Javaid, FNU Pirih, Maliha Malik, Syeda Unzila Tirmizi, Emaan Amin, Ahmed Faizan, Zara Bilal, Aamna Khatoon, Eiman Afzal, Sadaf Iftikhar, Pakeeza Shakoor, and Syed Adeel Hassan!

Read their study below:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41995559/

Komal Saleem, our mentee and graduate of Ameer ud Din Medical College, Lahore, Pakistan, matched in internal medicine at the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell VBMC, USA. Although she had barely any research experience, RCOP worked diligently with her on high-impact research projects and ensured she developed a well-rounded and skilled match application.

“Joining the RCOP mentorship program was a highly valuable experience that significantly strengthened my residency application. It helped me develop essential research skills from scratch to learning complex datasets like NIS, CDC wonder, refine and present my CV in a more impactful way, and confidently navigate the complexities of the match process. The personalized guidance and practical insights provided by the mentors were really helpful in improving both my application and interview preparedness.”

Muhammad Faisal Riaz, a 2022 graduate of Rawalpindi Medical University, Pakistan, matched into Internal Medicine at The Brooklyn Hospital Center, New York, USA. Through our 12-month Match Program, he built a stronger academic profile and gained meaningful research exposure along the way.

Hear what he says about his journey: “RCOP played a crucial role in my understanding of data analysis, research methodology and the semantics involving publishing. I created a stronger portfolio and continue to do so, because of their teaching and support. Having learned data analysis for NIS, NRD and CDC WONDER, I was able to independently work on some projects of my own which helped me create a stronger portfolio. I am truly grateful for their guidance and support in helping me through this journey. Their teaching and support has helped me through the residency match cycle and it will continue to help me throughout my residency and towards my fellowship aspirations as well.”

Arbab Burhan Uddin Kasi, a graduate of Dow Medical College, Pakistan, matched in Neurology at Louisiana State University, USA. Through RCOP, he gained early clinical exposure, built a stronger research foundation, and secured a postdoctoral research fellowship in the US - an opportunity that helped him build even stronger academic connections and further strengthen his application during the Match journey.

Here is what he shared about his experience:

“I’m truly grateful to the RCOP Match Mentorship Program for the pivotal role it played in my journey. RCOP was where I was first introduced to clinical research—something that became a turning point in my career. With their guidance and support, I was able to build a strong research foundation, which ultimately opened the door for me to join Massachusetts General Hospital as a Research Fellow. Beyond research, their mentorship throughout the application process— from CV building to personal statement guidance and interview preparation—was invaluable. That structured support and insight played a key role in strengthening my application and shaping my path toward Neurology.”