Dr. Md. Mostafizur Rahman awarded the American Academy of Neurology’s prestigious Futures in Neurologic Research Scholarship
Bangladeshi physician and researcher Dr. Md. Mostafizur Rahman has received the prestigious Futures in Neurologic Research Scholarship in recognition of his outstanding contributions to neuroscience research. He is currently pursuing a PhD at St. John’s University in New York, United States.
Dr. Rahman received the honor at the 2026 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN), held recently in Chicago.
The Futures in Neurologic Research Scholarship is one of the Academy’s most competitive awards. Each year, it recognizes only 35 resident physicians, medical students, and graduate researchers from the United States and Canada who demonstrate exceptional potential to become future leaders in neurological research.
At the conference, Dr. Rahman presented his research titled, “Splicing-Dependent Modulation of CaV1.3 Calcium Channels: Implications for Neurological Disease and Therapeutic Targeting.” The event also provided him with an opportunity to engage with internationally renowned neurologists and neuroscientists.
Originally from Bangladesh, Dr. Rahman earned his Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) from Sir Salimullah Medical College in Dhaka. In 2021, he began his doctoral research at St. John’s University under the supervision of Dr. Matteo Ruggiu.
His research focuses on alternative splicing, a fundamental genetic process that regulates calcium and potassium ion channels. Abnormalities in these ion channels have been linked to epilepsy and several other neurological disorders. His work seeks to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying these diseases and contribute to the development of more effective, targeted therapies.
Dr. Rahman’s research has been published in several internationally recognized scientific journals, including Neurology, Annals of Neurology, Immune Mediators in Cancer: Methods and Protocols (Springer Nature), WIREs RNA, and the Journal of Biological Chemistry. He has also presented his research at the annual meetings of both the American Academy of Neurology and the American Neurological Association in 2025 and 2026.
In recognition of his academic excellence, Dr. Rahman received St. John’s University’s 2026 Dr. Haldar Award for Outstanding Research Publications. His research team also earned first place in the university’s 2022 Student Research Conference poster competition and second place in the 2026 competition.
Dr. Rahman’s achievement highlights the growing contributions of Bangladeshi scientists to the global research community. His success is expected to inspire a new generation of students in both Bangladesh and the United States to pursue careers in molecular biology, neuroscience, and biomedical research.
