ARSLAN TARIQ
My name is Arslan Tariq and I am a Ph.D. student in the Animal Molecular & Cellular Biology Program (AMCB), at the University of Florida since August 2021. I completed my D.V.M. (2015) and M.Phil. in Theriogenology (2019) from the University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Pakistan. My main area of interest is animal reproduction science.
For the last few years, I have been dedicatedly focusing on enhancing fertility through breeding management. During my DVM, I did internships on a semi-intensive and a commercial dairy farm.
During my master's program, I worked on semen cryopreservation of different species including bulls and bucks to improve the field fertility. I also had the opportunity of the hands-on practice of estrous synchronization protocols and Ovum Pick up in dairy buffaloes.
In the process of learning, I experienced that reproductive tract infections are very common in dairy cows specially after giving birth to calves. And fertility in dairy cows remains disturbed long after the resolution of these diseases resulting in high economic losses. These infections impair ovarian function resulting in lower fertility and decreased productivity.
So, I decided to pivot my research focus to understand the mechanisms by which uterine infections perturb oocyte quality and fertility in dairy animals. For that, I have traveled across continents to work in Bromfield’s lab to understand the relationship between infection, immunity, and fertility.
For the next few years, I’ll be working to determine the specific mechanisms by which uterine disease diminishes oocyte quality and developmental competence, and subsequent offspring performance. Not limited to dairy cows, this information would be equally important across species.