Biomedical research scientist Dr. Ibrahim Musthafa dies

Biomedical researcher Dr. Ibrahim Musthafa, who has worked at major international universities and conducted significant health research, has died last night.

According to his family, Dr. Ibrahim from Addu City’s Hulhudhoo, passed away at 57 while undergoing treatment for a long illness in India’s Cochin.

The family did not disclose the details of the illness.

Dr. Ibrahim completed his PhD in the field of pathology and laboratory medicine from the University of British Colombia in Canada.

Dr. Ibrahim had received blood transfusions since a young age after being falsely diagnosed as a thalassemia patient.

Much of Dr. Ibrahim’s research has focused on thalassemia, with one of his most significant contributions being a study on ‘Iron Chelation Therapy’ which demonstrated that thalassemia patients could survive without the need for blood transfusions by taking a specific medication.

During his time in the Maldives, Dr. Ibrahim played a key role in establishing the Maldives Blood Service. He also served as the vice president of the Cancer Society of the Maldives and held a senior position at the Society for Health Education (SHE). Additionally, he worked at the country’s main government hospital, Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).

Due to limited opportunities for conducting health research in the Maldives, Dr. Ibrahim later spent most of his career abroad. He held academic positions at universities in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, with his most recent role being Assistant Professor of Biomedical Science at the Higher Colleges of Technology in the UAE.