Assoc. Prof. Irada S. Khalilova received her MSc degree in Molecular Biology and Biophysics from Azerbaijan State University, a Ph.D. in Allergology and Immunology from the Azerbaijan Medical University and had postdoctoral training in biochemistry and immunology at the Research Centre of Cardiology in Russia and Otago University in New Zealand.  Throughout her career, she has worked as a Senior Research Scientist at Immunochemistry Group, Department of Biochemistry, Azerbaijan Medical University, then as a Research Scientist in the Centre for Free Radical Research, Department of Pathology, Otago University, New Zealand. A primary focus of her research is investigating reactive oxidant production during inflammation, its impact on biological damage and the consequences for disease pathology.