Prof. Parker was born in 1952 in Cape Town, South Africa.
He obtained his BSc in Biochemistry and Microbiology from the University of Cape Town in 1974, and his PhD in Biochemistry form the same University in 1979.
Prof. Parker has an outstanding research record with publications in major international journals.
He is president of the South African Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. He was Associate Professor in Medical Biochemistry, University of Cape Town, 1990-1993. He was a Professor and DG, Murray Chair of Cancer Research, University of Cape Town, 1994-2000. He is Director, School of Biomedical Sciences and Head Division of Medical Biochemistry University of Cape Town 2000 to present. And he is Director of Oesophageal Cancer Research Group/University of Cape Town from 1997-present.
Prof. Parker was a key member in founding of the Federation African Societies on Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and is currently its Secretary General. He also serves as the African Regional Representative on the International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
He is a founder member of the South African Academy of Sciences (ASSAF) and currently holds the position of Secretary General of this Academy. He is currently a member on the Inter Academy Panel (IAP) and the Inter Academy Council (IAC).
He has been part of the Science and Technology delegation of President Mbeki during the latter’s official visits to Russia in 1998 and to Cuba in 2001. He also was a member of an official delegation to Japan and China in 1999 on behalf of the Ministry of Science and Technology to look at bi-national agreements between these countries and South Africa.
Prof. Mohamed Iqbal Parker was elected as a Fellow of IAS in 2001.