Researcher Dr. Banan Mukhalalati

Dr Mukhalalati research work focusses on workforce intelligence and capacity building by addressing challenges that face pharmacy education through her appointment as a Global Lead for Pharmaceutical Workforce Development Goal (PWDG) no. 3: “Quality Assurance” in the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP). Dr Mukhalalati research interest in pharmacy education is originated from her PhD research work and her publications about learning theories, particularly communities of practice.Pharmacy education transformation is a key step in workforce planning and development with the aim of achieving achieving the Qatar National Vision (2030) locally and the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals globally. A significant component of this transformation is a research project led by Dr Mukhalalati and funded by Qatar University capacity building grant to professionally developing preceptors (practice mentors) in Health Cluster’s colleges, as educators through the “Practice Educator Academy” project that will be piloted in April 2020.Dr Mukhalalati recently published the below articles:

• Mukhalalati B, Taylor A. Adult Learning Theories in Context: A Quick Guide for Healthcare Professional Educators. Journal of Medical Education and Curricular Development. 2019; 6: 1–10. doi.org/10.1177/2382120519840332
• Mukhalalati B, Bader L, Alhaqan A, Bates I. Transforming the pharmaceutical workforce in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: a call for action. Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal. 2019. doi.org/10.26719/emhj.19.064
• Mukhalalati B, Taylor A. The development of a theory-informed Communities of Practice Framework for pharmacy and other professional healthcare education programmes. Pharmacy Education, 2018; 18 (1): 166 – 180

Researcher Dr. Hazem Elewa

Recent work focused on reviewing the role of genetic and non-genetic factors on warfarin dosing in the MENA region and in Qatari patients. Bader LA, Elewa H. [The Impact of Genetic and Non-Genetic Factors on Warfarin Dose Prediction in MENA Region: A Systematic Review. PloS one 11.12 (2016): e0168732.].

Research Symposium

The 3rd Annual Health Cluster Research Symposium was held on Saturday April 21st at the Qatar University Research Complex. The event was a huge success with a great turnout of around 100 participants from QU Health Colleges: College of Medicine, College of Health Sciences and College of Pharmacy, and the Biomedical Research Center. Several faculty members and students (both undergraduate and postgraduate) participated in the podium presentations and poster sessions.

Congratulations to the Winners at the QU Health 3rd Annual Research Symposium 2018

• Dr. Abdelali Agouni- 1st Place Oral Presentation- Faculty level (Title: Anti-neoplastic effects of metformin against renal clear cell carcinoma)
• Dr. Hesham M. Korashy - 2nd Place Oral Presentation- Faculty level (Title: Molecular mechanisms of gefitinib‐induced cardiovascular toxicity in rats: the role of PTEN‐AKT‐FoxO3a signaling pathway)
• Ola Hussein- 1st Place Poster Presentation- Undergraduate level
• Huda Barhoosh- 2nd place Poster Presentation- Undergraduate level
• Sara Abdulrhim and Rana Saleh- 1st Place Poster Presentation- Postgraduate level
• Alaa Mahmoud- 2nd Place Poster Presentation- Postgraduate level

Researcher Dr. Abdelali Agouni

Recent work led by Dr. Abdelali Agouni demonstrated for the first time the beneficial effects of pharmacological induction of Heme Oxygenase (HO)-1 in preventing high glucose-mediated activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress response in cultured endothelial cells leading to an improvement in endothelial dysfunction, the initial step in the development of atherosclerosis, characterized by a protection against endothelial cell death and improved angiogenic capacity. This work further highlighted the therapeutic potential of HO-1 induction in the treatment of cardiovascular complications of diabetes.

[Maamoun H, Zachariah 1, McVey JH, Green FR, Agouni A. Heme oxygenase (HO)-1 induction prevents Endoplasmic Reticulum stress-mediated endothelial cell death and impaired angiogenic capacity. Biochemical Pharmacology, 2017;127:46-59. doi: 10.1016/j.bcp.2016.12.009]

Researcher Dr. Ahmed Awaisu

Dr Awaisu recent research work focusses on medication adherence and treatment burden in chronic diseases and their relationship with clinical and humanistic outcomes. Cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and their complications are his interest due to their high prevalence in Qatar. He recently published the below articles

• Jaam M, Ibrahim MIM, Kheir N, Hadi MA, Diab MI, Awaisu A. Assessing prevalence of and barriers to medication adherence in patients with uncontrolled diabetes attending primary healthcare clinics in Qatar. Prim Care Diabetes. 2017 Nov 20. pii: S1751-9918(17)30181-X. doi: 10.1016/j.pcd.2017.11.001
• Jaam M, Awaisu A, Ibrahim MIM, Kheir N. Synthesizing and appraising the quality of the evidence on factors associated with medication adherence in diabetes: a systematic review of systematic reviews. Value Health Reg Issues. 2017 Sep;13:82-91. doi: 10.1016/j.vhri.2017.09.001
• Jaam M, Ibrahim MIM, Kheir N, Awaisu A. Factors associated with medication adherence among patients with diabetes in the Middle East and North Africa region: A systematic mixed studies review. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2017;129:1–15

Researcher Dr. Ousama Rachid

In a trination international collaboration (Canada, USA, and Qatar), Dr. Ousama Rachid extended the investigations in a pre‐clinical study towards the development of a novel sublingual epinephrine tablet formulation for anaphylaxis for pediatric use. The work potentially translates into an easy‐to‐carry, palatable, non‐invasive treatment for anaphylactic episodes for children in community settings. These rapidly‐disintegrating sublingual tablets have been patented and lead to license agreements with pharmaceutical industry.

Related publications:

• Rachid O, Rawas‐Qalaji M, Simons KJ. Epinephrine in anaphylaxis: preclinical study of pharmacokinetics after sublingual administration of taste‐masked tablets for potential pediatric use. Pharmaceutics 2018, 10(1), 24; doi:10.3390/pharmaceutics10010024
• Rawas‐Qalaji MM, Rachid O, Simons KJ, Simons ER. Epinephrine nanoparticles, methods of fabrication thereof, and methods for use thereof for treatment of conditions responsive to epinephrine. US Patent 9,877,921. Issued Jan 30, 2018

Researcher Dr. Korashy

Dr. Korashy’s research focuses on investigating the pathways of breast cancer stem cells self-renewal, proliferation, and chemoresitsance. Specifically, he is interested in exploring the role of aryl hydrocarbon receptor and its downstream target genes such as the cytochrome p450 1A1 , CYP1B1, and beta-catenin in the cancer stem cells of different types of breast cancer cells such as estrogen positive (MCF7 cells) and triple negative breast cancer cells (MDA-NB-231 and MDA-MB-468). In addition, Dr. Korashy is working on developing novel chemopreventive agents against breast cancer. Dr. Korashy is also interested in investigating the impact of exposure to environmental pollutants such as heavy metals and aromatic hydrocarbons on the pathogenesis and incidence of autism and diabetes mellitus

• Attafi IB, Bakheet SA, Korashy HM (2019) The Role of NF-κB and AhR Transcription Factors in Lead-Induced Lung Toxicity in Human Lung Cancer A549 Cells. Toxicol Mech Methods, 1-11 DOI: 10.1080/15376516.2019.1687629
• Alsaad AM, Al-Arifi MA, Maayah AH, Attafi IM, AlOnazi FM, Belali OM, and Korashy HM (2019) Genotoxic Impact of Long-term Cigarette and Waterpipe Smoking on DNA Damage and Oxidative Stress in Healthy Subjects. Toxicol MechMethods. 18:1-9

Dr. Derek Stewart is Professor of Clinical Pharmacy and Practice at the College of Pharmacy and the Manager of Academic Quality Affairs at QU Health. His research focuses on aspects of safe medication use and prescribing by pharmacists. He was the lead principal investigator on a major study funded by QNRF (NPRP 7 - 388 - 3 – 095), ‘Exploring medication error causality and reporting in Hamad Medical Corporation’ and is a regular keynote speaker at international conferences.

Key publications
Stewart D, Thomas B, MacLure K, Pallivalapila A, El Kassem W, Awaisu A, McLay JS, Wilbur K, Wilby K, Ryan C, Dijkstra A, Singh R, Moza Al Hail. Perspectives of healthcare professionals in Qatar on causes of medication errors: A mixed methods study of safety culture. PLOS ONE 2018;13(9):e0204801.

Stewart D, Thomas B, MacLure K, Wilbur K, Wilby K, Pallivalapila A, Dijkstra A, Ryan C, El Kassem W, Awaisu A, McLay JS, Singh R, Moza Al Hail. Exploring facilitators and barriers to medication error reporting in Qatar using the theoretical domains framework: A mixed methods study. PLOS ONE 2018;13(10):e0204987.