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.].

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