Gene Editing and Therapy Research Group
Source: https://www.sharjah.ac.ae/en/Research/RIMHS/GDT Parent: https://www.sharjah.ac.ae/en/Research/RIMHS
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Overview
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Goals and Objectives
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Our Team
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Current Funded Studies
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Collaborators
Overview
The long-term goals of the Gene Editing & Therapy research group are to advance biomedical research at the University of Sharjah and to develop the infrastructure and the expertise for future clinical applications involving highly promising and fast-growing gene-editing technologies.
Goals and Objectives
The long-term goals of the Gene Editing & Therapy research group are to advance biomedical research at the University of Sharjah and to develop the infrastructure and the expertise for future clinical applications involving highly promising and fast-growing gene-editing technologies. To this end, we propose 5 objectives:
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Develop CRISPR-Cas9-based platform to allow with high accuracy and effectiveness:
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The identification of novel therapeutic target genes in various types of cancer using genome-wide screen with sgRNA libraries.
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The development of novel therapeutic approaches by targeting the products of identified genes.
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Employ CRISPR system to correct, modify, or delete aberrant genes to address their functional roles in various human diseases including cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular or respiratory diseases, among others.
- Identifying key signaling networks of cell growth metabolism and pathogenesis that are perturbed in diseases such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular or respiratory diseases.
- Developing new methodology to deliver gene-editing molecules into different tissues to precisely target and correct genetic defects using ultrasound-targeted microbubble and photodynamic targeted technologies.
- Develop the infrastructure for gene therapy that provides support for various research groups at the Research Institute of Medical & Health Sciences (RIMHS) and allow the RIMHS to acquire the knowledge and the expertise in such highly advanced gene editing technology that would serve as a basis for future clinical applications.
Dr. Khaled Bajou
Research Group Member
Prof. Hany Omar
Research Group Member
Firdos Ahmad
Research Group Coordinator
Prof. Raafat El-Awady
Research Group Member
Current Funded Studies
- Use of 14K growth hormone as a potent pro-thrombolytic agent. Khalid Bajou, UOS 80,000. 2017-2019.
- Effect of processing fish with Natural antioxidants on the structure of Lipids and Proteins. Khalid Bajou, UOS. AED 200,000, 2017 – 2019.
- 5-Aminosalysilate-4-thiazolinone hybrid derivatives as novel Rafat Al-Awady, Al Jalila Foundation, 300000 AED, 2017 – 2019.
- Development of novel therapeutic approach in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with MYC rearrangement. University of Sharjah, N, Mohamed Rahmani, AED 40,000. 2018 – 2019.
- Energy Restriction as a Novel Approach Targeting Cancer Stem Cells Multi-drug Resistance. Al Jalila Foundation, Hany Omar, 273000 AED. 2016 - 2018
- Role of GSK-3α in ischemia/reperfusion-induced programmed necrosis. University of Sharjah, Firdos Ahmad, AED 40,000. 2018-2019.
- Effect of GLP-1 and pitavastatin on the expression of the scavenger receptor CD36 on macrophages. Firdos Ahmad, Boehringer Ingelheim, AED 13500. 2017-2018
Collaborators
Dr. Steven Grant
Associate Director of Translational Research, Massey Cancer Center\ \ Shirley Carter and Sture Gordon Olsson Professor of Oncology\ \ Professor of Medicine\ \ Goodwin Research Building Room 229\ \ Richmond, VA 23298, USA\ \ steven.grant@vcuhealth.org\ \
Dr. Gordon Ginder
Director, Massey Cancer Center\ \ Lipman Chair in Oncology\ \ Professor of Medicine\ \ Virginia Commonwealth University\ \ Richmond Va, 23298, USA\ \ gordon.ginder@vcuhealth.org\ \
Prof. Peter Carmeliet
VIB-KU Leuven Center for Cancer Biology\ \ Campus Gasthuisberg\ \ Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.\ \ peter.carmeliet@kuleuven.vib.be