Metadata
Title
Emerging Pathogens and Antimicrobial Resistance
Category
graduate
UUID
421413ce7d394b4cb780d1b06ecea2e9
Source URL
https://www.sharjah.ac.ae/en/Research/RIMHS/VP
Parent URL
https://www.sharjah.ac.ae/en/Research/RIMHS
Crawl Time
2026-03-20T01:35:20+00:00
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Emerging Pathogens and Antimicrobial Resistance

Source: https://www.sharjah.ac.ae/en/Research/RIMHS/VP Parent: https://www.sharjah.ac.ae/en/Research/RIMHS

Emerging Pathogens (Such as SARS-CoV2, Mpox, dengue fever) along with Antimicrobial Resistance AMR are urgent threats to public health security both globally and locally in the UAE. The emergence of new pathogens is driven by factors such as: Changes in population dynamics, increase mobility of humans and farm animals, human encroachment to wildlife habitat, and climate changes. While the spread of AMR is mainly driven by the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in human, farm animals and agricultural practices.  Very few groups in the UAE address these concerns especially under the ONE HEALTH perspective. Our group was established in 2023 to provide and complement existing efforts in the UAE to bolster local and global health preparedness through focusing our research efforts on these two pivotal health challenges

\ Below are the goals and objectives of the Emerging Pathogens and Antimicrobial Resistance Research Group, guiding our research activities and defining our strategic priorities in addressing global health challenges:

  1. Understanding the factors contributing to the Emerging of Pathogens and the spread of AMR in the UAE and globally.
  2. Explore and discover novel antimicrobials to combat emerging pathogens and AMR, including antibacterial, antiviral, and antiprotozoal agents.
  3. Deciphering the molecular mechanisms that promote pathogens emergence in humans and the spread of AMR among circulating pathogens.
  4. Using the ONE HEALTH APPROACH to provide updated statistical data on emerging pathogens of significance and AMR status in the UAE.

Dr. Mohamad Hamad

Research Group Coordinator

mhamad@sharjah.ac.ae

Dr. Balsam Qubais Saeed

Research Group Memebr

bsaeed@sharjah.ac.ae

Dr. Nihar Rajan Dash

Research Group Memebr

ndash@sharjah.ac.ae

Ms. Hiba Jadwat Barqawi

Research Group Member

hbarqawi@sharjah.ac.ae

Sreedevi Edathadan Sajeevan

Research Assistant

Dr. Ghalia KHODER

Research Group Member

gkhoder@sharjah.ac.ae

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  1. Monitoring local and global burden of infectious disease related to emerging pathogens and AMR.
  2. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of drug resistance in select bacterial, viral, ad protozoan pathogens.
  3. Investigating the molecular mechanisms of viral, bacterial and protozoan pathogenesis and host adaptation using an Omics approach.
  4. Discovering and developing novel antimicrobials.

List of institutions and organizations collaborating with us to achieve our research and community goal:

  1. Professor Miguel A. Valvano, M.D.. The Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University of Belfast, UK.
  2. Dr. Martin Voskuil Ph.D., Microbiology & Immunology. University of Colorado Anschutz, Colorado USA.
  3. Professor Amin F. Majdalawieh, Ph.D. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, American University of Sharjah, UAE.
  4. Dr. Mohamed Abdelgawad, Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering Department, American University of Sharjah UAE.

Research Publications

No Record Found

Internal Projects:
# Title PI Co-PIs Amount Dates
1 Research funding from the Research & Graduate Studies Central Fund, University of Sharjah for project entitled, “Gut microbiome under microgravity environment". Naveed Khan 39000/- Jul 21 – Jul 23
2 Molecular interactions of brain-eating amoebae with host cells" PI AED=200,000/- 2022-2024
University of Sharjah, UAE for the Targeted Impactful Research

External :
# Title PI & Co-PIs Cash Amount Transferred to UoS Dates Funding Organization
1 Gut microbiome and epigenetic changes under acute stress" PI USD 300,000/- 2023-2026 US Office of Aerospace and Research and Development, USA.
2 Targeting LPS endotoxin of gram-negative bacteria for treatment of sepsis and antimicrobial resistance. Co-PI USD 200,000/ - 2023 - 2025 NIH, USA/ MBRU, UAE.
3 Gut microbiome and human health" Co-PI 2022 - 2024 NASA, USA/ MBRSC, UAE for the Human Exploration Research Analog Mission (HERA).
4 research funding from the Collaborative Stimulus Research Grant, MBRU/UoS for project entitled, “Discovery of novel antimicrobials". PI AED=125,000/- Jul 22 – Jul 23 CSRG MBRU/UoS
5 Metagenomics profiling of the intracellular microbiome of environmental Acanthamoeba isolates and its role in pathogenicity. Co-PI AED=128,000/- Sep 2022 – Sep 2024 Ministry of Higher Education, Government of Malaysia
6 Unravelling the interactions of Acanthamoeba as a universal host with bacterial endosymbionts: One bridge from environment to host pathogenicity. Co-PI AED= 50,000/- Sep 2021 – Sep 2023 Penyelidikan dan Inovasi, Universiti Technologi MARA, Malaysia
7 research funding from the US Office of Aerospace and Research and Development for project entitled, “Novel metabolites(s) from crocodile gut microbiome". Co-PI AED= 800,000/- Aug 20 – Aug 23 The US Office of Aerospace and Research and Development
8 research funding from the FRG, American University of Sharjah for project entitled, “Pests as source of antibacterials". PI AED= 520,000/- Aug 21 – Aug 23 American University of Sharjah
9 research funding from the FRG, American University of Sharjah for project entitled, “Molecular mechanisms of Naegleria fowleri interactions with human cells". PI AED= 147,000/- Aug 21 – Aug 23 American University of Sharjah

*Grants :*
Title Amount PI Date
The role of the OxyR regulon in oxidative stress resistance and virulence of the opportunistic pathogen Burkholderia cenocepacia 120,000 AED Dr. Mohamad Hamad May 1 2025- May 1 2027
Taxonomic classification of novel Streptomyces and rare actinomycetes isolated from UAE desert using a polyphasic and genomic approach 200,000 AED Dr. Mohamad Hamad March 1 st, 2024- March 1 st, 2026
Deciphering the Cellular and Molecular Effects of Newly Discovered SHP2 Inhibitor Compounds on the Downstream Targets of SHP2 Tyrosine Phosphatase in Gastric Cancer and Helicobacter pylori Induced Gastric Infection 120,000 AED Dr. Ghalia KHODER 2024-2026

**