Professional Activities

Administrative experience

• [ 2009-2011 ] Member of the founding committee of Prince Naif Center for HEALTH Research (PNCHR).
• [ 2011-present ] Member of the Equipment and supplies Committee of Prince Naif Center for HEALTH Research.
• [ 2009-present ] Scientific Director of Prince Naif Center for Immunology Research. Responsible of establishing this properly equipped fully running Immunology Research Unit.

Teaching experience
Prince Naif Center for Immunology Research.

• [ 2010-present ] Supervising the research program for a number of Medical Interns.
• [ 2012-2016 ] Supervisor and Mentor of Ph.D student Rowaa Al-Qufaidi thesis. Thesis Title: Role of cytokines, Interleukin-17 (IL-17), B cells, as well as memory T cells, in airway tissue remodeling of Saudi asthmatic Patients.
• [ 2014-2018 ] Supervisor and Mentor of Ph.D student Maha Enazi thesis. Thesis Title: Role of cytokines, IL--35 and IL-37 in suppressing lung tissue inflammation during asthma via the regulation of Breg and Treg cells.
• [ 2010-2013 ] Co-supervisor of the Master student Zienab Hamad. Thesis Title: Genetic modifiers of stroke and gallstones risk in sickle cell disease.
• [ 2011-2012 ] Supervisor and Mentor of 3rd year Medical students Medical research course CMED304. Project Title: Effect of Asthma On the quality of life of Saudi Adolescents.

Grants and Awards

• [ 2015 -2017 ]  Association of exposure to Saudi sandstorm dust with increased risk of asthma hospitalization: Role of dust particles components in asthma pathogenesis. 12-MED2892-02-R
  Role: Principal investigator.
  Consultants and Collaborators: Prof. Donna Davies (University of Southampton, UK); Dr. Chris Grainge (University of Southampton, UK); Prof. Professor Damon Teagle (University of Southampton, UK); and Prof. Qutayba Hamid (McGill University, Montreal, Canada).
• [ 2015 -2017 ] Research Grant number 14-MED1053-02
  Source: The National Plan for Science and Technology (NPST), King Saud University, Riyadh, SA.
  Proposal Title: Genome-Wide Sequencing of Serum microRNAs :Exploring Next Generation Biomarkers for Diagnosis and Prognosis of Sepsis in Saudi Children
  Role: Co-investigator.
• [ 2013 -2015 ] Research Grant number 12-MED2536-02
  Source: The National Plan for Science and Technology (NPST), King Saud University, Riyadh, SA.
  Proposal Title: Novel nanocarriers for the direct and efficient delivery of blocking antibodies to asthmatic lungs: noninvasive tracking using MRI
  Role: Co-investigator.
• [ 2014 -2016 ] Research Grant
  Source: KACST.
  Proposal Title: Identifying the Immune correlates of protection during TB infection.
  PI: Dr. Fahad Al-Majed
  Role: Co-investigator.
• [ 2014 -2016 ] Research Grant
  Source: KACST.
  Proposal Title: A Prospective National Surveillance of Infective Endocarditis in Saudi Arabia.
  PI: Dr. Imad Tleiji (King Fahad Medial City).
  Role: Co-investigator.
• [ 2012 -2014 ] Research Grant number 02-MED1224-10 (Completed)
  Source: National Plan for Science and Technology (NPST), King Saud University, Riyadh, SA.
  Proposal Title: Role of IL-17 Cytokine in the recruitment of B cells into bronchial lung tissue during asthma.
  Role: Principal investigator.
• [ 2010 -2012 ] Research Grant number 02-BIO97-09 (Completed)
  Source: The National Plan for Science and Technology (NPST), King Saud University, Riyadh, SA.
  Proposal Title: Role of Eosinophils in the Proliferation of Airway Smooth Muscles in Asthma
  Role: Principal investigator.
• [ 2015  ] First place Best Abstract Award.
  Gulf Thoracic Society meeting (GTS) 2015.
  Dubai, UAE, 4-7 March, 2015.
• [ 2014  ] Best Abstract PRIZE.
  European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) 2014.
  Copenhagen, Denmark, 7-11 June, 2014.
• [ 2010 -2012 ] Research Grant
  Source: Merck & co “MSD”, Saudi Arabia.
  Proposal Title:  Eosinophils enhance the Proliferation of Airway Smooth Muscles in Asthma.
  Role: Co-investigator.
• [ 2011 -2013 ] Research Grant
  Source: Merck & co “MSD”, Saudi Arabia.
  Proposal Title:  Novel genetic variations contributing to Asthma susceptibility in Saudi Arabia
  Role: Co-investigator.
• [ 2010  ] Outstanding Poster Award.
  World Allergy Organization (WAO) 2010. Dubai. 5-8 December.
• [ 2005-2008 ]  Post-Doc Fellowship
  Source: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
• [ 2003-2004 ]       Doctoral Research Award
  Source: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
• [ 2002-2003 ]  Faculty of Medicine Internal Studentship Award McGill University

Grants under Revision

• [ 2016 -2018 ] Attenuate T cell immune responses during airway inflammation by modulating inhibitory signalling pathways using a targeted antibody-nanocarrier approach monitored non-invasively via MRI.
  Submitted to: NPST, March, 2015.
  Role: Principal investigator.
• [ 2016 -2018 ] Role of newly discovered Breg cells and its regulatory anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-35 in the pathogenesis of asthma.
  Submitted to: NPST, Oct, 2014.
  Role: Principal investigator.
• [ 2016 -2018 ] Multifunctional magnetic nanocarriers for controlled triggering and targeting of breast cancer stem cells: Noninvasive MR Imaging for efficient theranostics
  Submitted to: NPST, Oct, 2014.
  Role: Co-Investigator.
• [ 2016 -2018 ] Eosinophil apoptosis using siRNA loaded magnetic nanoparticles for improved Asthma therapy and diagnosis using noninvasive MRI
  Submitted to: NPST, Oct, 2014.
  Role: Co-Investigator.

Professional memberships

• Member of INSERM unit, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
• Member of International AIDS Society (IAS), USA.
• Member of Asthma Research Chair, College of Medicine, King Saud University.
• Member of American Thoracic Society.
• Member of European Academy for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI).