I am currently a group leader in the Translational Cancer and Immunity Center at the Qatar Biomedical Research Institute in Doha, Qatar and hold an assistant professor position at the College of Health and Life Sciences at the Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar. I obtained my Ph.D. in Medical Sciences in 2003 at the Catholic University of Leuven (KULeuven, Belgium), focusing on the clinical utility of tumor and circulating proteases as novel biomarkers for breast cancer. Following my PhD, I undertook a postdoctoral position at the University of East Anglia (UEA, UK) where I studied the biological role and prognostic potential of several protease families in cancer.

My research interests focus on key areas that can help accelerate research in the breast cancer and infectious disease fields, and advance the development of new biomarkers and treatments. Part of my cancer research efforts focus on tumor-associated Cancer Testis Antigens (CTAs) as cancer biomarkers, novel therapeutic targets and immunomodulatory regulators in breast cancer, with a special emphasis on triple negative breast cancer. At the interface between cancer and infectious disease research, my group investigates disease-associated dysregulation of the host immune response and associated biomarkers and targets.

HONORS AND AWARDS
Open Initiative Award 2020, Qatar National Library, Qatar
Recognition for excellence 2016, Cancer Biology and Therapeutics Program (HMS-CBT), Harvard Medical School, USA.
HBKU Thematic Research Grant Program, “Validation of LDHC as a novel target for precision medicine in breast cancer”. Lead PI, 2021-2023.
QBRI Internal Grant Program (IGP), “Exploration of novel therapeutic opportunities targeting LDHC in triple negative breast cancer”. Lead PI, 2021-2024.
QBRI Interdisciplinary research program (IDRP), “Integrative, translational research against COVID-19”. Lead PI, 2021-2023.
QBRI Internal Grant Program (IGP), “Mechanisms in pancreatic development and breast cancer stemness mitigated by Sox2”. Co-PI, 2021-2024.
“How beta cell-derived interleukin-33 shapes T cell regulation in T1D”. Co-PI (2020-2023).
QBRI Interdisciplinary research program (IDRP), “Diagnostic and predictive biomarkers in breast cancer”. Co-PI, 2019-2024.
QBRI Interdisciplinary research program (IDRP), “An integrated -omic approach to identify biomarkers for Type 2 Diabetes associated complications and comorbidities”. Co-PI, 2018-2023.
QBRI Interdisciplinary research program (IDRP), “Identifying Potential Molecular Biomarkers for Autism Spectrum Disorder”. Co-PI, 2018-2023.
QBRI Internal Grant Program (IGP #2016-003), “Pilot study of the role of Lactate Dehydrogenase C (LDHC) in the growth and migratory potential of triple negative breast cancer cells”. Lead PI, 2017-2019.
QBRI Internal Grant Program (IGP #2014-006), “Cancer Testis Antigens as candidate targets for cancer immunotherapy of Triple Negative Breast Cancer and the role of hypoxia in T cell based immunotherapy. Lead PI, 2016-2019.