To showcase the milestones of AUB FM over the years on the occasion of AUB’s Faculty of Medicine’s 150th anniversary celebrations, distinguished researchers, students, faculty and notables from various scientific disciplines gathered for the seventh year in a row at AUB’s West Hall for the 7th Annual AUB Biomedical Research Day on Saturday, February 18, 2017.
This annual event recognizes individuals whose scientific research has made, or has the potential to make, significant contributions toward the improvement of human health. Initiated in 2010, the event continues to grow and serve as a platform that brings together the research community of different AUB faculties, showcasing the biomedical research performed at AUB and providing an intellectual environment and platform for scientific exchange among various AUB researchers fostering collaboration within AUB.
Dr. Ayad Jaffa, Chairperson of the Organizing Committee and Assistant Dean for Graduate Studies and Interdisciplinary Programs, welcomed the attendees and introduced Deputy Executive Vice President and Founding Director of the Heart and Vascular Clinical Center of Excellence, Dr. Ziyad Ghazzal, who gave a presentation on “The Sesquicentennial of AUB Faculty of Medicine”. Associate Dean for Clinical and Translational Research, Dr. Samia Khoury, introduced the world renowned keynote speaker, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Cambridge, UK, Dr. Ziad Mallat, who gave a presentation on “Targeting the Immune Response in Cardiovascular Disease”. Professor Zaher Dawy of the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at AUB introduced Helmholtz Career Development Professor of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dr. Thomas Heldt, who gave a presentation on “Cardiovascular parameter estimation: from microgravity to the intensive care unit”.
The awardees of the 2017 Farouk Jabre awards were announced. The Farouk Jabre Award is a one-year grant that brings together faculty members from different backgrounds who identify a common area of interest and, using their different fields of knowledge, collaborate on a research topic. Executive VP for Medicine and Global Strategy and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Mohamed H. Sayegh, along with Trustee Farouk Jabre presented the awards to the 2017 Farouk Jabre award recipients:
- Dr. Firas Kobaissy from the Faculty of Medicine and Dr.’s Md Anwarul Hasan, Wassim Abou Kheir and Hala Darwish for “A novel neurotherapeutic approach for neural stem cell delivery using injectable GelMA hydrogel for brain tissue repair post traumatic brain injury (TBI)”.
- Dr. Assaad Eid from the Faculty of Medicine and Dr. Omar Obeid (FAFS) for “Phosphorus alteration in diabetic nephropathy and diabetic cardiomyopathy: unveiling novel mechanistic pathways”.
- Dr. Wassim Abou Kheir from the Faculty of Medicine and Dr.’s Noel Ghanem and Hala Darwish for “Young versus old: a potential role for vitamin D supplementation in modulating adult neurogenesis and hippocampal-related functions”.
- Dr. Asad Zeidan from the Faculty of Medicine and Dr. Rami Mhanna (FEA) for “Three-dimensional tissue engineered models for investigation of hypertension roles on vascular remodeling”.
- Dr. Youssef Zeidan from the Faculty of Medicine for “Novel role for lipid metabolism in radiation nephropathy”.
Following the presentations, poster sessions were held throughout the day which ended with a lunch where awards were granted to outstanding posters. A group of 22 jury members of faculty members across campus judged the posters based on the poster’s scientific content, delivery and the presenter’s handling of questions.
On the day, 123 inspiring posters covered various topics ranging from cancer, biomedical engineering, neurology, and epidemiology, to name a few competed. The competition was held for students, post graduates, fellows, trainees and residents. The winners were:
- Basic I:
Tatiana Jalkh for her study “Novel Role for Sphingolipid Metabolism in Radiation Nephropathy”.
- Basic II:
Crystal Ghantous for her study “Adiponectin Attenuates Hypertension-Induced Vascular Remodeling through NHE-1 Activity and LKB1/AMPK Signaling”.
- Cancer I (presented by Amalouna):
Abdul Rahman Itani for his study “Anti-Tumor Efficacy of Arsenic/Interferon in Preclinical Models of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Resistant to Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors”.
- Cancer II:
Fatima Ghamlouche for her study “CROSSTALK BETWEEN BRADYKININ AND RETINOIC ACID RECEPTORS SIGNALING PATHWAYS IN COLORECTAL CANCER CELLS”.
- Clinical I:
Manal Chokr for her study “Automated Detection and Depth Measurement of Demarcation Line using Optical Coherence Tomography in Keratoconus Patients after Crosslinking”.
- Clinical II:
Rama Rand Kanj for her study “Neuropsychological Findings in Hamamy Syndrome: A clinical case study”.
- Clinical III:
Pamela Genno for her study “New modifications of the nasal alveolar molding appliance (NAM) for cleft lip/palate patients”.
- Clinical IV:
Fares Sukhon for his study “Outcomes of Patients with Malignancy Admitted to the Intensive Care Units (ICU): a Prospective Study”.
- Epidemiology I:
Marlene Chakhtoura for her study “Vitamin D Replacement in Children, Adolescents and Pregnant Women in the Middle East and North Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials”.
- Epidemiology II:
Hiba Ghandour for her study “Traumatic Brain Injury in a War Zone: A Systematic Review of its Epidemiology and Clinical Characteristics in Lebanon”.
- Miscellaneous:
Waddah Malaeb for his study “Designing a multivariate tissue engineering bioreactor”.
- Diana Tamari Sabbagh Special Recognition Award:
Fadi Saadeh for his study “Flupirtine analogues in the treatment of Batten Disease”.