On Friday, September 12, 2025, the College of Pharmacy at Gulf Medical University hosted an online faculty research seminar delivered by Dr. Karim Ibrahim Mersal, Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at MTI, Cairo, and former researcher at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul. The session was attended by faculty members from the Pharmaceutical Sciences Department and candidates from the Master’s in Drug Discovery and Development program.
Titled “Evaluation of Novel Pyrazol-4-yl Pyridine Derivatives Possessing Arylsulfonamide Tethers as c-Jun N-Terminal Kinase (JNK) Inhibitors in Leukemia Cells”, the seminar focused on the evaluation of novel pyrazol-4-yl pyridine derivatives possessing arylsulfonamide tethers as potent inhibitors of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) in leukemia cells. Dr. Karim discussed the design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of these derivatives, highlighting their potential role in targeting JNK, a key signaling pathway implicated in leukemia progression.
The seminar concluded with a fruitful discussion, where faculty members and MDD candidates engaged with Dr. Karim on the research findings. The interactive exchange provided valuable insights and enhanced participants’ understanding of the potential applications of novel JNK inhibitors in leukemia treatment.
