On Thursday, October 3rd, the College of Pharmacy at Gulf Medical University welcomed Dr. Wael Alata, Pharm.D, Ph.D., Research Associate at NYU Abu Dhabi, for an enlightening research seminar. Addressing faculty members from the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and students of the Master’s in Drug Discovery and Development program, Dr. Alata presented on the topic: “Alzheimer’s Disease, the Blood-Brain Barrier, and Drug Delivery into the Brain.”
Dr. Alata holds a Master’s degree in Pharmacology, Pharmacokinetics, and Pharmacogenetics from Paris Saclay University, France, and a Ph.D. in Neuropharmacology from Laval University, Canada. His research examines the complexities of the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) in neurodegenerative diseases and explores novel molecular delivery mechanisms into the brain utilizing advanced techniques.
During the seminar, Dr. Alata provided an in-depth exploration of the stepwise development of a novel drug delivery system capable of crossing the Blood-Brain Barrier. This innovative shuttle transfer method holds the potential to manage the neuropathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease, including targeting amyloid and tau proteins. He also emphasized the critical role of thorough investigations into antibody-based therapies that have been fast-tracked through accelerated approval pathways, ensuring any adverse effects are properly understood.
The presentation concluded with an engaging Q&A session, during which attendees examined the future prospects of these innovative approaches and their possible impact on Alzheimer’s treatment. The discussion fostered a dynamic exchange of ideas, further broadening the participants’ understanding of drug delivery advancements in neuropharmacology.