Students from the Master in Drug Discovery and Development (MDD) program at Gulf Medical University’s College of Pharmacy demonstrated exceptional research caliber at the Fourth Al Ain University (AAU) Health and Biomedical Postgraduate Symposium. Competing against postgraduate peers from across the UAE, the MDD students secured four major awards, highlighting the program’s focus on high-impact, innovative research.
The MDD program at GMU is specifically designed to bridge the gap between basic laboratory research and clinical application. By emphasizing cutting-edge areas such as drug repurposing, advanced drug delivery systems, and metabolomics, the program equips students with the specialized skills needed to address complex global health challenges. These recent wins serve as a testament to the program’s rigorous training and its mission to produce the next generation of pharmaceutical scientists.
Award Highlights:
- First Place (Oral Presentation – Public Health & Biomedical Sciences): Rahaf Al-Zeer, supervised by Prof. Mohammed Abdullatif, Professor of Pharmacology, for her research on “Repurposing Aprocitentan as a Potential Anticancer Agent: Targeting Endothelin Receptors in Pancreatic and Breast Cancer Models.”
- First Place (Poster Presentation): Farwa Zahid, supervised by Prof. Mohammed Abdullatif, Professor of Pharmacology, for her study on “Repurposing of Dual SGLT1/2 Inhibitor Sotagliflozin for Lung and Pancreatic Cancer.”
- First Place (Poster Presentation): Fatima Al Sheikh, supervised by Prof. Shery Jacob, Professor of Pharmaceutics, for “Injectable In Situ Thermoreversible Gel Depot System of Lidocaine Nanoemulsion for Prolonged Anesthetic Activity in Dental and Operative Procedures.”
- Second Place (Oral Presentation – Public Health & Biomedical Research): Nour AlKaddour, supervised by Dr. Ahmed Al Banna, Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, for her metabolomics-based investigation into the cytotoxic effects of Neem in breast cancer.
These achievements underscore the College of Pharmacy’s strong commitment to fostering research, innovation, and scholarly excellence, and reflect Gulf Medical University’s ongoing dedication to preparing future leaders in pharmaceutical and biomedical sciences.
Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
