Dr. Rania, Associate Professor and Researcher at the TRIPM, presented her latest research at the prestigious European Association for Cancer Research (EACR) Congress 2026, held in Budapest from 8–11 June 2026.
Her research titled “Waterpipe Smoke Activates Protective Autophagy in Normal Lung Cells Linking it to Carcinogenic Changes,” was presented on 10 June 2026 under the Cancer Cell Biology category. The study addresses the growing global concern surrounding waterpipe smoking and its potential role in lung cancer development.
The research investigated the impact of waterpipe smoke condensate on normal human bronchial epithelial cells, focusing on early molecular events that may contribute to cancer initiation. Importantly, the research suggests that autophagy, while typically considered a cellular survival mechanism, may paradoxically facilitate tumor initiation by enabling stressed cells with accumulated damage to persist rather than undergo programmed cell death. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how waterpipe smoking may promote early-stage carcinogenic processes in the lung.
This work was conducted through collaborative efforts between TRIPM at Gulf Medical University, Beirut Arab University, Wayne State University, and INSERM UMR 1186 / Gustave Roussy / University Paris-Saclay, reflecting the strong international research collaborations fostered by GMU.
Dr. Zaarour’s participation at EACR 2026 highlights Gulf Medical University’s continued commitment to advancing translational cancer research and strengthening its global research presence. Her work also reinforces TRIPM’s mission to address pressing biomedical challenges through innovative precision medicine approaches.
This research was supported by Gulf Medical University, with additional support through the QUWA research grant awarded during the 4th Forum for Women in Research at the University of Sharjah.
Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
SDG 4: Quality Education; SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
