Dr. Said Ismail | Hamad Bin Khalifa University
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Dr. Said Ismail

Adjunct Professor

Email

saismail@qf.org.qa

Office location

QSTP, IC building, room 354

Dr. Said Ismail

Adjunct Professor

Educational Qualifications

Ph.D.

M.Sc.

Entity

College of Health and Life Sciences

Biography

Dr. Said Ismail is the director of the Qatar Genome Programme (QGP), one of the major national programs in the region. He obtained his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the University of Oxford and has work experience extending into various fields including research, education, and consultancy. 

As a research fellow at University College London (UCL), Dr. Ismail served as a consultant to several regional and international pharma and biotech companies. 

Dr. Ismail is especially interested in promoting research among young students and researchers in the Arab world. He launched one of the largest efforts to enhance the Arabic medical and scientific content on the internet; The “Bel-Arabi” or “In- Arabic” initiative. He is also a board member of the Phi Science Institute, which aims to spread creative sciences and research among youth.

 

Ph.D.

University of Oxford, UK, (10/97-8/2000): Gene Therapy

M.Sc.

University College London, UK, (9/1995-9/1996): Applied Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

B.Sc.

University of Jordan, Jordan (1/1991-1/1995): Medical Laboratories Technology

  • Cancer Genetics and Targeted Therapeutics
  • Genomics and Precision Medicine

Director

Qatar Genome Program, Qatar Foundation

2015 - present

Adjunct Professor

College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation

2017 - present

Professor of Molecular Biology

Medical School, University of Jordan

2002 - 2015

Head, Biochemistry and Physiology Department,

Medical School, University of Jordan

2014 - 2015

Head, Molecular Biology Research Laboratory

Faculty of Medicine University of Jordan

2005 - 2015

Managing director

Molecular Diagnostics Reference Lab, University of Jordan Hospital

2008 - 2015

Research Fellow

Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University College London, UK

2000 - 2002

  • Split-intron retroviral vectors; Enhanced expression and improved safety. Journal of Virology, 2000. 74:2365-2371.
  • Use of intron disrupted polyadenylation sites to enhance expression and safety of retroviral vectors. Journal of Virology, 2001. 75: 199-204.
  • Transcriptional Networks and Cellular Senescence in Human Mammary Fibroblasts. Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2005. Vol. 16, Issue 2, 943-953.
  • Molecular Heterogeneity of glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency in Jordan. Haematologica, 2005. Dec; 90(12): 1693-4.
  • Highly sensitive multiplex RT-PCR system for the detection of all common BCR-ABL transcripts. Jordan Medical Journal, 2006, 41(2): 96-104.
  • Identification of atypical PML-RARA breakpoint in a patient with acute promyelocytic leukemia. Acta Haematologica, 2007, 118:183-187.
  • Successful Bone Marrow Transplantation for Treatment of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia from a Donor with Mosaic Klinefelter Syndrome. International Journal of Hematology, 2007, 86(3): 287-288.
  • The Transforming Mutation E17K/AKT1 is not a Major Event in B-Cell Derived Lymphoid Leukaemias. British Journal of Cancer, 2008, 99: 488–490.
  • Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) genotype association with the risk of Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. Jordan Medical Journal, 2009, 43(1):8-13.
  • Screening patients with polycythemia vera for c-Kit mutations. Leukemia & Lymphoma, 2009; 50(1): 127–129.
  • Detection of combined genomic variants in a Jordanian family with familial non autoimmune hyperthyroidism. Journal of Genetics, 2009, 88(2): 233-238.
  • Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) Genotype Association With the Risk of Follicular Lymphoma. Cancer Genetics and Cytogenetics. 2009, 195(2); 120-124
  • Frequency of t(14;18) in follicular lymphoma patients: Geographical or technical variation. International Journal of Laboratory Haematology, 2009, 31; 535-543.
  • Hotspot mutations of PIK3CA and AKT1 genes are absent in multiple myeloma. Leukemia Research, 2010, 34(6); 824-826.
  • N-Acetyltransferase-2 (NAT2) genotype frequency among Jordanian volunteers. Int. Jouornal of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 2010, 48(10);688-694.
  • Frequent detection of Human Herpes Virus-8 (HHV-8) in bone marrow of Jordanian patients of multiple myeloma. Cancer Epidemiology. 2011, 35; 471-474.
  • CYP1AI, glutathione S-transferase gene polymorphisms and risk of Polycythemia vera. Cancer Epidemiology, 2012, 36 (1); 68-72.
  • UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase 1A4 (UGT1A4) Polymorphisms In A Jordanian Population. Molecular Biology Reports, 2012 Jul; 39(7): 7763-8.
  • Synthesis and biological activity assays of some new N1-(flavon-7-yl) amidrazone derivatives and related congeners. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 2012, 54; 65-74.
  • The in vitro effect of autologous platelet lysate on different types of mesenchymal stem cells. Regenerative Research, 2012, 1(1); 25-32.
  • Allele and genotype frequencies of the polymorphic cytochrome P450 genes (CYP1A1, CYP3A4, CYP3A5, CYP2C9 and CYP2C19) in the Jordanian population. Mol Biol Rep. 2012, 39(10): 9423-33
  • Thymoquinone in liposomes: A study of loading efficiency and biological activity towards breast cancer. Drug Delivery. 2012, 19(8):371-377.
  • Thiopurine S-Methytransferase Gene Polymorphism in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Archives of Medical Research. 2013, (44); 105-109.
  • Thymoquinone efficiently inhibits the survival of EBV infected B cells and alters EBV gene expression. Integrative Cancer Therapies. 2013 12(3); 257-263.
  • Cancer Incidence in Jordan from 1996 to 2009 - A Comprehensive Study. Asian Pacific J Cancer Prev, 2013, 14 (6); 3527-3534.
  • Association of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) with bladder cancer in Croatian patients". Tumor Biology. 2014; 35(1):567-72.
  • Allele and Genotype Frequencies of the Polymorphic Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase and Colorectal Cancer among Jordanian Population. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 2013, 14(8); 4559-4565.
  • In vitro selection of modified RNA aptamers against CD44 cancer stem cell marker. Nucleic Acid Therapeutics, 2013, 23(6):401-7.
  • Preparation, characterization and antiproliferative activity of thymoquinon-β-cyclodextrin self assembly nanoparticles. Die Pharmazie, 2013, 68:939-944.
  • Aptamers: Promising Molecules for Cancer Stem Cell Targeting. Journal of Molecular and Genetic Medicine, 2013, 7(4):1000090.
  • Incidence of bcr-abl fusion transcripts in healthy individuals. Molecular Medicine Reports, 2014; (9): 1271-1276.
  • Functionalizing liposomes with anti-CD44 aptamer for selective targeting of cancer cells. Bioconjugate Chemistry. 2015, 26(7):1307-13.
  • Allele and Genotype Frequencies of the Polymorphic Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase and Lung Cancer in ther Jordanian Population: a Case Control Study. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2015;16(8):3101-9.
  • The effect of various interleukins on antibody production by Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) immortalized B cells. Monoclonal Antibodies in Immunodiagnosis and Immunotherapy 2015 June; 34(3):162-8.
  • Ephedrine requirements during spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery in Jordanian parturients: association with b2- adrenoceptor gene variants. Ann Saudi Med, 2016; 36(1): 29-36
  • Occupational exposure to pesticides and occurrence of the chromosomal translocation t(14;18) among farmers in Jordan. Toxicology Reports, 2016,(3);225–229.
  • Remifentanil consumption in septoplasty surgery under general anesthesia. Association with humane mu-opioid receptor gene variants. Saudi Med J 2017, 38 (2): 170-175.
  • Selection and Targeting of EpCAM Protien by ssDNA Aptamer. PLOS ONE. 2017, (https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0189558).
  • Aptamer-guided siRNA-loaded nanomedicines for systemic gene Silencing in CD-44 expressing murine triple-negative breast cancer model. Journal of Controlled Release, 2018, (271): 98–106.
  • Therapeutic Aptamers in Discovery, Preclinical and Clinical Stages. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 2018, 134; 51–64.
  • Aptamers in Therapeutics and Drug Delivery (Editorial). Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 134 (2018); 1-2.
  • Developing and Characterization of Chemically Modified RNA Aptamers for Targeting Wild Type and Mutated c-KIT Receptor Tyrosine Kinases. Journal of medicinal chemistry, 2019 Aug 15. doi: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b00868
  • Aptamers Chemistry: Chemical Modifications and Conjugation Strategies. Molecules, 2020, 25, 3; doi:10.3390/molecules25010003.
  • SARS-CoV-2 entry in host cells- multiple targets for treatment and prevention. Biochimie, 175 (2020) 93-98.
  • Willingness to participate in genome testing: a survey of public attitudes from Qatar. Journal of Human Genetics, 2020, 1-7.
  • Grafting of anti-nucleolin aptamer into preformed and remotely loaded liposomes through aptamer-cholesterol post-insertion. Royal Society of Chemistry, RSC Advances, 2020, 10(59): 36219-36229.
  • THE FUTURE OF MEDICINE, healthcare innovation through precision medicine: policy case study of Qatar. Life Sciences, Society and Policy, (2020) 16:12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40504-020-00107-1

  • Overseas Research Studentship (ORS) award, Oxford University (1997-2000)
  • Said Foundation (KRSF) Scholarship, Oxford University (1997-2000) 
  • Winner of Abdul Hamid Shoman Award Arab Researchers Award - 2013
  • Winner of Ali Mango Award for distinguished researchers - 2012 
  • Winner of Said Foundation Award, for academic excellence - 2001