Gene Editing and Therapy Research Group

The long-term goals of the Gene Editing & Therapy research group are to advance biomedical research at the University of Sharjah and to develop the infrastructure and the expertise for future clinical applications involving highly promising and fast-growing gene-editing technologies. 

The long-term goals of the Gene Editing & Therapy research group are to advance biomedical research at the University of Sharjah and to develop the infrastructure and the expertise for future clinical applications involving highly promising and fast-growing gene-editing technologies. To this end, we propose 5 objectives:

1. Develop CRISPR-Cas9-based platform to allow with high accuracy and effectiveness:

• The identification of novel therapeutic target genes in various types of cancer using genome-wide screen with sgRNA libraries.
• The development of novel therapeutic approaches by targeting the products of identified genes.

2. Employ CRISPR system to correct, modify, or delete aberrant genes to address their functional roles in various human diseases including cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular or respiratory diseases, among others.
3. Identifying key signaling networks of cell growth metabolism and pathogenesis that are perturbed in diseases such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular or respiratory diseases.
4. Developing new methodology to deliver gene-editing molecules into different tissues to precisely target and correct genetic defects using ultrasound-targeted microbubble and photodynamic targeted technologies.
5. Develop the infrastructure for gene therapy that provides support for various research groups at the Research Institute of Medical & Health Sciences (RIMHS) and allow the RIMHS to acquire the knowledge and the expertise in such highly advanced gene editing technology that would serve as a basis for future clinical applications.

• Use of 14K growth hormone as a potent pro-thrombolytic agent. Khalid Bajou, UOS 80,000. 2017-2019.
• Effect of processing fish with Natural antioxidants on the structure of Lipids and Proteins. Khalid Bajou, UOS. AED 200,000, 2017 – 2019.
• 5-Aminosalysilate-4-thiazolinone hybrid derivatives as novel Rafat Al-Awady, Al Jalila Foundation, 300000 AED, 2017 – 2019.
• Development of novel therapeutic approach in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with MYC rearrangement. University of Sharjah, N, Mohamed Rahmani, AED 40,000. 2018 – 2019.
• Energy Restriction as a Novel Approach Targeting Cancer Stem Cells Multi-drug Resistance. Al Jalila Foundation, Hany Omar, 273000 AED. 2016 - 2018
• Role of GSK-3α in ischemia/reperfusion-induced programmed necrosis. University of Sharjah, Firdos Ahmad, AED 40,000. 2018-2019.
• Effect of GLP-1 and pitavastatin on the expression of the scavenger receptor CD36 on macrophages. Firdos Ahmad, Boehringer Ingelheim, AED 13500. 2017-2018

Dr. Steven Grant

Dr. Gordon Ginder

Prof. Peter Carmeliet