Dr Samrein Ahmed MBBS, MSc, FHEA, PhD
Lecturer in Cancer and Cell Biology
- Department of Biosciences And Chemistry
- Biomolecular Sciences Research Centre
- Industry and Innovation Research Institute
Summary
I am a cancer biologist with 10-year experience in the field. I was appointed as Cancer and Cell Biology lecturer at the department of Biosciences and Chemistry, Sheffield Hallam University in 2021. I have more than 7-year experience in higher education; part of it was in United Arab Emirates, which gave me a wide experience in higher education and improved my inclusive practice in teaching. Additionally, I am a fellow in higher education, UK. Alongside my teaching, my research focuses on studying cell signalling in cancer and finding the link between the metabolic diseases and cancer.
About
After completing my medical degree, I pursued a career path in research and academia. I obtained my PhD degree from University of Leicester, UK. I was then appointed as research associate at the Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, UK. I joined University of Sharjah, UAE, as assistant professor of Biochemistry. I taught medical biochemistry and cancer biology. I organised “We speak Science” event to foster the staff research collaboration and founded “The Researchers Club” for early career researchers. Beside these, I was awarded two targeted grants from the University and one grant from Al Jalila foundation, Dubai, UAE.
To keep my networks active, I am a member in different international and national bodies. I am ambassador for European association for cancer research, and a member in Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World, Royal Society of Biology.
Teaching
Department of Biosciences and Chemistry
College of Health, Wellbeing and Life Sciences
My teaching spans over undergraduates and postgraduates’ modules
Undergraduates teaching:
• Pathological basis of disease
• Cellular Pathology and infection
Postgraduates teaching:
• Mechanisms of disease (leading this module)
• Cell biology
• Hallmarks of cancer
• Therapeutics targeting in cancer.
Research
• ShcD is a gene that was first identified in 2007. Since then, it has been linked to different cancer, importantly melanoma and gliomas. I am therefore interested in studying the oncogenic role of ShcD in melanoma and glioblastoma using CRISPR-Cas 9 technique and DESI-MSI plus other techniques.
• RLIP76 is a multifunctioning protein and its role in drug efflux is quite intriguing.
I am keen to further investigate the role of RLIP76 in pancreatic cancer in relation to its drug transport function via using Site directed mutagenesis and LC-MS and other techniques.
• With the rising evidence for the metabolic diseases as a contributor to cancer development and poor outcomes, particularly in breast and colorectal cancers, I am interested in studying the interplay between metabolic diseases and cancer. Our recent publication revealed that hyperglycaemia and hyperinsulinemia affect gene expression in breast cancer cells, which prompted us to study this further.
Publications
Journal articles
Saheb Sharif-Askari, N., Hafezi, S., Saheb Sharif-Askari, F., Ali Hussain Alsayed, H., Ahmed, S., Alsafar, H.S., & Halwani, R. (2024). Multiple inborn errors of type I IFN immunity in a 33-year-old male with a fatal case of COVID-19. Heliyon, 10 (8). http://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29338
Ramadan, W.S., Saber-Ayad, M.M., Saleh, E., Abdu-Allah, H.H.M., El-Shorbagi, A.-.N.A., Menon, V., ... El-Awady, R. (2024). Design, synthesis and mechanistic anticancer activity of new acetylated 5-aminosalicylate-thiazolinone hybrid derivatives. iScience, 27 (1). http://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2023.108659
Ahmed, S.B.M., Radwan, N., Amer, S., Saheb Sharif-Askari, N., Mahdami, A., Samara, K.A., ... Jelinek, H.F. (2023). Assessing the link between diabetic metabolic dysregulation and breast cancer progression. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24 (14). http://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241411816
Eldesouki, S., Samara, K.A., Qadri, R., Obaideen, A.A., Otour, A.H., Habbal, O., & Ahmed, S. (2022). XIST in Brain Cancer. Clinica Chimica Acta, 531, 283-290. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.cca.2022.04.993
Ali, I., Ahmed, S., Elhaj, B.M., Ali, H.S., Alsubaie, A., & Almalki, A.S.A. (2021). Enhanced anticancer activities of curcumin-loaded green gum acacia-based silver nanoparticles against melanoma and breast cancer cells. Applied Nanoscience (Switzerland), 11 (11), 2679-2687. http://doi.org/10.1007/s13204-021-02176-w
Mahmoud, M.A., Islam, M.A., Ahmed, M., Bashir, R., Ibrahim, R., Al-Nemiri, S., ... Yousif, M.A. (2021). Validation of the Arabic Version of General Medication Adherence Scale (GMAS) in Sudanese Patients with Diabetes Mellitus. Risk Management and Healthcare Policy, 14, 4235-4241. http://doi.org/10.2147/rmhp.s325184
Al-Bari, M.A.A., Ito, Y., Ahmed, S., Radwan, N., Ahmed, H.S., & Eid, N. (2021). Targeting Autophagy with Natural Products as a Potential Therapeutic Approach for Cancer. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22 (18). http://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22189807
Saheb Sharif-Askari, N., Saheb Sharif-Askari, F., Ahmed, S., Hannawi, S., Hamoudi, R., Hamid, Q., & Halwani, R. (2021). Enhanced Expression of Autoantigens During SARS-CoV-2 Viral Infection. Frontiers in Immunology, 12. http://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.686462
Alfarouk, K.O., Alhoufie, S.T.S., Hifny, A., Schwartz, L., Alqahtani, A.S., Ahmed, S., ... Reshkin, S.J. (2021). Of mitochondrion and COVID-19. Journal of enzyme inhibition and medicinal chemistry, 36 (1), 1258-1267. http://doi.org/10.1080/14756366.2021.1937144
Ahmad Mokhtar, A.M.B., Ahmed, S., Darling, N.J., Harris, M., Mott, H.R., & Owen, D. (2021). A Complete Survey of RhoGDI Targets Reveals Novel Interactions with Atypical Small GTPases. Biochemistry, 60 (19), 1533-1551. http://doi.org/10.1021/acs.biochem.1c00120
Alfarouk, K.O., Ahmed, S., Elliott, R.L., Benoit, A., Alqahtani, S.S., Ibrahim, M.E., ... Reshkin, S.J. (2020). The Pentose Phosphate Pathway Dynamics in Cancer and Its Dependency on Intracellular pH. Metabolites, 10 (7). http://doi.org/10.3390/metabo10070285
Ahmed, S., Amer, S., Hussein, A., Kampani, D.D., Al Hasham, N., Assker, M.M., ... Alfarouk, K.O. (2020). Assessing the Knowledge of Environmental Risk Factors for Cancer among the UAE Population: A Pilot Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17 (9). http://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17092984
Alfarouk, K.O., Ahmed, S., Ahmed, A., Elliott, R.L., Ibrahim, M.E., Ali, H.S., ... Reshkin, S.J. (2020). The Interplay of Dysregulated pH and Electrolyte Imbalance in Cancer. Cancers, 12 (4), 898. http://doi.org/10.3390/cancers12040898
Ahmed, S., Amer, S., Emad, M., Rahmani, M., & Prigent, S.A. (2019). Studying the ShcD and ERK interaction under acute oxidative stress conditions in melanoma cells. The international journal of biochemistry & cell biology, 112, 123-133. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocel.2019.05.009
Cardone, R., Alfarouk, K., Elliott, R., Alqahtani, S., Ahmed, S., Aljarbou, A., ... Reshkin, S. (2019). The Role of Sodium Hydrogen Exchanger 1 in Dysregulation of Proton Dynamics and Reprogramming of Cancer Metabolism as a Sequela. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 20 (15). http://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20153694
Amer, S., Alsayegh, F., Mashaal, Z., Mohamed, S., Shawa, N., Rajan, K., & Ahmed, S. (2019). Role of TGF‑β in the motility of ShcD‑overexpressing 293 cells. Molecular Medicine Reports, 20 (3), 2667-2674. http://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2019.10517
El-Haj, B.M., Ahmed, S.B.M., Garawi, M.A., & Ali, H.S. (2018). Linking Aromatic Hydroxy Metabolic Functionalization of Drug Molecules to Structure and Pharmacologic Activity. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 23 (9), E2119. http://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23092119
Mabruk, Z.A., Ahmed, S., Thomas, A.C., & Prigent, S.A. (2018). The role of the ShcD and RET interaction in neuroblastoma survival and migration. Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports, 13, 99-108. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrep.2018.01.007
Ahmed, S.B.M., & Prigent, S.A. (2017). Insights into the Shc Family of Adaptor Proteins. Journal of molecular signaling, 12, 2. http://doi.org/10.5334/1750-2187-12-2
Ahmed, S.B.M., & Prigent, S.A. (2014). A nuclear export signal and oxidative stress regulate ShcD subcellular localisation: a potential role for ShcD in the nucleus. Cellular signalling, 26 (1), 32-40. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.cellsig.2013.09.003
Amer Awad, S.H., Aal Mohammed Ibrahim, M.E.E.A.E., Khan, G.A., & Ahmed, S.B.M. (n.d.). GHRH-R Expression Level under Hyperglycaemic Like Culture Conditions in Breast Cancer Cell Lines. Biology and Medicine, 10 (1). http://doi.org/10.4172/0974-8369.1000428
Postgraduate supervision
I have supervised 2 MRes projects, 2 MSci projects and co-supervising a PhD student.