ABU DHABI // Losing three relatives to cancer has inspired Farah Shamout to apply her engineering skills to medicine.
As a computer-engineering student at New York University Abu Dhabi, the Jordanian is contributing to research that could change the future of treating cancer and other diseases.
The 21-year-old spent four months working with a lecturer at the Imperial College London to research ways to deliver medicine to diseased cells using ultrasound.
The research aimed to create non-invasive techniques to treat cancer and heart disease, and was published in the Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology.
Two years ago, cancer claimed the lives of two of Ms Shamout’s uncles and her grandmother.
“Since I wasn’t studying medicine or biology, I wanted to find a way in which I could use what I’m studying for the purpose of curing cancer. The only way I could do that was through biomedical engineering,” she said.
“There is a lot of research being put into this area and I just wanted to contribute to it, regardless of whether the results of my research will be employed in two, five or even 20 years.”
Dr James Choi, a lecturer at the college’s bioengineering department, mentored Ms Shamout.
“Side effects are the most common reason a drug fails clinical trials,” said Dr Choi, who noted that the research could provide a method of targeting drugs and minimising damage to surrounding tissue.
“This technology is being developed by several groups around the world. We are collectively understanding and developing this idea so that it can one day be used on patients.”
Dr Choi chose Ms Shamout to help conduct research in his laboratory after receiving her resume and interviewing her.
“Farah’s project was about creating a new capability,” he said.
When taken orally or intravenously, a drug is absorbed in different parts of the body. For certain diseases, the drug is not able to reach the desired location for effective treatment.
Ms Shamout’s work used ultrasound combined with “acoustically-active” particles to improve drug uptake into cells, Dr Choi said.
“Using her system, she optimised our non-invasive device and was able to achieve the highest drug delivery rate with minimal cell death.”
The laboratory will begin pre-clinical studies of Ms Shamout’s technique.
“The technology is around 10 years away from reaching hospitals,” said Dr Choi. “We will need to build a clinical prototype and work with a pharmaceutical company to see whether we can enhance the effectiveness of a drug.”
Last year, Ms Shamout received a Rhodes scholarship and will study at the University of Oxford to pursue her doctorate.
She hoped to return to the Middle East after her studies to help fight cancer and cardiovascular disease. “This kind of research is lacking in the region. I want to learn and come back and help.”
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China and the UAE agree comprehensive strategic partnership
China and the UAE forged even closer links between the two countries during the landmark state visit after finalising a ten-point agreement on a range of issues, from international affairs to the economy and trade and renewable energy.
1. Politics: The two countries agreed to support each other on issues of security and to work together on regional and international challenges. The nations also confirmed that the number of high-level state visits between China and the UAE will increase.
2. Economy: The UAE offers its full support to China's Belt and Road Initiative, which will combine a land 'economic belt" and a "maritime silk road" that will link China with the Arabian Gulf as well as Southeast, South and Central China, North Africa and, eventually, Europe.
3. Business and innovation: The two nations are committed to exploring new partnerships in sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, energy, the aviation and transport industries and have vowed to build economic co-operation through the UAE-China Business Committee.
4. Education, science and technology: The Partnership Programme between Arab countries in Science and Technology will encourage young Emirati scientists to conduct research in China, while the nations will work together on the peaceful use of nuclear energy, renewable energy and space projects.
5. Renewable energy and water: The two countries will partner to develop renewable energy schemes and work to reduce climate change. The nations have also reiterated their support for the Abu Dhabi-based International Renewable Energy Agency.
6. Oil and gas: The UAE and China will work in partnership in the crude oil trade and the exploration and development of oil and natural gas resources.
7. Military and law enforcement and security fields: Joint training will take place between the Chinese and UAE armed forces, while the two nations will step up efforts to combat terrorism and organised crime.
8. Culture and humanitarian issues: Joint cultural projects will be developed and partnerships will be cultivated on the preservation of heritage, contemporary art and tourism.
9. Movement between countries: China and the UAE made clear their intent to encourage travel between the countries through a wide-ranging visa waiver agreement.
10. Implementing the strategic partnership: The Intergovernmental Co-operation Committee, established last year, will be used to ensure the objectives of the partnership are implemented.
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UAE squad Saqib Nazir (captain), Aaqib Malik, Fahad Al Hashmi, Isuru Umesh, Nadir Hussain, Sachin Talwar, Nashwan Nasir, Prashath Kumara, Ramveer Rai, Sameer Nayyak, Umar Shah, Vikrant Shetty
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