DPhil start date

15 January 2017

Project title

Immune Phenotype Analysis for Analysis of the Efficacy of Cellular Therapy

Supervisors

Dr Fadi Issa, Dr Joanna Hester

I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences from King Saud University, Saudi Arabia. Then I worked as a demonstrator (Teacher Assistant) within the Immunology group at King Abdul-Aziz University. After that, I pursued my education and I moved to Nottingham to undertake an MSc in Immunology and Allergy, where my master research project focused on the Immune-modulatory effect of Levofloxacin on Tumor Necrosis Factor-Associated Periodic Syndrome.

Currently, I am a first year DPhil student within the Transplant Research Immunology Group. My research project focuses on monitoring the immune phenotype of patients undergoing renal transplantation. These patients will undergo a protocol of immunosuppression withdrawal followed by infusion of Regulatory T cells (Treg). Transplantation is the most effective treatment for end-stage organ failure. But, the long-term success rates of organ survival remain poor due to the side effects of immunosuppression and development of allograft rejection. Regulatory T cells (Treg) therapy will result in measurable improvement in the immune-phenotype of patients undergoing renal transplantation that will correlate with the ability to safely withdraw immunosuppression.