LOCATION:

John Radcliffe Hospital, Level 5 and 6, Headley Way, Headington, Oxford, OX3 9DU

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.