DrAmira Hassouna
Senior Lecturer
Biomedical, Chemical & Food Sciences
Orcid identifier0000-0002-3288-2402 (opens in a new tab)
- Senior LecturerBiomedical, Chemical & Food Sciences
- +64 9 921 9999 Ext.7314 (Work)
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Research Areas:
Medical Biochemistry
Molecular biology
Nutraceuticals and Stem cell research
Health professionals education
My research interest has been directed to treat one of the most widespread diseases; diabetes mellitus, as well as one of the leading causes of cancer deaths worldwide; hepatocellular carcinoma, using natural compounds as Curcumin or regenerative treatment with stem cells. A disadvantage of Curcumin is that it is hard for the body to absorb, and it is rapidly cleared from the body. Generation of a “super curcumin” by increasing its bioavailability through making it more water soluble is the approach that was used in my research to test bringing this promising natural compound to the forefront of therapeutics of diabetes. The possible molecular mechanism of action of the antidiabetic effect of curcumin was also investigated.
My research also investigated the possible effect of Stem Cells on some signalling pathways in cancer and the results suggested that they modulate key signalling pathways and could be considered as a therapeutic target in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Our results were sought by specialized organizations.
When I joined the AUT University, I sought joining a research team interested to treating widespread diseases using nutraceuticals, aligning with my research direction. I joined a team of researchers lead by Professor Jun Lu investigating bioactivity of “Fucoidan” a polysaccharide extracted from seaweeds. We have published 4 papers since 2018.
Networking with various AUT communities lead to joining AUT BIODESIGN LAB, performing lab tests at AUT millennium laboratory and performing studies using integrated data from wearables.
In 2021 I published my first paper in the field of Medical Education.
I am aspiring to perform more research in the fields of Molecular Biology and nutraceuticals potentially impacting treatment protocols of diseases, and in the field of health professionals education to enhance my practice as a university lecturer, and to ensure providing quality education.
Medical Biochemistry
Molecular biology
Nutraceuticals and Stem cell research
Health professionals education
My research interest has been directed to treat one of the most widespread diseases; diabetes mellitus, as well as one of the leading causes of cancer deaths worldwide; hepatocellular carcinoma, using natural compounds as Curcumin or regenerative treatment with stem cells. A disadvantage of Curcumin is that it is hard for the body to absorb, and it is rapidly cleared from the body. Generation of a “super curcumin” by increasing its bioavailability through making it more water soluble is the approach that was used in my research to test bringing this promising natural compound to the forefront of therapeutics of diabetes. The possible molecular mechanism of action of the antidiabetic effect of curcumin was also investigated.
My research also investigated the possible effect of Stem Cells on some signalling pathways in cancer and the results suggested that they modulate key signalling pathways and could be considered as a therapeutic target in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Our results were sought by specialized organizations.
When I joined the AUT University, I sought joining a research team interested to treating widespread diseases using nutraceuticals, aligning with my research direction. I joined a team of researchers lead by Professor Jun Lu investigating bioactivity of “Fucoidan” a polysaccharide extracted from seaweeds. We have published 4 papers since 2018.
Networking with various AUT communities lead to joining AUT BIODESIGN LAB, performing lab tests at AUT millennium laboratory and performing studies using integrated data from wearables.
In 2021 I published my first paper in the field of Medical Education.
I am aspiring to perform more research in the fields of Molecular Biology and nutraceuticals potentially impacting treatment protocols of diseases, and in the field of health professionals education to enhance my practice as a university lecturer, and to ensure providing quality education.