Sara A. Abdulla Email and Phone Number

Biomedical Sciences programs (BSc and MSc)- Offer strategic advice on curriculum development and program improvement- Assist in forging partnerships with local hospitals, private organizations, and government agencies- Provide insights into current industry trends and challenges

- Establish the implementation and regulation of the health research law at the Ministry of Public Health. - Lay the foundations and rules for promoting health research ethics.

- Design and develop funding programs- Evaluate and manage research proposals- Represent QRDI in engagements with stakeholders - Biomedical R&D and innovation- Supervise and provide guidance and leadership- Capture, analyze and identify gaps in research areas and outcomes

The Neurological Disorders Research Center's (NDRC) Interdisciplinary Research Program (IDRP) was designed to stimulate and support advanced scientific research, tackling health and scientific challenges across two or more distinct fields, transcending individual disciplines and integrating a diverse range of skill sets and expertise. The NDRC IDRP investigated the role of Biomarkers in Autism Spectrum Disorders. As well as being a Lead Principle Investigator (leading transcriptomics), my coordinator responsibilities included: 1. Management of the project (Funding Budget, IRB, IBC, Progress Reports, Consent Forms, etc.)2. Follow up and support the multi-omic investigations of multiple PIs and their team members to ensure optimal efficiency (proteomics, transcriptomics and genomics, metabolomics and functional studies) 3. Establish and monitor national and international collaborations4. Patient and clinical sample recruitment and management of the cohort.

As a Lead Principle Investigator, my team consisted of 2 Postdoctoral fellows and 2 research assistants.1. Established a longitudinal study to identify predictive and diagnostic biomarkers of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)2. Established and defined a transcriptomic map of gene relationships and enhanced expression for individuals with ASD.3. Developed a foundation for an early diagnostic assay for ASD that enables the stratification of individuals along the spectrum, based on the severity of the disorder and, therefore, a path towards more precise treatment interventions.4. Validated and determined the position and reliability of third-generation sequencing methods towards understanding ASD, in a cohort of individuals that have been thoroughly studied, using conventional short-read methods (whole genome sequencing and RNA seq).5. Established a longitudinal birth cohort to identify prenatal biomarkers as an early screening and diagnostic tool.6. Identified maternal blood predictive/diagnostic biomarkers that feed into our understanding of the neurodevelopmental trajectory that leads to ASD risk 7. Investigated underlying mechanisms that contribute to the altered neurodevelopmental trajectory leading to ASD, through cellular models of ASD - neuronal cultures and cerebral organoids8. Explored the transcriptome and proteome within exosomes of individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders9. Highlighted the detrimental effects of the dysregulation of thyroid hormone (T3) and folic acid in the development and functionality of neurons and cortical organoids, and thus potential effect towards neurodevelopmental disorders.

The committee serves as the body that reviews the Terms of Reference or modification for every QBRI committee, bylaws, guidelines, or policies and submits them to the Executive Director for final approval and execution. Responsibilites include:1. Serve as review body for Terms of Reference and Guideline/Policies at QBRI.2. Be the oversight committee to all other committees and to receive annual reports on other committees.3. Review the annual business plan to make sure it aligns with strategic goals of QBRI.4. Receive quarterly reports on the financial performance and budget of QBRI.5. Identify potential risks across QBRI’s activities.6. Monitor compliance with relevant legislation and regulations.7. Manage executive summary of the SAC reports 8. Propose recommendations for improvement of various functions - including governance.

The Executive Committee provided recommendations to QBRI's research activities and workforce. My role as a member included the following responsibilities:1. Create and implement an annual strategic plan for QBRI's development2. Manage and regular review operational and financial performance of QBRI’s business3. Identify and manage potential risks across QBRI’s activities4. Ensure compliance with relevant legislation and regulations5. Be responsible for the integrity of management information and financial reporting systems6. Optimize QBRI's resources7. Propose recommendations for improvements

- Neurodegenerative Disorders- Demyelination - Multiple Sclerosis - Stem Cells and Primary Cell Cultures- In vitro and In vivo techniques- Molecular biological techniques