Education & Experience

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• Assistant Professor, Bioscience, KAUST

• Member of Healthy Aging & Regenerative Technologies (HeART), KAUST

• Postdoc, Prof. David M. Sabatini Lab, Whitehead Institute, MIT

• Postdoc, Dr. Monther Abu-Remaileh, Stanford

• Ph.D. and MSc, University of Edinburgh

• BSc Biology, King Abdulaziz University

 

Biography​​​

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I received my BSc in Biology from King Abdulaziz University, followed by an MSc and PhD from the University of Edinburgh. After my doctoral studies, I joined the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research as a visiting postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Prof. David M. Sabatini, where I worked closely with Dr. Monther Abu-Remaileh (now a PI at Stanford). I later completed my postdoctoral training in Dr. Abu-Remaileh’s lab at Stanford University.

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During this time, I contributed to the development of LysoIP, a method for isolating intact lysosomes for downstream metabolomic and proteomic profiling. I later adapted this technique for use in mouse models by generating the LysoTag mouse, a tool that has enabled multi-omic dissection of lysosomal function in physiology and disease.

My work led to the discovery that the Batten disease protein CLN3 functions as a lysosomal transporter of glycerophosphodiesters (GPDs), establishing a mechanistic link between impaired phospholipid metabolism and neurodegeneration.

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I also collaborated with Dr. David Scott to investigate how lysosomal degradation of extracellular albumin enables cancer cells to survive under nutrient stress and protects against ferroptosis, a form of iron-dependent cell death.

Additionally, I contributed to a collaborative study with Nobel Laureate Carolyn Bertozzi, providing key expertise on cathepsin D (CTSD) and its role in lysosomal mucin degradation, which advanced our understanding of mucin turnover and glycoprotein catabolism in lysosomes.

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Now as a Principal Investigator at KAUST, my lab investigates subcellular metabolism, focusing on how lysosomal and ER dysfunction contribute to aging, neurodegeneration, and rare metabolic disorders.

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Fun Facts

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I love tackling 1000+ piece puzzles and building LEGO replicas of world-famous landmarks—then proudly framing the results. Patience is my superpower.