Lab of Dr. Raya Saab

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Lab of Dr. Raya Saab

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Link to Dr. Raya Saab FMIS Profile

Research Interests

Molecular Biology of Cancer
Cellular Senescence in Tumor Suppression
Pediatric Solid Tumors
Novel Therapeutic approaches in pediatric sarcoma

Permanent Lab Memebers

Hassan Zalzali, PhD
Mohamad Harajli, M.Sc
Farah Ghamloush, M.Sc

Selected Publications

SAHA as a therapeutic agent for rhabdomyosarcoma

Ghayad S, Rammal G, Sarkis O, Basma H, Rabeh W, Mouawad J, Karam M, Fahs A, Ghamloush F, Zalzali H, Saab R.

Cancer Biol Ther. 2018; doi: 10.1080/15384047. 2018.1529093

Interplay between the tumor suppressors p53 and p18Ink4c in control of spermatogenesis

Zalzali H, Rabeh W, Abi Ammar R, Najjar O, Harajly M, Saab R.

Cell Cycle 2018; 17(5): 643-651

Rhabdomyosarcoma-derived exosomes affect invasive properties of recipient cells and carry differential miRNA cargo by histologic subtype

Ghayad S, Rammal G, Ghamloush F, Nasr R, Diab M, Chelala C, Saab R.

Sci Rep 2016; 6:37088

The synthetic retinoid ST1926 as a novel therapeutic agent in rhabdomyosarcoma

Basma HA, Ghayad SE, Harajly M, Ghamloush F, Dweik L, El-Eit R, Zalzali H, Rabeh W, Pisano C, Darwiche N, Saab R.

Int J Cancer, 2016; 138(6): 1528-37

P53 restoration in induction and maintenance of senescence - differential effects in premalignant and malignant tumor cells

Harajly M, Zalzali H, Nawaz Z, Ghayad S, Ghamloush F, Basma HA, Zainedine S, Rabeh W, Jabbour M, Tawil A, Badro D, Evan GI, Saab R.

Mol Cell Biol, 2015; 36(3):438-51

CDK2 transcriptional repression is an essential effector in p53-dependent cellular senescence - implications for therapeutic intervention

Zalzali H, Harajly M, Ghayyad S, Ghamloush F, Evan GI, Saab R.

Mol Cancer Res 2015; 13(1): 29-40

Temporally distinct roles for tumor suppressor pathways in cell cycle arrest and cellular senescence in Cyclin D1-driven tumor

Zalzali H, Harajly M, Abdul-Latif L, El-Chaar N, Dbaibo G, Skapek SX, Saab R.

Mol Cancer 2012; 11: 28

Research Grants

Principal Investigator
2017-2019	Combined CDK and Aurora Kinase inhibition in the childhood tumor rhabdomyosarcoma. Lebanese National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS)
2017-2020	Investigating CDK2 regulation and downstream effectors in tumor suppression during oncogene-induced senescence. American University of Beirut- Medical Practice Plan (MPP)
2015-ongoing	Molecular Guided Therapy for the treatment of patients with relapsed and refractory childhood cancers: a multi-institutional NMTRC consortium study. BCC consortium.
2015-ongoing	Pediatric Oncology East and Mediterranean (POEM) group: Establishment of a collaborative network. International Outreach Program, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
2017-2018	Targeted education for general practitioners with development and application of a workflow for rapid second opinion, to promote early diagnosis and referral of children with suspected solid tumors. American Society of Clinical Oncology- Conquer Cancer Foundation
2014-2017	Investigating the role of exosome-mediated paracrine signaling in rhabdomyosarcoma tumor cell. American University of Beirut- Medical Practice Plan (MPP)
2012-2015	Elucidating molecular pathways involved in cellular senescence as a tumor suppressor response. Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF), National research Priorities Program (NPRP)
2012-2014	SAHA as a novel treatment of the childhood tumor rhabdomyosarcoma. Lebanese National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS)
2011-2014	Investigating the roles of the DNA damage response and Cdk2 repression in Cyclin D1-induced senescence as a tumor suppressor mechanism. American University of Beirut- Medical Practice Plan (MPP)
2010-2012	Maintenance therapy to prevent tumor relapse in rhabdomyosarcoma. Lebanese National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS)
2010-2011	Identification of repressed genes involved in heterochromatin foci in Cyclin D1-driven senescence. Farouk Jabre Interfaculty Collaborative Grant, American University of Beirut
2008-2011	Investigation of molecular pathways of senescence as a tumor suppressive mechanism in Cyclin D1-driven pineoblastoma. American University of Beirut- Medical Practice Plan (MPP)
2010	Developing novel therapy approaches for rhabdomyosarcoma. The Give A Child A Toy Foundation

Co-Principal Investigator
2018-2019	Co-PI: Rami Mahfouz, MD Evaluation of familial genetic predisposition to rhabdomyosarcoma in a family with translocation-positive in two cousins. American University of Beirut- Medical Practice Plan (MPP)
2018-2020	Co-PI: Noel Ghanem, PhD Study of the role of Rb and, combined roles of Rb and p53 pathways, during kidney development and nephrogenesis. American University of Beirut- Collaborative Research Stimulus Grant
2017-2018	Co-PI: Nidale Tarek, MD Investigating the biological and genetic characteristics of neuroblastoma in patients treated at the Children’s Cancer Center. American University of Beirut- Medical Practice Plan (MPP)
2018-2019	Co-PI: Fouad Boulos, MD Evaluation of the expression of CD147 and integrin-β1 in pediatric soft tissue sarcomas, and their association with patient characteristics and outcome. American University of Beirut- Medical Practice Plan (MPP)
2018-2019	Co-PI: Nidale Tarek, MD Evaluation of genomic pathways to tumorigenesis in two distinct primary tumors occurring in the same individual – potential for novel insight into relevant tumor suppressor pathways. American University of Beirut- Medical Practice Plan (MPP)
2010-2011	Investigating the influence of neuro-developmental stage on brain tumorigenesis upon in-vivo disruption of the tumor suppressors RB and p53 in neural precursor cells. Farouk Jabre Interfaculty Collaborative Grant, American University of Beirut

Co-Investigator
2017-2019	PI: Pierre Khoueiry, PhD Integrating Next Generation Sequencing and Bioinformatics for the Characterization and Functional Analysis of Super-Enhancers in Cancer Progression. Lebanese National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS)
2017-2020	PI: Humam Kaddara, PhD Lipocalin 2 in development and growth of Kras mutant lung adenocarcinoma. American University of Beirut- Medical Practice Plan (MPP)
2017-2020	PI: Pierre Khoueiry, PhD Deciphering the genome wide dynamics of regulatory regions during cancer progression using Next Generation Sequencing approaches. American University of Beirut- Medical Practice Plan (MPP)
2016-2017	PI: Marianne Majdalani, MD Spirituality among parents of children with cancer at AUBMC. American University of Beirut- Medical Practice Plan (MPP)
2010-2011	PI: Samar Muwakkit, MD The Role of Pharmacogenetics in the treatment of childhood ALL American University of Beirut- Medical Practice Plan (MPP)
2008-2009	PI: Georges Nemer, PhD Role of GATA transcription factors in muscle development and disease American University of Beirut- Medical Practice Plan (MPP)

Awards

2019	Honorary Doctorate, Yerevan State Medical University, Yerevan, Armenia
2011	Nominated, Teaching Excellence Award, American University of Beirut
2010	Travel Award for abstract presentation: 2nd AACR - Dead Sea International Conference: Advances in Cancer Research. Dead Sea, Jordan
2008	Travel Award for abstract presentation: 1st AACR - Dead Sea International Conference: Advances in Cancer Research. Dead Sea, Jordan
2003	James Stockman III Teaching Award, Duke University Medical Center
2003	Deborah Kredich Teaching Award, Duke University Medical Center
2003	Resident Teaching Award, Duke University Medical Center

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