The Office of the Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education and the Clinical Research Institute (CRI) at the Faculty of Medicine held the Twelfth Annual Clinical Research Open House. The event extended over two days: Thursday, May 22, and Thursday, May 29, 2025.
On Thursday, May 22, 2024, 30 medical students enrolled in the Scholarly Concentration Track (SCT) presented their research projects. The following week, on Thursday, May 29, a total of 23 oral and 18 poster presentations were delivered by participants in the Fellowship and Residency Research Program (FRRP) and the Research Personnel Program (RPP).
Out of 104 graduating residents and clinical fellows who initially competed within their respective departments, only 16 residents and 3 clinical fellows were selected for oral presentations at the 12th Annual Clinical Research Open House. These top candidates presented their work and competed across departments at the institutional level. In addition, 3 postdoctoral research fellows and 30 medical students presented their research during the event. Alongside the oral presentations, 18 poster presentations were showcased by participants. While oral presentations were limited to graduating students, residents, and fellows, the poster session was open to all participants in CRI programs.
To evaluate the presentations and provide constructive feedback, a total of 17 judges were organized into panels of 3 to 4 faculty members for each session.
The award ceremony opening remarks were delivered by Dr. Raymond Sawaya, vice president for medical affairs and Raja N. Khuri Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, followed by Dr. Assaad Eid, associate dean for research and graduate education. Dean Sawaya expressed the Faculty of Medicine's enthusiasm for the event, congratulated all participants and their mentors, and commended the CRI team for their efforts in fostering a vibrant research culture. Dr. Eid highlighted the ongoing initiatives led by the Office of the Associate Dean for Graduate Education and the CRI to build meaningful collaborations and further advance the research mission of the Faculty of Medicine.
The event included a keynote speech by Dr. Hilal Lashuel, research, development, and innovation advisor to the chairperson of Qatar Foundation and executive director of RDI at the chairperson's office. Dr. Lashuel delivered an insightful talk on the value of research collaborations and emerging opportunities across the region, with an award ceremony that featured a series of distinguished addresses.
In his keynote address, Dr. Lashuel emphasized the critical importance of strategic research collaborations and the need for each initiative to establish a distinct edge that defines its value and relevance in the broader research landscape.
Dr. Chakhtoura noted that the Clinical Research Open House has become an annual tradition celebrating the research achievements of students, residents, and fellows. She outlined the year-round training and support provided by the CRI through its dedicated units and encouraged participants to engage with the institute for research planning and implementation. She also emphasized the CRI's ongoing efforts to strengthen collaboration within the Faculty of Medicine and across AUB. Dr. Hani Tamim provided an overview of the FRRP activities over the past year. Dr. Martine Elbejjani presented the FAP activities for the current academic year and highlighted that the 10-year anniversary celebration of the FAP event will take place on May 30, 2025. Finally, Dr. Fouad Zouein summarized the SCT activities conducted during the academic year.
All speakers expressed their enthusiasm for the growth, impact, and quality of research at AUBMC.
In celebration of the 10-year anniversary of the Faculty Advancement Program (FAP), the Clinical Research Institute (CRI) had the honor of presenting a special recognition award to Dr. Elie Akl, a visionary leader who first conceptualized the establishment of a structured program to support the growth and development of faculty members at AUB.
The ceremony concluded with the distribution of awards to top-scoring participants in each of the CRI's programs, as well as appreciation awards recognizing faculty members who have made significant contributions to CRI initiatives.
In addition to the program-specific awards, the Diana Tamari Sabbagh Scholars Program (DTSSP) awards were also presented. The DTSSP aims to promote excellence by enhancing the education and expertise of healthcare and health-related professionals through support of specialized training at AUB or abroad.
A total of five DTSSP awards were granted, recognizing outstanding achievements by the following participants:
- Two SCT students
- One clinical resident for best oral presentation
- One research fellow for best oral presentation
- One participant for best poster presentation
DTSSP Awards for Top Presentations:
Best Oral Presentations Awards:
- Mohammad El Hussein, medical student – basic science. Advisor: Dr. Fouad Zouein – “A Minimally Invasive Method for the Induction of Myocardial Infarction in Mice: A Novel Approach"
- Maria Gharios, medical student – clinical research. Advisor: Dr. Wassim Nasreddine – “Evaluating the Performance of STOP-BANG and Epworth Sleepiness Scale in Detecting Moderate-to-Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea in a Lebanese Sleep Lab Cohort"
- Dr. Mohamad Hassan Hodroj, clinical fellow at the department of internal medicine, enrolled in the Fellowship and Residency Research Program (FRRP). Advisor: Dr. Arafat Tfayli – “Effects of Immunotherapy Medications Shortage on the Survival of Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Multicenter Study in Lebanon"
- Dr. Towfik Sebai, research fellow at the department of surgery, enrolled in the Research Personnel Program (RPP). Advisor: Dr. Albert El Hajj – “Preoperative CKD and Risk of Complications After Partial Nephrectomy: Is Anemia the Missing Link?"
Best Poster Presentation Award:
- Dr. Batoul Assi, research fellow at the department of obstetrics and gynecology medicine, enrolled in the Research Personnel Program (RPP). Advisor: Dr. Ghina Ghazeeri – “Integration of Machine Learning Models with Genetic Algorithm to Predict Continuation of Pregnancy in Successful Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection"
Program Awards for Top Presentations:
Scholarly Concentration Track (SCT):
- Leonard Lawandos, medical student – basic science. Advisor: Dr. Assaad Eid – “Diabetes-Associated Colorectal Cancer: The Emerging Role of Microbiota"
- Anthony Abou Mrad, medical student – clinical research. Advisor: Dr. Shady Awwad – “AI to Prevent Blindness: Machine Learning-Based Keratoconus Screening in Refractive Surgery"
Research Personnel Program (RPP) and the Postdoctoral Program:
- Dr. Mohammad Arabi, research fellow at the department of internal medicine – Mentor: Dr. Abdul Rahman El Bizri – “Infectious Complications of Permanent Filler"
- Dr. Razan Diab, research fellow at the department of emergency medicine – Mentors: Dr. Ralph Abou Chebl & Dr. Gilbert Abou Dagher – “Predicting Mortality in Trauma Patients with Sepsis: The Impact of Trauma Level Designation"
- Dr. Chadi Antoun, postdoctoral research fellow at the department of psychiatry – Mentor: Dr. Farid Talih – “Insomnia and Mental Health Outcomes After Catastrophic Disasters: Examining the Long-Term Effects of the Beirut Port Explosion"
Fellowship and Residency Research Program (FRRP):
FRRP Residents' Winning Presentations:
- Dr. Wedad Saab, resident at the department of dentofacial medicine – Mentor: Dr. Joseph Ghafari – “The Role of the Hyoid Bone in Maintaining Upper Airway Patency with Mandibular Advancement Therapy"
- Dr. Ghida El Saheb, resident at the department of diagnostic radiology – Mentor: Dr. Lara Nassar – “Additional Occult Cancers Identified on Staging Breast MRI: Imaging Appearances and Pathologic Characteristics"
- Dr. Dana Kanafani, resident at the department of surgery – Mentor: Dr. George Abi Saad – “Mortality in Surgical Patients Admitted to SICU"
FRRP Fellows' Winning Presentation:
- Dr. Jamil Mrad, clinical fellow at the department of internal medicine – Mentor: Dr. Kassem Barada – “Proton Pump Inhibitors Use in Overt Gastrointestinal Bleeding: Impact on Mortality and Rebleeding"
Best Poster Presentation Award:
- Dr. Sally Chahine, resident at the department of internal medicine – Mentor: Dr. Jean El Cheikh – “CNS Prophylaxis with Intrathecal Cytarabine Post Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation in Adult Patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Monocentric Experience"
Best Research Proposals Developed Under the Faculty Advancement Program (FAP):
- 1st Prize: Dr. Krystel Ouaijan, department of nutrition and food sciences – Mentor: Dr. Asma Arabi – “Nutrition Counseling Versus Ready to Use Therapeutic Food for Low-Risk Moderate Wasting/Acute Malnutrition (MAM) in Children Under Five Years"
- 2nd Prize: Dr. Fatme Charafeddine, department of pediatrics and adolescent medicine – Mentor: Dr. Mona Nabulsi – “Building a Risk Prediction Score for the Development of Junctional Ectopic Tachycardia in Children Undergoing Congenital Heart Surgeries: Early Identification for Proactive Intervention"
- 3rd Prize: Dr. Jihad Hawi – department of anatomy, cell biology and physiological sciences – Mentor: Dr. Rami Mahfouz “Mechanisms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease-Induced Cardiac Remodeling and Its Impact on the Vulnerability of the Heart to Cardiac Insults"
- 4th Prize: Dr. Dima Habanjar – department of pediatrics and adolescent medicine – Mentor: Dr. Mona Nabulsi “Barriers to School Enrollment and Educational Placement for Autistic Children: A Survey of Parent and Caregiver Perspective"
Appreciation awards were distributed to:
- Ms. Sara Khansa, research education unit coordinator and coordinator of the Faculty Advancement Program, in recognition of her outstanding coordination of the FAP program during the last decade.
- Ms. Joanne Khabsa, coordinator of AUB Garde Center, in recognition of her outstanding coordination of all CRI activities.
- Dr. Afif Mufarrej, FRRP faculty representative, emergency department, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Fellowship and Residency Research Program (FRRP).
- Ms. Fatmeh Abbas, FRRP coordinator, department of pathology and laboratory medicine, in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the Fellowship and Residency Research Program (FRRP).
- Dr. Mona Nabulsi, FAP mentor, department of pediatrics and adolescent medicine, in recognition of her outstanding contribution as an advisor in the Faculty Advancement Program (FAP).
- Dr. Asma Arabi, FAP mentor, department of internal medicine, in recognition of her outstanding contribution as an advisor in the Faculty Advancement Program (FAP).
- Dr. Hisham Bou Fakhreddine, RPP contributing faculty, department of internal medicine, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Research Personnel Program and the Postdoctoral Program (RPP).