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Ghada Khawaja

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Ghada Khawaja

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Biological Sciences

g.khawaja@bau.edu.lb

07 985080 Ex: 3330

Debbieh

Ghada Khawaja

Assistant Dean

Molecular Biologist and Immunologist, Dr. Khawaja obtained her PhD degree from Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University, where she worked at Lyon Cancer Research Center focusing her research on the development of a therapeutic DNA vaccination against chronic Hepatitis B infections. She provided first evidence on the efficiency of a novel Electroporation-based DNA delivery approach to cure chronic Hepatitis B, which nowadays, is being clinically tested. She joined BAU in 2012 and became Assistant Dean of the Faculty of Science in 2018. Currently, her research interests focus on cancer epigenetic therapy, autoimmune diseases, particularly Rheumatoid arthritis and the identification of natural compounds with anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant or antimicrobial activity.

Teaching

Fall 2015/2016:

  • Principles of Genetics
  • Biology I
  • Nutrition
  • Immunology
  • Research Topic
  • Basic Biology (Health Sciences)
  • Advanced Immunology
  • Seminar in Immunogenetics

Spring 2015/2016:

  • Biology I
  • Biology II
  • Immunology
  • Genetics
  • Cell & Molecular Biology
  • Advanced Topics in Molecular Biology

Fall 2016/2017:

  • Basic Biology (Health Sciences)
  • Clinical Laboratory Immunology (Health Sciences)
  • Biology I
  • Human physiology
  • Seminar in Biochemistry
  • Technical Writing and Research Skills
  • Advanced Immunology
  • Seminar in Immunogenetics

Spring 2016/2017:

  • Biology II
  • Immunology
  • Genetics
  • Cell & Molecular Biology
  • Membrane Biology
  • Advanced Cell Biology
  • Advanced Topics in Molecular Biology

Fall 2017/2018:

  • Biology I (Debbieh and Beirut)
  • Human physiology
  • Cell and Tissue Culture
  • Fabrics of Life (Medicine)
  • Advanced Topics in Molecular Biology
  • Seminar in Immunogenetics

Spring 2017/2018:

  • Cell & Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Immunology
  • Biology II (Debbieh & Beirut)
  • Advanced Cell Biology
  • Technical Writing and Research Skills

Fall 2018/2019:

  • Biology I (Debbieh & Beirut)
  • Human Physiology
  • Advanced Immunology
  • Seminar in Immunogenetics

Research

Research Interests

Dr. Khawaja research interests focus on:

i. Evaluating the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities of some natural compounds in an in vivo model for rheumatoid arthritis, ii/ assessing their possible hepatoprotective effect against hepatotoxic effect of the anti-rheumatic drug, methotrexate.

She is also involved in studies investigating:

i. The effect of epigenetic therapy on Acute Myeloma Leukemia and Colon Cancer.

ii. The Antimicrobial Resistance Pattern in Biofilm Associated with Medical Devices.

Publications

  • Co-Administration of Gamma Interferon Gene with DNA Vaccine Expressing Duck Hepatitis B Virus (DHBV) Proteins Enhances Therapeutic Efficacy of DNA-Based Immunization in Chronic Virus Carriers. Saade F, Buronfosse T, Khawaja G, Guerret S, Jamard C, Chevallier M, Pradat P, Zoulim F, Cova L. Chapter 5, DNA Vaccines: Types, Advantages and Limitations (2011) (E. C. Donelly and A. M. Dixon, Ed.), pp. 119-130. Nova science publishers.
  • In vivo electroporation significantly improves therapeutic potency of a DNA Vaccine targeting Hepadnaviral proteins Khawaja G, Buronfosse T, Guerret S, Zoulim F, Luxembourg A, Hannaman D, Evans C, Hartmann D, Cova L. Journal of Hepatology 2012 vol. 56 (2):S177.
  • Enhanced magnitude and breadth of neutralizing humoral response to a DNA vaccine targeting DHBV envelope protein delivered by in vivo electroporation Khawaja G, Buronfosse T, Jamard C, Guerret S, Zoulim F, Luxembourg A, Hannaman D, Evans C, Hartmann D, Cova L. Virology 425 (2012) 61–69.
  • In vivo electroporation improves therapeutic potency of a DNA vaccine targeting hepadnaviral proteins Khawaja G, Buronfosse T, Abdul F, Jamard C, Guerret S, Zoulim F, Luxembourg A, Hannaman D, Evans C, Hartmann D, Cova L. Virology 433(2012)192–202.
  • Bacterial Diversity and Biofilm Formation in Drinking Water Distribution System in Lebanon Hamiyeh A, Olama Z, Khawaja G. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences 2015, Vol.4 (5), 976-990
  • Shiga Toxin-Producing E.coli (STEC) Associated with Lebanese Fresh Produce Khatib A, Olama Z, Khawaja G. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences 2015, Vol.4 (2), 481-496.
  • Isolation, Purification and Identification of some Multi-Drug Resistant Food-Borne Pathogens in Lebanese Fresh Produce Khatib A, Olama Z, Khawaja G. European Journal of Biology and Medical Sciences Research 2015, Vol. 3 (1), 59-72.
  • Association of cannabinoid CB2 receptor gene (CNR2) polymorphism, Q63R variant, with Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Lebanese Population. Ismail M. & Khawaja G.* Clinical Rheumatology 2018, 37: 2933. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-018-4217-9. Impact Factor: 2.365 Journal Ranking: Q1
  • Anti-Inflammatory, anti-oxidative and hepatoprotective effects of trans-Δ9- Tetrahydrocannabinol/sesame oil on adjuvant- induced arthritis in rats. Ismail M., Hasan H., El-Orfali Y., Ismail H., Khawaja G.* Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2018, vol. 2018, Article ID 9365464, 13 pages, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/9365464. Impact Factor: 1.740 Journal Ranking: Q1


    Presentations at conferences
     
  • Khawaja G. et al., Augmentation de l’efficacité du vaccin à ADN nu, ciblant la protéine d’enveloppe du DHBV, par électroporation in vivo. Journées francophones de virologie, Paris, France (2010)
  • Khawaja G. et al., Augmentation de l’efficacité immunothérapeutique du vaccin à ADN par électroporation in vivo dans le modèle d’infection chronique du canard par le DHBV. ANRS meeting, Paris, France (2011)
  • Khawaja G. et al., Dramatic increase in prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy of DNA vaccine targeting DHBV proteins by in vivo electroporation. International HBV meeting, Orlando, USA (2011)
  • Khawaja G. et al., Drastic increase of potency of DNA vaccine targeting hepadnaviral proteins by in vivo electroporation. American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), San Fransisco, USA (2011)
  • Khawaja G. et al., In vivo electroporation significantly improves therapeutic potency of a DNA vaccine targeting hepadnaviral proteins. International congress of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), Barcelona, SPAIN (2012)
  • Assafiri, O., Khawaja, G., El-Dakdouki, M.H. Assessing the Antibacterial Efficacy of Rubus hedycarpus and Qualitative Analysis of the Phytochemical Composition. 22nd LAAS International Science Conference, Beirut, Lebanon (2016)
  • Mohammed, G., Khawaja, G., El-Dakdouki, M.H. Assessing the antioxidant activity of the plant Rubus hedycarpus in vitro and in vivo. 22nd LAAS International Science Conference, Beirut, Lebanon (2016)
  • Nsaif M., Yusef H., Khawaja G. Isolation of Microorganisms from Endotracheal Tube Biofilms. 22nd LAAS International Science Conference, Beirut, Lebanon (2016)
  • Naser Z., Khawaja G., Yusef H. Production of exo-polygalacturonase by microbial spec

Activities

Member of student activities committee 2013-present

Member of faculty council committee 2014/2015


Member of quality assurance committee 2015-present

Lebanese Association for Advanced Research (LAAS) reviewer, 2016

Contributing towards the accreditation of Biology program at BAU.

Awards

Doctoral Scholarship – Rhône-Alpes Regional Council Doctoral Research (Infectiology, Immunology, Cancerology cluster): 10/2008 - 09/2011.

Valedictorian MS student 2007 - 2008