RAKCOMS — Medicine
Prof. Ismail Ibrahim Ali Matalka
President; Professor of Pathology
Not currently available
94pubs1,468cites22h-index233 yrs
Cancer Biology & Targeted Therapeutics
Research theme 01
Cancer Biology & Targeted Therapeutics
Tumour cell biology, RAN GTPase signalling, drug repurposing, nanoparticle delivery and medicinal chemistry for new anticancer agents.
15
Researchers in this theme
516
Publications, last three years
Scopus author records
38,106
Career citations, theme cohort
Scopus author records
4
Named partners
3
PhD projects open
Why this matters
The case for this theme
Cancer incidence in the UAE is rising with an ageing and increasingly non-communicable-disease burden. RAKMHSU's concentration in this area is the deepest of any theme, anchored by the most cited researcher in the University.
Methods and capability
- Cell culture and tumour cell line panels
- RAN GTPase and metastasis signalling assays
- Nanoparticle formulation and characterisation
- In vivo rodent oncology models (CARF)
- Medicinal chemistry and synthesis
- Molecular docking and in silico screening
Theme lead
Prof. Mohamed El-Tanani
Vice President — Research & Postgraduate Studies; Acting Dean, RAKCOP
284publications7,563citations50h-index174last 3 yrs
Partners Indicative
Named by the Office of Research; publication clearance for each partner is being confirmed.
- INIBIC / Fundación VARPA, Spain
- Queen's University Belfast
- University of Bradford
- Regional oncology centres
Who works on this
15 researchers in this theme
RAKCOP — Pharmacy
Prof. Mohamed El-Tanani
Vice President — Research & Postgraduate Studies; Acting Dean, RAKCOP
Open to collaboration
284pubs7,563cites50h-index1743 yrs
RAKCOMS — Medicine
Prof. Biji Thomas George
Dean, RAKCOMS; Professor — Surgery
Open to collaboration
26pubs184cites6h-index213 yrs
RAKCOMS — Medicine
Dr. Vijay Paul Samuel
Professor & Chairperson — Anatomy
Open to collaboration
69pubs15,578cites30h-index443 yrs
RAKCOMS — Medicine
Dr. Rana Aly
Professor, RAKCOMS
Open to collaboration
23pubs1,788cites9h-index133 yrs
RAKCOMS — Medicine
Dr. Grisilda Vidya Bernhardt
Associate Professor, RAKCOMS
Not currently available
42pubs266cites10h-index193 yrs
RAKCOMS — Medicine
Prof. Manal Mahmoud Sami
Dean — Student Affairs; Professor — Pathology
Not currently available
11pubs133cites6h-index53 yrs
RAKCOMS — Medicine
Dr. Ali Jad Abdel Wahab Yousef
Associate Professor — Surgery
Not currently available
23pubs294cites6h-index123 yrs
RAKCOP — Pharmacy
Dr. Bhoomendra Bhongade
Professor & Chairperson — Pharmaceutical Chemistry; Secretary, URC
Open to collaboration
47pubs614cites13h-index273 yrs
RAKCOP — Pharmacy
Dr. Sirajunisa Talath
Professor, RAKCOP
Open to collaboration
71pubs878cites14h-index573 yrs
RAKCOP — Pharmacy
Dr. Adil Farooq Wali
Head — Translational Medical Research Centre (TMRC); Associate Professor, RAKCOP
Open to collaboration
116pubs1,934cites23h-index663 yrs
RAKCOP — Pharmacy
Dr. Walaa Baderaldeen Ibraheem Alshaikh
Assistant Professor — Medicinal Chemistry
Not currently available
23pubs226cites9h-index103 yrs
RAKCOP — Pharmacy
Dr. Ikramy Abdelraheem Khalil Ibraheem
Professor & Chairperson — Pharmaceutics
Open to collaboration
39pubs3,810cites28h-index23 yrs
RAKCOP — Pharmacy
Dr. Ahmed Moustafa Aly Mohamed Faheem
Professor, RAKCOP
Open to collaboration
30pubs1,517cites21h-index53 yrs
RAKCOP — Pharmacy
Dr. Mohammad Ali Radi Obeid
Assistant Vice President — Global Strategy, Industrial Engagement & Business Development; Professor, RAKCOP
Open to collaboration
83pubs1,853cites27h-index383 yrs
Selected outputs
Recent publications
-
Transcriptomic Analysis of Alveolar Bone Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Cleidocranial Dysplasia (opens the Scopus record in a new tab)
Prof. Mohamed El-Tanani · International Dental Journal · 2026 · Article · DOI
-
Interactive visual learning in problem-based sessions for preclinical medical students, enhancing engagement, learning, communication, and professional attitude (opens the Scopus record in a new tab)
Dr. Rana Aly · Social Sciences and Humanities Open · 2026 · Article · DOI
-
Advances in Nanocarrier Drug Delivery Systems for the Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (opens the Scopus record in a new tab)
Dr. Mohammad Ali Radi Obeid · Current Pharmacology Reports · 2026 · Review · DOI
Opportunities
Doctoral projects open now Indicative
-
RAN GTPase as a therapeutic target in triple-negative breast cancer
Supervisor: Prof. Mohamed El-Tanani
-
Nanoparticle co-delivery of chemotherapeutics and siRNA
Supervisor: Dr. Mohammad Ali Radi Obeid
-
Design and synthesis of kinase inhibitor scaffolds
Supervisor: Dr. Sirajunisa Talath
Listings are maintained by the theme lead. You may also propose your own topic within the theme.
How to applyFAQ
Questions about this theme
Prof. Mohamed El-Tanani (Vice President — Research & Postgraduate Studies; Acting Dean, RAKCOP) leads the theme, with 15 researchers across the University's colleges.
3 doctoral projects are open in this theme, each with a named supervisor. Applicants approach the supervisor first and then apply through Admissions; the route is on the Postgraduate Research page.
Cell culture and tumour cell line panels; RAN GTPase and metastasis signalling assays; Nanoparticle formulation and characterisation; In vivo rodent oncology models (CARF); Medicinal chemistry and synthesis; Molecular docking and in silico screening.
Other themes
