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Dr. Asmaa M. Abushady

Vice Dean of Biotechnology School & Program Director of UG Program of Biotechnology

Faculty Office Ext.

1760

Faculty Building

UB1

Office Number

355

Biography

Dr. Asmaa M. Abushady was born in Cairo, Egypt in 1978. She attended Ain shams  University, Cairo, Egypt to obtain her bachelor’s degree in Genetics in 1999; she obtained her  master’s degree in Molecular Genetics in 2004. She also received her Ph.D. in Conservation  of AnGR in 2009, from the Ain shams University, Faculty of Agriculture, Genetic Department,  Cairo, Egypt. In her postdoctoral studies, she succeeded to gain a full scholarship for the first  postdoc position from FP7-IRSES "Marie curie Action" in Cordoba University, Spain. 2012- 2013. As a member of the Bio Goat: Latin American Goat Biodiversity Project, from 2013 to  date, she had actively contributed to that mega-project, thereby acquiring the skills to communicate and discuss ideas with international research groups. She was the Director of Ain Shams Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology "ACGEB 2017-2018. In 2019, she took a second scholarship from the specific call for mobility in the entrance from  Mediterranean countries, at the University of Perugia (Universita Degli Studi di Perugia)  Department of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, Perugia, Italy and a full  scholarship from the specific call for academic staff mobility in the entrance from  Mediterranean countries, at the University of Messina (UniME), Sicily, Italy. Asmaa joined Nile University as an associate professor in 2019. Her study field focused on a broad range of activities related to improving the productivity of animals and their resilience 
to environmental stressors. The main interests include identification and conservation of PlGR & AnGR and analyzing phenotypic and molecular genetic data of different animal species using molecular genetics technique and frequentist statistics analysis; besides working in laboratories. She carried out research activities in collaboration with international groups which are interested in the same field. Regarding that, her activity includes analyses by AFLP, PCR-based techniques, microsatellite molecular markers, and gene expression by Real TimePCR. Currently, she is collaborating on "the mega-project collaboration between 6 different  European and non-European countries” that aims to study genetic diversity to understand and exploit Barley's adaptation to harsh environments and for pre-breeding. At Nile University (NU), Dr. Asmaa is co-developing the first online pharmacogenomics diploma and master’s program in Egypt as part of a consortium funded by ERASMUS. The  diploma and master’s program will have a world-class curriculum revised by renowned  European universities and will be available to graduates of medicine, pharmacy and  biotechnology in Egypt and Lebanon. https://oppmprogram.com/ Dr. Asmaa is also currently launching a joint biotechnology incubator between Nile University  and Ain Shams University, which will accelerate the development of biotechnology startups  and would also enhance the Egyptian biopreneurship ecosystem. https://bib-asu.com/

Achievements

I have been actively engaged in a diverse range of activities aimed at enhancing animal productivity and bolstering their ability to withstand environmental challenges. My primary focus revolves around the identification and preservation of PlGR (Plant Genetic Resources) and AnGR (Animal Genetic Resources). Additionally, I possess a keen interest in analyzing phenotypic and molecular genetic data from various animal species, employing molecular genetics techniques, and employing frequent statistical analysis methods. In addition to my work in laboratories, I have collaborated extensively with international organizations and research groups that share a similar passion for this field.

Regarding the international publication rate in scientific journals, Nile University boasts an impressive performance. I was nominated as the top three contributors at the university in terms of their publication rates 2023:2024.

  • Dr. Asmaa has been a member of the Bio Goat: Latin American Goat Biodiversity Project since 2013.
  • Dr. Asmaa collaborated on "the mega-project collaboration between 6 different European and non-European countries” that aims to study genetic diversity.
  • Dr. Asmaa was part of the Scientific Co-operation (Material Transfer Agreement) between the Department of Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University. And the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute – Federal Research Institute for Animal Health.
  • Dr. Asmaa in Nile university co-developed the first online pharmacogenomics diploma and master’s program in Egypt as part of a consortium funded by ERASMUS that will be available to graduates of medicine, pharmacy and biotechnology in Egypt and Lebanon.
  • Dr. Asmaa is also currently launching a joint biotechnology incubator between Nile University and Ain Shams University, which will accelerate the development of biotechnology startups.
  • Dr. Asmaa got the first place for faculty journals (weighted) for the International Publishing and the third place in the top faculty impact factor sum.
Recent Publications

The Effect of Probiotic Supplementation on the Gut–Brain Axis in Psychiatric Patients

The pathophysiology of several psychiatric diseases may entail disturbances in the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and metabolic pathways. Variations in how these effects present themselves may be connected to individual variances in clinical symptoms and treatment responses, such as the observation that a significant fraction of participants do not respond to current antipsychotic drugs
1

Citric acid assisted phytoextraction of nickle from soil helps to tolerate oxidative stress and expression profile of NRAMP genes in sunflower at different growth stages

Soil polluted with Nickel (Ni) adversely affects sunflower growth resulting in reduced yield. Counterbalancing Ni toxicity requires complex molecular, biochemical, and physiological mechanisms at the cellular, tissue, and whole plant levels, which might improve crop productivity. One of the primary adaptations to tolerate Ni toxicity is the enhanced production of antioxidant enzymes and the
Healthcare
1

Genome-wide comparison and identification of myosin gene family in Arabidopsis thaliana and Helianthus annuus

Myosins are essential components of organelle trafficking in all the eukaryotic cells. Myosin driven movement plays a vital role in the development of pollen tubes, root hairs and root tips of flowering plants. The present research characterized the myosin genes in Arabidopsis thaliana and Helianthus annuus by using different computational tools. We discovered a total of 50 myosin genes and their
Healthcare
1

Biochemical and genotyping analyses of camels (Camelus dromedaries) trypanosomiasis in North Africa

Camels are considered an important food source in North Africa. Trypanosomiasis in camels is a life-threatening disease that causes severe economic losses in milk and meat production. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the trypanosome genotypes in the North African region. Trypanosome infection rates were determined by microscopic examination of blood smears and polymerase
Healthcare

Phylogeographic and population genetic structure of hound-like native dogs of the Mediterranean Basin

The dog was probably the first domesticated animal. Despite extensive archaeological and genetic investigations, the origin and the evolution of the extant dogs are still being debated. Dog breeds that have over time been selected for hunting share common ancestral traits. This study represents the first comprehensive attempt to survey at the genomic and mitochondrial level eight hound-like dogs
Healthcare

Salinity stress reveals three types of RNA editing sites in mitochondrial Nad7 gene of wild barley both in silico and in qRT-PCR experiments

Cellular respiration is an important process performed by mitochondria. Nad complex is the major complex involved in this process and one of the main subunits in this complex is the nad7 (nad dehydrogenase subunit 7). In Hordeum vulgare subsp. spontaneum, four nad7 cDNAs are described at 500 mM salinity, 0 h, or control (GenBank accession no. MW433884), after 2 h (GenBank accession no. MW433885)

Artificial Intelligence
Healthcare
Research Tracks
  • Diversity and Conservation of Genetics Resources
  • Identification and preservation of PlGR (Plant Genetic Resources) and AnGR (Animal Genetic Resources)   
  • Analyzing phenotypic and molecular genetic data from various animal species
  • Statistical analysis methods