AMAL HASAN

Meet the scientists behind DDI’s research

Meet the Scientist – Amal Hasan

Published on 02/07/2021

AMAL HASSAN

Meet the scientists behind DDI’s research

AMAL HASAN graduated in Zoology from Kuwait University; and studied for an MSc in Immunology and Allergy and a PhD in Immunology, at the University of Nottingham. In 2008, she joined the Department of Immunology at the Organ Transplant Centre, where she conducted immunophenotyping assays and donor-recipient crossmatch by Flow Cytometry. In 2010, she undertook post-doctoral training in immunometabolism at DDI, where she progressed to a Scientist position. Her research was mostly associated with studying the relationship between metabolic inflammation and glucose homeostasis in individuals with obesity, prediabetes, and diabetes. Thereafter, she obtained a grant from KFAS/DDI to carry out a Clinical Trial aimed at elucidating the efficacy of probiotic therapy on glucose homeostasis and related immunometabolic parameters in patients with prediabetes.

In 2019, Dr. Hasan was appointed as Lead of the Microbiome, Inflammation, and Immune Regulation group; and was recently awarded a grant from KFAS to conduct a study aimed at characterizing the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 in individuals with asymptomatic, mild/moderate, and severe/critical disease. Dr. Hasan is contributing in clinical studies aimed at elucidating the role of neuroinflammation in vascular brain changes in patients with diabetes. Further, she is developing new grants aimed at understanding the underlying immune dysfunction in the development of autoimmunity and type 1 diabetes. Among other activities, Dr. Hasan has served on the accreditation committee; has served as a peer reviewer for reputable journals; and is a member of the British Society for Immunology. Overall, Dr. Hasan’s research interests fall under interlinked themes which include inflammation and immune regulation, gut microbiome, immunomodulation, autoimmunity, and neuroimmunology.