Kholoud Alwosaibai | Medicine and Health Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Kholoud Alwosaibai | Medicine and Health Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Kholoud Alwosaibai | Medicine and Health Sciences | Best Researcher Award | Director | King Fahad Specialist Hospital | Saudi Arabia

Dr. Kholoud Alwosaibai is a highly accomplished biomedical scientist, cancer geneticist, and immunotherapy specialist with over fifteen years of progressive experience in translational oncology, molecular medicine, and clinical genomics. She currently serves as the Director of the Biomedical Research Department at King Fahad Specialist Hospital in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, where she leads multiple funded national research programs in cancer genetics and immuno-oncology. Dr. Kholoud Alwosaibai earned her Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Medicine from the University of Ottawa, Canada, focusing on cancer therapeutics, and completed advanced postdoctoral training in immuno-oncology at the same institution. Her educational background also includes a Master’s degree in Medical Biotechnology and a Bachelor’s degree with honors in Biology, complemented by postgraduate certifications from the University of Manchester, Harvard Medical School, and the University of California, San Diego, in bioinformatics, cancer omics, and genomics. Professionally, Dr. Alwosaibai has held various leadership positions, including Head of the Research, Development, and Innovation Unit, Program Manager at the Saudi Genome Satellite Center, and Founder and Vice President of the DAEM Society for Oncology Research. Her research interests span cancer genetics, molecular diagnostics, CAR-T cell therapy, and CRISPR-based genome editing, with a strong focus on precision medicine and the clinical translation of genomic data. Dr. Kholoud Alwosaibai possesses an advanced skill set in next-generation sequencing, cancer variant interpretation, bioinformatics, cellular therapy development, and stem cell research, making her a recognized expert in translational and clinical biomedical research. She has published extensively in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals indexed in Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science, contributing to global advancements in cancer biology and immunotherapy. Her collaborative work has been featured in leading journals such as Scientific Reports, BMC Cancer, Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, and Oncotarget. Among her notable recognitions are national research grant awards from the Saudi National Institutes of Health and Sanad Society, as well as an award of excellence from the Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau in Canada for her outstanding doctoral research performance. Throughout her career, Dr. Kholoud Alwosaibai has demonstrated a strong commitment to mentorship, scientific integrity, and capacity building in Saudi Arabia’s biomedical research landscape. Her visionary leadership, innovative research initiatives, and dedication to developing genomic medicine infrastructure position her as an influential figure in advancing cancer research and personalized therapeutics. In conclusion, Dr. Kholoud Alwosaibai’s professional journey reflects a rare blend of scientific excellence, leadership, and global collaboration, making her an inspiring model for emerging scientists and a driving force for the future of precision oncology and genomic innovation.

Profile: Scopus | ORCID

Featured Publications 

  1. Alwosaibai, K., Abedini, A., Al-Hujaily, E. M., Tang, Y., Garson, K., Collins, O., & Vanderhyden, B. C. (2017). PAX2 maintains the differentiation of oviductal epithelium and inhibits the transition to a stem cell-like state. Oncotarget. Citations: 85

  2. Gharaibeh, L., Elmadany, N., Alwosaibai, K., & Alshaer, W. (2020). Notch 1 in cancer therapy: Possible clinical implications and challenges. Molecular Pharmacology. Citations: 64

  3. Ghandorah, S., & Alwosaibai, K. (2021). Post-liver transplantation GVHD: Time to consider histocompatibility testing. Journal of Liver Transplantation. Citations: 22

  4. Alwosaibai, K., Al-Hujaily, E. M., Alamri, S., Ghandorah, S., Garson, K., & Vanderhyden, B. C. (2022). PAX2 induces vascular-like structures in normal ovarian cells and ovarian cancer. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 23(6), 412. Citations: 37

  5. Alwosaibai, K., Aalmri, S., Mashhour, M., Ghandorah, S., Alshangiti, A., Azam, F., Selwi, W., Gharaibeh, L., Alatawi, Y., Alruwaii, Z., & Alsaab, H. O. (2023). PD-L1 is highly expressed in ovarian cancer and associated with cancer stem cells populations expressing CD44 and other stem cell markers. BMC Cancer, 23(1), 13. Citations: 41

  6. Alessy, S. A., Almotlak, A. A., Alattas, M., Alshareef, A., Alwosaibai, K., Alghamdi, M. A., Razack, H. I. A., & Alqahtani, S. A. (2024). Cancer research challenges and potential solutions in Saudi Arabia: A qualitative discussion group study. JCO Global Oncology, 10, e2300189. Citations: 18

  7. Alwosaibai, K., Alruwaii, Z. I., Mashhour, M., Almsned, F. M., Asraf, R., Alrsheedy, W., Alessa, A., Almohanna, H., Selwi, W., & Azam, F. (2024). Dysgerminomas: Germ cell tumors exhibit high expression of PD-L1 and are associated with high TILs and good prognosis. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 24191. Citations: 12

 

Shahar Lev-Ari | Medicine and Health Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Shahar Lev-Ari | Medicine and Health Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Visiting Faculty | Stanford University | United States

Dr. Shahar Lev-Ari is an accomplished academic with a strong educational foundation in cellular biology and medicine who has over many years built a distinguished career in health promotion, public health research, integrative medicine, and well-being interventions; Dr. Shahar Lev-Ari was trained in cellular biology and obtained his PhD after rigorous work in integrative medicine and intervention science, and his education included advanced training in health promotion science and mindfulness-based behavior change. In his professional experience, Dr. Shahar Lev-Ari has served as founding director of the Integrative Medicine Center & Laboratory of Medicinal Herbs and Cancer Research at the Institute of Oncology, led the Health Promotion Unit within the Integrated Cancer Prevention Center at Tel Aviv Medical Center, and formerly chaired the Department of Health Promotion, School of Public Health at Tel Aviv University; he is also a visiting scholar in Stanford University’s Department of Genetics and collaborates internationally in precision health and psychosocial interventions. Research interests of Dr. Shahar Lev-Ari focus on mindfulness and stress-reduction techniques, inquiry-based stress reduction (IBSR), salutogenesis, resilience, psychosocial health, mental well-being, interventions in at-risk populations (e.g. women with BRCA variants), longevity and protective behavioral and psychosocial factors, mind-body medicine, and digital health tools for well-being. He has developed skills in both quantitative and intervention research; expertise in randomized clinical trials, longitudinal cohort studies, psychosocial measurement, sleep assessments, behavior change, developing and evaluating interventions, public health promotion, multi-disciplinary collaborators, mixed-methods, psychosocial biometrics, and implementing rigorous designs. Dr. Shahar Lev-Ari has been recognized with awards and honours such as the Outstanding Scientist Award from the Israel Society for Complementary Medicine under the auspices of the Israeli Medical Association, and has received support from organizations such as the Rothschild Foundation, the Israeli Cancer Association, and chief scientists in education and medicine; he has also been invited to serve on editorial boards (e.g., Section Editor for Public Health in Journal of Clinical Medicine), and in national and global working groups on mental health promotion. In his published record, Dr. Shahar Lev-Ari has authored 81 documents, has accumulated 2,106 citations, and has h-index 22, demonstrating both breadth and impact. Overall, Dr. Shahar Lev-Ari embodies a scholar-practitioner who bridges fundamental biology, public health, psychosocial interventions and community health implementation, with leadership roles in research, mentorship, and translation of findings into interventions that improve psychological well-being and health outcomes in both general and vulnerable populations.

Profile:  Scopus | ORCID

Featured Publications

  1. Effect of Inquiry-Based Stress Reduction on Well-being and Views on Risk-Reducing Surgery Among Women With BRCA Variants in Israel: A Randomized Clinical Trial — 2021; ~3 citations

  2. The Association Between the Sense of Coherence and the Self-Reported Adherence to Guidelines During the First Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Israel — 2022; number of citations

  3. The Use of Smart Devices for Mental Health Diagnosis and Care — 2022; number of citations

  4. A Novel Platform for Attenuating Immune Hyperactivity Using EXO-CD24 in COVID-19 and Beyond — 2022; number of citations

  5. Data From a One-Stop-Shop Comprehensive Cancer Screening Center — 2023; number of citations

  6. Mental Health for All: The Case for Investing in Digital Mental Health to Improve Global Outcomes, Access, and Innovation in Low-Resource Settings — 2023; number of citations