EDUCATION

• UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LONDON (UCL)

Doctor of Philosophy in Molecular Oncology and Cellular and Biology of Breast Cancer, from the Research Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment (GEE), University College London (UCL), UK. The PhD aims were to molecularly characterize surgical margins fibroblast cells from breast cancer patients and study their potential procarcinogenic paracrine effects on cancer cells compared to cancer associated fibroblast cells from the same patients as well as normal breast fibroblasts from cancer free patients. In addition, the aim was to identify potential marker genes in the breast stromal fibroblasts that effect breast cancer cells. The techniques used during the PhD were: Cell culture, RNA extraction, agarose gel electrophoresis, cDNA synthesis,quantitative real time PCR, cell lysate preparation and Western blot, cytokine array map, ELISA, cell proliferation test, cell migration and invasion, cell cytospin & immunefluorescent staining, transfection (siRNA), Plasmid cloning.

• UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LONDON

Training course in the Department of Human Genetics and Embryology, program of Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD), UCL, UK. The training included development of PGD protocols for chromosomal disorders by Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (FISH) and monogenic disorders by Fluorescent Polymerase Chain Reaction (F-PCR).

• UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LONDON

Master of Science in the Department of Human Genetics and Embryology,
Program of Prenatal Genetics and Fetal Medicine, UCL, UK. The thesis entitled: The validity of Multiple Displacement Amplification (MDA) in Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD). The aim was to investigate the validity of Multiple Displacement Amplification mas a whole genome amplification method for PGD. The project was conducted in PGD lab at UCL. The techniques used during the MSc were: Fresh buccal cells isolation and lysis, DNA extraction, MDA, singleplex and multiplex F-PCR analyzed by ABI PrismTM/GeneScanTM Large Fragment Analysis.

• BRITISH COUNCIL

International English Language Testing System (IELTS), overall band 7.

• KFSH&RC PATHOLOGY LABORATORIES

Training in KFSH&RC Pathology Department Laboratories.

• KING SAUD UNIVERSITY

Bachelor of Science in Applied Medical Sciences, Clinical Laboratory Sciences Department. GPA 4.2/5, King Saud University, Riyadh, KSA

• RIYADH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS & BOYS

Graduated from Riyadh School for Girls & Boys. GPA 98.6%, Riyadh, KSA.

 AWARDS

• Award on high Impact Factor publication and scientific oral presentation in the 15th Annual Research Day, KFSAH&RC, April 2014.
• 3rd place winner for scientific oral presentation in the 6th Annual Residency Research Day, KFSH&RC, Feb 2013,
• 1st place winner for scientific oral presentation in the 7th Middle East Best of CTR- AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, National Guard Health Affairs, King Saud bin Abdul-Aziz University for Health Sciences, Jan 2013.
• 1st place award for Holly Quran recitation competition among 4 regions of Riyadh Capital City.
• 1st place award for Holly Quran recitation competition of North region of Riyadh Capital City.

WORK EMPLOYMENT

• KING SAUD UNIVERSITY

Assistant Professor in the College of Applied Medical Sciences; Department of Clinical Laboratories.

• MINISTRY OF HEALTH

Clinical laboratories First Specialists in Biochemistry Department and Quality Control officer of the Pathology Department in Maternal & Fetal Hospital in Saudi Ministry of Health

• KING FAISAL SPECIALIST HOSPITAL & RESEARCH CENTRE

Training in the Department of Biomedical Research (BMR), National Program of Neonatal Screening for Metabolic Disorders in KSA at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre.

PUBLICATIONS

• - Al-Rakan, M. A., Colak, D., Hendrayani, S.-F., Al-Bakheet, A., Al-Mohanna, F. H., Kaya, N., Al-Malik, O. Aboussekhra, A. (2013), Breast stromal fibroblasts from histologically normal surgical margins are pro-carcinogenic. J. Pathol., 231: 457–465. doi: 10.1002/path.4256.
• - Al-Rakan, M. A., Colak, D., Kaya, N., Aboussekhra, A. (2012), Gene expression profiling of breast cancer associated fibroblasts and their adjacent counterparts April 15, 2012; Volume 72, Issue 8, Supplement 1 doi: 10.1158/1538-7445.AM2012-52 Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012—Mar31-Apr4,2012; Chicago,IL © 2012 American Association for Cancer Research. Cancer Research: April 15, 2012; Volume 72, Issue 8, Supplement 1 doi:10.1158 / 1538-7445. AM2012-52.
• - Al-Rakan, M. A., Colak, D., Al-Bakheet, A., Kaya, N. Aboussekhra, A. (2012), the Role of CHEK2 in the Cross Talk between Breast Carcinomas and Their Stromal Fibroblasts. IABRC: 28 IABRC/Breakthrough Breast Cancer Conferences. Manchester, UK.

PRESENTED POSTERS

• - March 2-3, 2014 entitled “Breast Stromal Fibroblasts From Histologically Normal Surgical Margins Are Pro-carcinogenic”, presented in the Postgraduate School Research Poster Competition 2013/14, UCL, UK.
• - May 16-17 2013, entitled “The Role of Breast stromal fibroblast cells from surgical margins in Breast Carcinogenesis”, presented in the G.E.E. Postgraduate Symposium, UCL, UK.
• - March-April 31-4, 2012 entitled “Gene expression profiling of breast cancer associated fibroblasts and their adjacent counterparts” presented at the American Association of Cancer Research, 103rd Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL, USA.
• - April 16, 2012 entitled “The Role of CHEK2 in the Cross-Talk between Breast Carcinomas and Their Stromal Fibroblasts” presented at the 28th IABCR/ Breakthrough Breast Cancer Conference, Manchester, UK.
• - February 25th- 26th, 2013 entitled “The Role of CHEK2 in the Cross-Talk between Breast Carcinomas and Their Stromal Fibroblasts” presented in UCL Post Graduate School Research Day, UCL, UK.
• - February 25th- 26th, 2012 entitled “Gene expression profiling of breast cancer associated fibroblasts and their adjacent counterparts” presented in UCL Post Graduate School Research Day, UCL, UK

ORAL PRESENTATIONS

• - April 16th, 2014 Oral presentation entitled “Breast Stromal Fibroblasts From Histologically Normal Surgical Margins are Pro-carcinogenic “was presented at the 15th Annual Research Day, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
•  - March 22nd 2013, Oral presentation entitled “The Role of Breast Stromal Fibroblast Cells from Surgical Margins in Breast Carcinogenesis” was presented at The Postgraduate Annual Seminars Presentation day, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, UCL, UK.
• - February 6th, 2013 Oral presentation entitled “The Role of CHK2 in the Cross Talk between Cancer Cells and Their Surrounding Stromal Fibroblasts “was presented at the 6th Annual Residents’ Research Day, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• - January 15-16th, 2013 Oral presentation entitled “Breast Stromal fibroblast cells from surgical margins are pro-carcinogenic “was presented at the 7th Middle East Best of CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, National Guard Health Affairs, King Saud bin Abdul-Aziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• - January 18th 2012, Oral presentation entitled “Gene Expression Profiling of Breast Cancer Associated Fibroblasts and their Adjacent Fibroblasts” was presented at the 5th Annual Residents’ Research Day, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• - May 22nd 2012, Oral presentation entitled “The Role of CHK2 in the cross Talk between Cancer Cells and Their Surrounding Stromal Fibroblasts” was presented at the Annual Molecular Oncology Meeting, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• - August 28th 2011, Oral presentation presented entitled “Identification and Characterization of Cancer Promoting Genes in Breast Stromal Fibroblasts” at the Annual Molecular Oncology Meeting, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
•  - April 19th 2011, Oral presentation presented on the transfer from MPhil to PhD entitled “Identification and Characterization of Cancer Promoting Genes in Breast Stromal Fibroblasts” Research Centre, UCL, UK. ,
• - December 22nd 2010, Oral presentation entitled “Gene Expression Profiling of Breast Cancer Associated Fibroblasts and Their Adjacent Counterparts” was presented at the Annual Molecular Oncology Meeting, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• - January 22nd 2010, Oral presentation entitled “The Role of CHK2 in the Cross Talk between Cancer Cells and Their Surrounding Stromal Fibroblasts” was presented at the Annual Molecular Oncology Meeting, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

ATTENDED SEMINARS & LECTURES:

• - April 16th-17th, 2014, 15th Annual Research Day, Research Center, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• - April 22nd 2013, Zahra Breast Cancer Association symposium, “The Other Face of Treating Cancer Patients 2nd” King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• - April 2nd – 3rd 2013, 14th Annual Research Day, Research Center, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• - February 6th 2013, 6th Annual Residents Research Day, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• - January 15-16th 2013, The 7th Middle East Best of CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium National Guard Health Affairs, King Saud bin Abdul-Aziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• - April 2nd - 3rd 2012, Research Annual Report Meeting, Research Center, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
•  - April 22nd 2012, Zahra Breast Cancer Association, Symposium entitled “The Other Face of Treating Cancer Patients”, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• - April 15th - 18th 2012, 28th IABCR/Breakthrough Breast Cancer Conference “Stromal-epithelial interactions in breast cancer development and progression”, Manchester, UK.
• - March 31st - April 4th 2012, 103th Annual Meeting of American Association of Cancer Research, Chicago IL, USA.
• - January 18th, 2012 5th Annual Residents Research Day , King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• - April 2nd - 3rd 2011, Research Annual Report Meeting, Research Center, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• - January 24th - 27th 2011, Arab Health Congress, HYPERLINK "http:// www.arabhealthonline.com/ AHCongress/_Admin/test/Conf7 / MolecularDiagnosis/ " MEDLAB - Molecular Diagnosis, Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre, Dubai, UAE.
• - April 2nd -3rd 2010, Research Annual Report Meeting, Research Center, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• - 17-19 March 2003, Recent Advances in Clinical Genetics and Mitochondrial Disorders: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre,. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• - 2nd December 2005, 1st Annual Meeting of Institute for Women’s' Health: University Collage of London (UCL) London, UK,.
• - 24-25 April 2007, ART & Perinatology Hand- in – Hand for a Healthy Generation Symposium: King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
•  - 1st of March 2008, Winter Respiratory Infection In Children Mni Symposium, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• - 12 March 2008, Pathology Update 2008: International Symposium on Laboratory Medicine, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• - 20-21 May 2008, Genetic Counseling and Preventive Screening Programs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Now & Future, American Academy of Continuing Medical Education designation. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
• - 4-5 March 2009, 1st Hereditary Blood Disease Conference: Riyadh Health Affairs, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

SOCIAL MEMBERSHIPS & ACTIVITIES

• - Member of AACR, American Association of Cancer Research, USA.
• - Member of Saudi Society for Clinical Laboratories (SSCL). Riyadh, KSA.
• - Member of Zahra Breast Cancer Association. Riyadh, KSA.
• - Member of Al-Nahda Charity Association. Riyadh, KSA.