Khalid Abu Khabar Alqurashi

Dr. Khalid Abu Khabar Alqurashi (Khalid S. A. Khabar) is a well-known expert on AU-rich elements which are mRNA decay sequence determinants important in health and disease. He broadened this field by discovering ~4000 mRNAs that encode AREs. He then investigated their impact on system-biology levels in inflammation and cancer, and studied their interactions with RNA-binding proteins (TTP and HuR).

His research showed that TTP induces antimitotic and anti-invasion pathways by binding and modulating many AU-rich mRNAs while demonstrating the loss of this activity in solid tumors. Furthermore, he recently performed the largest screen for kinase inhibitors in post-transcriptional control and identified key pathways affecting ARE-mRNA decay. In his earlier work, Dr. Abu Khabar Alqurashi identified the first cellular mRNA target for RNase L, otherwise known for its antiviral mRNA activity. He also identified key mechanistic interactions between RNase L and other RNA-binding proteins that affect cellular growth. In his later work, he identified novel disease-gene network changes as a result of spaceflight impact pinpointing a unique disease target- and drug- discovery approach.

Post-transcriptional control, particularly mRNA stability and role in health, disease, therapy and biotechnology

Precision medicine in innate immunity and cancer

Dr. Abu Khabar Alqurashi is a Group Leader and Principal Scientist in the field of molecular biology and immunology. His expertise lies in molecular cytokine biology in inflammation, innate immunity and cancer, with specific interest in post-transcriptional control of gene expression, particularly mRNA stability, role in disease, and application in precision medicine.

He is a former Deputy Executive Director of the Research Centre at KFSHRC and currently holds an appointment as Adjunct Staff at the Department of Cancer Biology, Lerner Research Institute in Cleveland Clinic Foundation. He obtained his PhD from University of Pittsburgh in 1993 and was a recipient of the U.S. National Delta Omega Honor, International Cancer Technology Transfer Award from the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) in 2000.

Dr. Abu Khabar Alqurashi received KFSHRC's first Outstanding Scientist Award in 2002 and several research achievement awards, including the Crown Prince-sponsored Tomorrow Award in 2010 and the King’s Award for Inventors and the Gifted in 2012. He has published over 90 peer-reviewed full-length papers with high citation index of 53 per paper, including six invited reviews on RNA regulation of cytokines, and regularly invited for lectures in local and international academic institutions and conference plenary sessions.

He founded a post-graduate program for molecular and cell biology at Alfaisal University and has mentored or co-advised a number of national and international post-graduate students. He is the Principal Investigator on competitive local institutional grants, and is Co-investigator or Collaborator on a number of international grants including NIH sub-contracts.

As an expert in the field of cytokine regulation and RNA stability, he is often invited as an editor or reviewer for several US and international journals, and is a grant reviewer for international funding agencies including U.S. National Science Foundation and U.K. Medical Research Council. He has over 14 granted patents in the field of molecular biology and biotechnology and has been board member of biotechnology initiatives in Saudi Arabia such as National Strategy for Research Priorities and King Saud University Biotechnology Centre. He has also received funding for a startup venture in biotechnology innovation.