AUS PhD student wins Best Student Paper Award for breast cancer treatment technology at global IEEE NANOMED conference

A recent PhD graduate from the Materials Science and Engineering program at American University of Sharjah (AUS), Dr. Waad Abuwatfa, was awarded the Best Student Paper Award at the IEEE NANOMED Conference, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, December 2–5, 2024. IEEE-NANOMED is an annual conference organized by the IEEE Nanotechnology Council (NTC) that brings together physicians, scientists and engineers from around the globe to discuss and advance cutting-edge research and is known for showcasing the highest quality research in the medical and biological sciences. 

Her winning paper, titled “Herceptin-Positive Breast Cancer Treatment via Immunoliposomes Triggered by High-Frequency Ultrasound and Microbubbles,” was selected from among all of the global submissions at the conference. It explores an innovative approach to treating HER2-positive breast cancer using advanced nanotechnology. Traditional cancer treatments can often harm healthy cells, causing unwanted side effects. Dr. Abuwatfa and her team investigated the use of liposomes-–small, artificial vesicles used in medicine for drug delivery-–by coating them with an anti-HER2 antibody designed to target HER2-positive cancer cells. This research breakthrough ultimately has the potential to enable more personalized, safer and more effective cancer treatments.

“Attending IEEE-NANOMED was truly the cherry on top of my PhD journey in Materials Science and Engineering at American University of Sharjah. Presenting my research at such a prestigious platform was an incredible honor, and winning the Best Paper Award was a powerful testament to the hard work and dedication I invested throughout my doctoral studies,” said Dr. Abuwatfa.

Dr. Abuwatfa’s paper was co-authored with other researchers from AUS, including Dr. Shabana Anjum, Post-Doctoral Fellow, and Dr. Ghaleb Husseini, Professor, both from the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. They worked alongside Dr. William G. Pitt from Brigham Young University, USA, who visited AUS’ lab from April to June 2023 and worked closely with the research team on the project.

In addition, a paper by Dr. Nour AlSawaftah, who also recently obtained a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from AUS, was presented as a poster and shortlisted for the Best Poster Award. While an entry from MIT narrowly edged it out, it was an impressive achievement to have been selected for consideration at this global conference. The paper, titled “Effect of Ultrasound and Mixing of Folate and Trastuzumab Liposomes on DOX Release and Cellular Uptake," was co-authored alongside Dr. Husseini and Dr. Pitt.

Dr. Husseini, the primary PhD advisor for both alumnae, remarked on the achievements of the recent AUS doctoral graduates, saying: “These accomplishments highlight the continued excellence of AUS’ research programs and the talent coming from its PhD in Materials Science and Engineering program, reinforcing the university's global standing in the fields of nanotechnology and biomedical engineering. I congratulate Dr. Abuwatfa and Dr. AlSawaftah for their dedication to advancing innovative research and contributing to the global scientific community."

To learn more about research at AUS, visit www.aus.edu/research-and-graduate-studies/faculty-research.