Research
The laboratory has been working with the pharmacology department to synthesize various compounds as potential drug candidates for various diseases. On average the Lab works on researching at least 3 different projects a year, which are published in highly respected journals.
These projects are currently looking at natural compounds and chemically synthesized compound that can act as iGluR inhibitors/antagonist with great efficacy and lower side effects. Glutamate toxicity has been associated with many neurodegenerative and neurosciphytric diseases, such as Alzheimer's Diseases (AD), Parkinson, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Epilepsy, etc. Thus the receptors most sensitive to glutamate and neurotoxicity are examined to treat the above mentioned diseases.
Since its opening of two years the following projects have been published; 'Evaluation of Taste, Total Phenols and Antioxidant for Fresh, Roasted, Shade dried and Boiled leaves of Edible Arum palaestinum Bioss', 'The Neuroprotective Role of Origanum syriacum L. and Lavandula dentata L. Essential Oils through Their Effects on AMPA Receptors' and 'The inhibitory role of curcumin derivatives on AMPA receptor subunits and their effect on the gating biophysical properties', and many more to come. In addition, the lab has partnered with a renowned research institution in Germany, Julich University, which enables scientist of the lab to continue their Masters and PhD in their laboratories under full coverage.
After a 3 month internship at Julich to perfect root ganglion extraction, the lab is now pivoting to perform on neuronal cells instead of human embryonic kidney cells. Thus, the examination of the drug on the kinetics of the receptor is evaluated on neuronal cells to further enhance the significance of the results and better understand the mechanism of action.
Future Plans:
Two years after the opening of the first neuroscience laboratory in Palestine and the Middle East of its kind, it is currently providing insight into the mechanisms of action of these molecular machines, however in the long term the lab aims to provide clues for the design of molecular devices which can be used (i) for studying signal transduction pathways and (ii) as diagnostic/detection tools for disease treatment. Moreover, Dr. Qneibi hopes to increase the potential of the lab by working on projects that identify the exact location of which the drug interacts with protein. Thus, our future studies might represent novel therapeutic targets to treat various neurological diseases such as neurodegeneration, disorders of cognitive function, epilepsy, Parkinson’s and psychiatric disorder.