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Abd El Kareem Azab, Ph.D.

Abd El Kareem Azab, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

School
Medical School
Department
Biomedical Engineering
Graduate Programs
Biomedical Engineering, Cancer Biology
  • Biography

    Download Curriculum Vitae

    Dr. Kareem Azab, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Rising Star CPRIT Scholar of Cancer Research, and a Senior Member of The National Academy of Inventors. Dr. Azab is also a founder of four spinoff startup companies: Cellatrix LLC, Targeted Therapeutics LLC, OncInsights LLC, and  CovACE Nanotechnology LLC.

    Dr. Azab completed his Pharmacy studies, M.Sc. (in Medicinal Chemistry), and Ph.D. (in Pharmaceutical Sciences) at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and a post-doctoral training (in Cancer Biology and Immunology) at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard University.

    The research in Dr. Azab’s multidisciplinary (including biomedical engineering, cancer biology and immunology, pharmaceutical sciences, and medicinal chemistry), aiming to translate the laboratory findings into patient care through clinical trials and entrepreneurial approaches. Specifically, it focuses on development of novel cancer therapeutics, mainly through discovery of cancer-specific biomarkers and mechanisms which involve the effect of tumor microenvironment (TME) in drug resistance and metastasis, as well as development of novel solutions for cancer immunotherapy, tissue engineered cancer models ex vivo for drug development and personalized medicine, and an array of drug delivery systems including lipid and polymeric nanoparticles for systemic delivery, and drug eluting biodegradable implants for local therapy, for improved efficacy and reduced toxicity of cancer therapy.

    Dr. Azab’s current and future research focuses on development of novel pan-cancer immunotherapeutic strategies, over-coming TME-induced drug resistance, nanoparticles for cancer theranostics, biodegradable drug eluting implants for localized tumor control, and tissue engineered ex-vivo models for personalized cancer therapy.

  • Research Interest
    • 3D Tissue Cultures
    • Biodegradable Implants
    • BNCT
    • Drug Delivery Systems
    • Drug Development
    • Drug Resistance
    • Immunotherapy
    • Multiple Myeloma
    • Nanoparticles
    • Personalized Medicine
    • Tissue Engineering
    • Tumor Hypoxia
    • Tumor Metastasis
    • Tumor Microenvironment
  • Publications

    Star Featured Publications

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  • Books

    Featured 

    Boron neutron capture therapy. In Contemporary Aspects of Boron: Chemistry and Biological Applications

    Azab AK, Abu Ali H and Srebnik M (2005). Amsterdam, Elsevier

  • Honors & Awards
    • National Academy of Inventors
      Senior Member (2023-2023)
    • CPRIT Rising Star Award
      Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas, Dallas, TX (2022-2027)
    • WashU Inventor Award Office of Technology Management, Washington University in St. Louis
      Office of Technology Management, Washington University in St. Louis (2020-2020)
    • WashU Inventor Award
      Office of Technology Management, Washington University in St. Louis (2019-2019)
    • LEAP Leadership in Entrepreneurial Acceleration Program
      Skandalaris Center, Washington University in Saint Louis. (2017-2017)
    • WashU Inventor Award
      Office of Technology Management, Washington University in St. Louis (2017-2017)
    • Bear Cub Competition for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
      Skandalaris Center, Washington University in Saint Louis. (2016-2016)
    • i6 Spark
      Biogenerator-BioSTL, Saint Louis, MO. (2016-2016)
    • Bear Cub Competition for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
      Skandalaris Center, Washington University in Saint Louis. (2015-2015)
    • Abstract Achievement Award
      Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology, San Diego, California, USA. (2011-2011)
    • AACR-Amgen, Inc. Fellowship in Clinical/Translational Cancer Research
      American Association of Cancer Research, Washington DC, USA. (2010-2010)
    • Young Investigator Award
      6th International Workshop on Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia, Venice, Italy (2010-2010)
    • Merit Award
      American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting, Orlando, Florida, USA (2009-2009)
    • Travel Award
      Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology, San Diego, California, USA. (2009-2009)
    • Fellow Award
      Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, Norwalk, Connecticut, USA. (2008-2009)
    • Travel Award
      Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology, San Diego, California, USA. (2008-2008)
    • Excellent Research Student
      School of Pharmacy, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. (2006-2006)
    • First Place Poster Award
      Gordon Research Conference on Drug Carriers in Medicine and Biology, Big Sky, Montana, USA. (2006-2006)
    • Participant
      The 18th Meeting of Nobel Prize Laureates in Chemistry Lindau, Lake Constance, Germany. (2006-2006)
    • Abraham and Ada Barzilai Award for Outstanding Work Proposal in Cancer Research
      The Israeli Ministry of Justice & The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. (2001-2001)
    • Outstanding Teaching Assistant
      School of Pharmacy, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. (2001-2005)
  • Professional Associations/Affiliations
    • American Association of Cancer Research (2010)
    • American Association of Pharmaceutical Sciences (2012)
    • American Chemical Society (2015)
    • American Society for Radiation Oncology (2015)
    • American Society of Clinical Oncology (2009)
    • American Society of Hematology, Member (2007)
    • Biomedical Engineering Society (2022)
    • Controlled Release Society, Member (2005)
    • International Myeloma Society (2006)
    • Radiation Research Society (2015)