Ghada El-khawaja - Beirut Arab University

Ghada KHAWAJA
Tel: +961 1 300110 - 3307
e.mail:
[email protected]
[email protected]
Assistant Professor of Molecular Biology/
Virology & Immunology at Beirut Arab University
Faculty of Sciences
Department of Biological & Environmental sciences
Education
2008-2012 PhD - Molecular Biology/Virology/Immunology/Biochemistry
Highest level of distinction - Claude Bernard Lyon1 University, FRANCE
Supervised by: Pr Daniel HARTMANN, UMR CNRS 5510/MATEIS, Team I2B, Lyon, FRANCE
& Dr Lucyna COVA, Lyon Cancer Research Center, INSERM U1052, Team 15 « Viral
Hepatitis and related diseases », Lyon, FRANCE
2007-2008
Master of research – Structural and Functional Biochemistry
Valedictorian – Passed with honors - Claude Bernard Lyon1 University, FRANCE
2006-2007
Master of chemical sciences – Specialty: Biochemistry
Passed with honors – Lebanese University- Faculty of science II
2003-2006
Bachelor of chemical sciences – Specialty: Biochemistry
Passed with honors - Lebanese University - Faculty of science II
2003 High school diploma in science, passed with honors
LANGUAGES
Arabic, French, English: Speaking and writing (very good level)
Teaching activities
1/09/2012-present
Assistant Professor at Beirut Arab University (BAU), Faculty of Sciences,
Department of Biological & Environmental sciences
Teaching biochemistry, biology and molecular biology courses:
- General Biology
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Membrane Biology
- Advanced Immunology
- Genetics
- Histology
- Cell & tissue culture
- Virology
- Gene Therapy
Research activities
PhD thesis
Development of novel immunotherapeutic approaches against viral infectious
diseases. Focusing on the evaluation of a promising vaccinal approach based on
DNA delivery by in vivo electroporation for chronic hepatitis B therapy
2009-2011
Technical and scientific supervision of student internships on different research
projects
2008
Project :
Master internship, INSERM U1052, Lyon, FRANCE (6 months)
“Development of an innovating approach for antibodies production by DNA immunization
targeting viral antigens”. Supervised by Dr Lucyna COVA, INSERM U1052, Team 15
Presentations
Oral
presentations
 « Potentialisation du vaccin à ADN nu dirigé contre la protéine d’enveloppe du DHBV par
électroporation in vivo » (Khawaja et al, ANRS meeting, 2010, Paris, France)
 « Augmentation de l’efficacité du vaccin à ADN nu, ciblant la protéine d’enveloppe du
DHBV, par électroporation in vivo » (Khawaja et al, Journées francophones de
virologie, 2010, Paris, France)
 « Augmentation de l’efficacité immunothérapeutique du vaccin à ADN par électroporation
in vivo dans le modèle d’infection chronique du canard par le DHBV » (Khawaja et al,
ANRS meeting, 2011, Paris, France)
 Dramatic increase in prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy of DNA vaccine targeting DHBV
proteins by in vivo electroporation (Khawaja et al, International HBV meeting, 2011,
Orlando, USA)
Posters
 « Augmentation de l’efficacité immunothérapeutique du vaccin à ADN par électroporation
in vivo pour le traitement des hépatites B chroniques » (Khawaja et al, Journées
CLARA, 2011, Lyon, France)
 « Potentialisation de l’immunogénicité du vaccin à ADN par électroporation in vivo dans le
modèle d’infection chronique du canard par le DHBV » (Khawaja et al, Journées
francophones de virologie, 2011, Paris, France)
 Drastic increase of potency of DNA vaccine targeting hepadnaviral proteins by in vivo
electroporation (Khawaja et al, American Association for the Study of Liver
Diseases (AASLD), 2011, San Fransisco, USA)
 In vivo electroporation significantly improves therapeutic potency of a DNA vaccine
targeting hepadnaviral proteins (Khawaja et al, International congress of the
European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), 2012, Barcelona, SPAIN)
Publications
Short Communication
in « J. HEPATOLOGY »
 In vivo electroporation significantly improves therapeutic potency of a DNA
Vaccine targeting Hepadnaviral proteins
Khawaja G, Buronfosse T, Guerret S, Zoulim F, Luxembourg A, Hannaman D, Evans C,
Hartmann D, Cova L. Journal of Hepatology 2012 vol. 56 | S71–S224
Article PUBLISHED
in « VIROLOGY »
 Enhanced magnitude and breadth of neutralizing humoral response to a DNA
vaccine targeting DHBV envelope protein delivered by in vivo electroporation
Khawaja G, Buronfosse T, Jamard C, Guerret S, Zoulim F, Luxembourg A, Hannaman D,
Evans C,
Article PUBLISHED
in « VIROLOGY »
Book chapter
PUBLISHED
in « DNA VACCINES »
Hartmann D, Cova L. Virology 425 (2012) 61–69.
 In vivo electroporation improves therapeutic potency of a DNA vaccine
targeting hepadnaviral proteins
Khawaja G, Buronfosse T, Abdul F, Jamard C, Guerret S, Zoulim F, Luxembourg A,
Hannaman D, Evans C, Hartmann D, Cova L. Virology 433(2012)192–202.
 Co-Administration of Gamma Interferon Gene with DNA Vaccine Expressing Duck
Hepatitis B Virus (DHBV) Proteins Enhances Therapeutic Efficacy of DNA-Based
Immunization in Chronic Virus Carriers.
Saade F, Buronfosse T, Khawaja G, Guerret S, Jamard C, Chevallier M, Pradat P, Zoulim
F, Cova L. Chapter 5, DNA Vaccines: Types, Advantages and Limitations
(2011) (E. C. Donelly and A. M. Dixon, Ed.), pp. 119-130. Nova science publishers.