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DR FATMA ALAWADHI

Fatma H. Al-Awadhi
Phone
(965)24634864
Public Email
fatma.h@ku.edu.kw
Office Location
College of Pharmacy Building - 2nd floor - Office No. 80
College/ Center
College of Pharmacy
Assistant Professor

Fatma H. Al-Awadhi received her Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from Kuwait University in 2009. She was then appointed as pharmacist in Ministry of Health, Kuwait. In 2012, she joined the College of Pharmacy at the University of Florida where she earned her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Pharmaceutical Sciences – Medicinal Chemistry under the supervision of Professor Hendrik Luesch in 2014 and 2017, respectively. In 2017, she joined  the College of Pharmacy at Kuwait University as an assistant professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry. Her research interests include discovery and characterization of novel natural products from marine organisms. She received several awards during her academic career including the Kilmer Prize awarded in 2017 by the American Society of Pharmacognosy (ASP) and American Pharmacists Association. In 2021, she received Kuwait University’s Best Young Researcher Award in the field of Basic and Applied Sciences and, in 2023, she was the winner of L’Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science Middle East Regional Young Talents Program Award.

Degrees and Certificates

2015 −2017           Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences-Medicinal Chemistry, University of Florida.  

2012−2014           Masters of Science in Pharmacy, University of Florida.  

2004−2009           B.Sc. in Pharmacy (B.Pharm.), College of Pharmacy, Kuwait University

Professional Experience

2022−2023      Visiting Scholar, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development (CNPD3), College of Pharmacy, University of Florida. 

2017−                Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Kuwait University, Kuwait.

2012−2017      Graduate Student, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida.            

2009−2012      Pharmacist in Ministry of Health, Amiri Hospital, Kuwait.

Research Interests

The research area of Al-Awadhi’s lab lies at the interface of chemistry and biology with an overreaching goal to discover and develop bioactive compounds for the treatment of human ailments. As with any drug discovery program, our research involves classical marine natural products chemistry combined with bioassay development, target identification, and mechanism of action studies. Al-Awadhi’s lab also collaborates with the Chemistry Department – College of Science for the characterization/biological evaluation of their synthetic compounds that would potentially have a therapeutic value, NMR spectroscopic structure determination of their pyrolysis substrates and products, as well as screening of their synthetic compounds using relevant bioassays. 

Academic Subjects

B.Pharm. Program at the College of Pharmacy-Kuwait University

  1. 1120-217: Organic Chemistry (4 credits, fall 2017−2021, course coordinator, lectures about the nomenclature, physical properties, preparation methods and reactions of alcohols, ethers & epoxides, amines, aldehydes & ketones, carboxylic acids & derivatives, aromatics).

  2. 1120-218: Pharmaceutical Chemistry (3 credits, spring 2018, lecture about UV and IR spectroscopy).

  3. 1120-517: Natural Products Chemistry (3 credits, fall 2018−2023, lectures about NMR, drug discovery, target identification, and mechanism of action studies).

  4. 1120-514: Research Project (3 credits, spring 2019−present, a research project for final year B.Pharm. students).

EP.PharmD. Program at the College of Pharmacy-Kuwait University

  1. 1120-104: Organic Chemistry (4 credits, fall 2022−, course coordinator, lectures about the nomenclature, physical properties, preparation methods and reactions of alcohols, ethers & epoxides, amines, aldehydes & ketones, carboxylic acids & derivatives, aromatics).

  2. 1120-114: Chemistry of Medicinal & Poisonous Plants (3 credits, spring 2024−, lectures about different extraction, isolation and spectral identification techniques such as UV, IR, NMR) 

  3. 1100-370: Integrated Therapeutic Module of Bone & Joint Diseases I (2 credits, spring 2024−, lectures about medicinal chemistry of drugs used for osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis).

  4. 1100-371: Integrated Therapeutic Module of Diseases of the Reproductive System I (2 credits, spring 2024−, lectures about medicinal chemistry of drugs used for contraception, menstruation, menopause, and pregnancy health care).

  5. 1100-374: Integrated Therapeutic Module of Diseases of the Reproductive System II (2 credits, fall 2024−, lectures about medicinal chemistry of drugs used for selected diseases of the reproductive system such sexually transmitted diseases, infertility, erectile dysfunction, urinary incontinence, and benign prostatic hyperplasia).

  6. 1110-118: Research Project (3 credits, fall 2024−, a research project for 5th year Pharm.D. students).

Ph.D. Program at the Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy-University of Florida 

  1. PHA 6356: Structure Determination of Complex Natural Products (3 credits, spring 2023, lectures about UV, IR, NMR basics, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, problem solving). 

  2. PHA 6467C: Drug Design II (3 credits, spring 2023, lectures about MOA determination and target ID).

Publications

  1. Al-Awadhi, F. H.; Kokkaliari, S.; Ratnayake, R.; Paul, V. J.; Luesch, H. Isolation and Characterization of the Cyanobacterial Macrolide Glycoside Moorenaside, an Anti-Inflammatory Analogue of Aurisides Targeting the Keap1/Nrf2 Pathway. J. Nat. Prod. 2024, 87 (10), 2355–2365.

  2. Al-Taweel, D.; Moreau, P.; Koshy, S.; Khedr, M. A.; Nafee, N.; Al-Romaiyan, A.; Bayoud, T.; Alghanem, S. S.; Al-Awadhi, F. H.; Al-Haqan, A.; Al-Owayesh, M. S. Empowering Competence: A Program-Wide Active Learning Framework for a Pharmacy Program. Am J Pharm Educ 2024, 88 (10), 101272.

  3. Al-Awadhi, F. H.; Simon, E. F.; Liu, N.; Ratnayake, R.; Paul, V. J.; Luesch, H. Discovery and Anti-inflammatory Activity of a Cyanobacterial Fatty Acid Targeting the Keap1/Nrf2 Pathway. Mar Drugs 2023, 21 (11), 553. 

  4. Mohamed, A. S.; Al-Awadhi, F. H.; Al-Awadi, N. A. Variable-Sized Bis(4-Spiro-Fused-β-Lactam)-Based Unsaturated Macrocycles: Synthesis and Characterization. ACS Omega 2022, 7 (41), 36795–36803.

  5. Al-Hasawi, N. A.; Oludotun, P.A.; Al-Awadhi, F. H.; Sharaf, L. H.; Amine, S. A.; Novotny, L. Anti-progressive Effects of a Series of Glycinyl and Alaninyl Triazolyl-oxazolidinones on Kelly Neuroblastoma Cell Line. Anticancer Res. 2020,40 (9), 5125–5140.

  6. Al-Awadi, N. A.; Mohamed, A. S.; Habib, O. M.; Al-Awadhi, F. H.; Al-Jalal, N. A.; Ibrahim, Y. A. Flash Vacuum Pyrolysis of Acetylenic Amides: A Mechanistic Study. J. Anal. Appl. Pyrolysis 2020, 150, 104894.

  7. Al-Awadhi, F. H.; Salvador-Reyes, L. A; Elsadek, L. A.; Ratnayake, R.; Chen, Q.Y.; Luesch, H. Largazole Is a Brain-Penetrant Class I HDAC Inhibitor with Extended Applicability to Glioblastoma and CNS Diseases. ACS Chem. Neurosci. 2020, 11 (13), 1937–1943. (Cover art feature)

  8. Al-Awadhi, F. H.; Luesch, H. Targeting Eukaryotic Proteases for Natural Products-Based Drug Development. Nat. Prod. Rep. 2020, 37 (6), 827–860.

  9. Al-Awadi, N. A.; Mohamed, A. S.; Habib, O. M.; Al-Awadhi, F. H.; Al-Jalal, N. A.; Ibrahim, Y. A. Flash Vacuum Pyrolysis of Acetylenic Esters: A Mechanistic Study. J. Anal. Appl. Pyrolysis 2020, 146, 104778. (Funded Research Incentive Reward)

  10. Ibrahim, Y. A.; Mohamed, A. S.; Habib, O. M.; Al-Awadhi, F. H.; Al-Jalal, N. A.; Al-Awadi, N. A. Gas-Phase Pyrolysis of Benzo- and Naphthofuran Derivatives. J. Anal. Appl. Pyrolysis 2019, 142, 104626. (Funded Research Incentive Reward)

  11. Al-Awadhi, F. H.; Gao, B.; Rezaei, M. A.; Kwan, J. C.; Li, C.; Ye, T.; Paul, V. J.; Luesch, H. Discovery, Synthesis, Pharmacological Profiling, and Biological Characterization of Brintonamides A–E, Novel Dual Protease and GPCR Modulators from a Marine Cyanobacterium. J. Med. Chem. 2018, 61, 6364–6378. 

  12. Al-Awadhi, F. H.; Paul, V. J.; Luesch, H. Structural Diversity and Anticancer Activity of Marine-Derived Elastase Inhibitors: Key Features and Mechanisms Mediating the Antimetastatic Effects in Invasive Breast Cancer. ChemBioChem 2018, 19 (8), 815–825. (Cover art feature)

  13. Al-Awadhi, F.H.; Law, B. K.; Paul V.J.; Luesch, H. Grassystatins D‒F, Potent Aspartic Protease Inhibitors from Marine Cyanobacteria as Potential Antimetastatic Agents Targeting Invasive Breast Cancer. J. Nat. Prod. 2017, 80 (11), 2969–2986.

  14. Al-Awadhi, F.H.; Salvador, L. A.; Law, B. K.; Paul V.J.; Luesch, H. Kempopeptin C, A Novel Marine-Derived Serine Protease Inhibitor Targeting Invasive Breast Cancer. Mar. Drugs. 2017, 15, 290‒307.

  15. Al-Awadhi, F. H.; Ratnayake, R.; Paul V. J.; Luesch, H. Tasiamide F, a Potent Inhibitor of Cathepsins D and E from a Marine Cyanobacterium. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2016, 24, 3276‒3282. 

  16. Al-Awadhi, F. H.; Salvador, L. A.; Luesch, H. Chapter 7: Screening Strategies for Drug Discovery and Target Identification. In Marine Biomedicine: From Beach to Bedside. Baker, B. J., Ed. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, 2015, pp. 135‒165.

  17. Salvador, L.A.; Park, H.; Al-Awadhi, F.H.; Liu, Y.; Kim, B.; Zeller, S.L.; Chen, Q.Y.; Hong, J.; Luesch, H. Modulation of Activity Profiles for Largazole-Based HDAC Inhibitors through Alteration of Prodrug Properties. ACS Med. Chem. Lett. 2014, 5, 905‒910.