Dr. Hafedh Dekhil, PhD

Dr. Hafedh Dekhil has been appointed as Assistant Research Professor at Obesity Research Center, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, KSA since August, 2010. Prior to joining ORC.

He has previously held the position of Research Associate, Segal Cancer Center, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.

 Dr. Dekhil was working on molecules known to be structurally altered and to act as early events in the molecular pathogenesis of different tumors, particularly in colon, breast and prostate cancer.

 The aim of the projects was the validation, in vitro and in vivo, of the effects of inhibiting the expression of these proteins. He elaborated an original system of inducible Tet-ON for the expression of siRNAs in stably transfected colon cancer cells.

 These siRNAs have been constructed and validated in vitro and in vivo. Using this system, he successfully down regulated the expression and the function of the targeted proteins beta-catenin and ITF2. He’s results provide novel insights into treatment of human CRC and show that ITF2 may represent a novel therapeutic target.

 He has published this work in Cancer research journal.Dr. Dekhil received Postdoctoral training in Molecular Biology and Cancer research at Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, McGill University, from 2004 to 2008 and elaborated an original system of inducible Tet-ON for the expression of siRNAs.Dr. Dekhil was a co-supervisor of 2 PhD students and trained 2 masters, 6 Research Technicians and 4 summer students.

Dr. Dekhil has outstanding publication record including 8 peer-reviewed articles in high impact factor journals. He also has 8 poster/oral presentations in international and National conferences and symposium.