Fatumina Said Abukar
Studying PhD in Biochemical Engineering EPSRC Doctoral Training Grant [email protected] I obtained my undergraduate degree from University College London (UCL) in MEng in Biochemical Engineering with Study Abroad. I completed my Master of Engineering at the University of Toronto (UofT) under the supervision of Professor Krishna Mahadevan. The Master research involved carrying out fundamental research to characterize and engineer biological systems, for applications in metabolic engineering and large scale bioprocess optimization and control. At the same time, I worked with Professor Jed. Davies (UofT) on a project investigating the effect of complex topography surfaces on platelet activation in diabetes. Both my undergraduate degree together with my practical research experiences made me realize that I wanted to get involved in a project that encompassed both engineering and biological work with a focus on cell therapy.
I have been a PhD student in Ivan Wall’s groups since 2013 working on process optimisation for potency assays to support cell therapy for ischemic cardiac injury. Project: Towards Standardized Functional Release Assays for Cell Therapy Candidates for Ischemic Injury.
My PhD focuses on using a design of experiment approach (DOE) to identify the critical quality attributes (CQAs) of cell therapy candidates. Current assays lack in robustness and reproducibility. We aim to develop standardized assays that can be used as a first screen platform for cell therapy products in clinical applications and at industrial scale. Previously: Meng Biochemical Engineering with Year Abroad. UCL and University of Toronto, 2008-2012 |