Ruba completed her Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from the University of Sharjah, UAE, in 2012. She pursued her Master’s by research at the University of South Australia (UniSA), graduating in 2021 under the supervision of Professor Clive Prestidge. Her research focused on enhancing the oral absorption and effectiveness of poorly water-soluble drug molecules using novel formulation strategies involving lipids and nanostructured silica carrier materials. Ruba has also gained valuable work experience by demonstrating undergraduate practicals in courses such as Biology, Dosage Form Design, and Chemistry.
Ruba’s passion for research was driven by her desire to make a meaningful impact in the field of pharmaceutical sciences. The potential to improve drug delivery systems and patient outcomes inspired her to pursue a PhD. She sought an opportunity for impact-focused research and was welcomed as a visiting PhD student at the University of Western Australia (UWA) in Professor Iyer’s group, which further motivated her.
Ruba’s PhD research is dedicated to developing specialized delivery systems to target genetic medicine to the bone, a field with significant potential yet limited exploration. Gene therapy has emerged as a groundbreaking approach to treating diseases at the molecular level, offering advantages over conventional medicines. However, its clinical applications are mostly confined to easily accessible organs like the liver. Ruba’s research addresses the challenge of achieving targeted delivery to less accessible organs, particularly the bone and bone marrow, which are hindered by limited blood circulation and dense tissue.
Her project aims to construct bone-targeted delivery systems to enhance the delivery of genetic medicine, specifically antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), to the bone and bone marrow. This involves either conjugating the genetic therapeutic directly to a bone-targeting ligand or using specialized bone-targeting nanocarriers. By leveraging the unique properties of bone-targeting compounds, Ruba’s research seeks to extend the application of gene therapy to various bone diseases, including osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and bone cancer. The potential impact of her work is substantial, as it promises to broaden the scope of gene therapeutics in clinical practice.
Through her research, Ruba aims to develop effective bone-targeted delivery systems that can revolutionize the treatment of bone diseases. She is eager to acquire new skills and knowledge from the multidisciplinary research group at the centre, which will be instrumental in achieving her research objectives. The collaborative and innovative environment of the centre will provide her with the necessary support and resources to make significant contributions to the field of genetic medicine.
Ruba is a passionate kickboxer and enjoys the discipline and physical challenge it brings.
