Role
Lecturer/ Senior lecturer
Dr Ali is Module Leader for Immunology Virology and Practical Techniques for FdSc. He teaches on the modules Immunology Virology; Parasitology; Selective Toxicity and Pharmacotherapy of Cancer; Biology of Disease; Genetics and Immunology; Aspects of Biomedical Sciences; Pathophysiology and Pharmacology of Cells and Tissues and Research Methods.
Projects
- Investigation of the mechanisms involved in tumour rejection following immunotherapy in a murine model.
- Leishmania vaccine: Searching for new antigens through the use of immunological and molecular approaches. Investigating the immunogenicity of leishmania centrin genes.
Research areas
Dr Ali's research interests include:
- The use of pre-clinical models to develop and test cancer vaccines. Cancer vaccines are in the form of genetically modified viruses (e.g. disabled infectious single cycle "DISC-HSV" virus and the genetically modified adenoviruses) and immuno-modifier molecules such as OX40L. The OX40L is a member of Tumour Necrosis Factor (TNF) superfamily that overexpressed on activated dendritic cells and involved in T cell activation. Interested also in the manipulation and modulation of immune responses to cancer and intracellular parasites by the administration of OX40L in vivo.
- Investigation and analysis of mechanisms that involved in tumour rejection in response to immunotherapy. The work focused on the identification of cells, e.g T reg cells, and molecules involved in cancer immuno-suppression.
- Combination versus mono- therapies for cancer.
- Leishmania Vaccines. The main objective of this research is to identify new Leishmania antigens that could be used in construction and testing of new vaccines. This includes studies on peptide sub-unit and DNA vaccines.
Opportunities to carry out postgraduate research towards an MPhil/PhD exist and further information may be obtained from the NTU Graduate School.
External activity
- Teaching contributions to MSc courses at Sheffield Hallam University and Nottingham University.
- Invited to review papers for Gene Therapy, BJC and CII.
- Member of the International Editorial Board of the Research in Medical Sciences Journal published by Isfahan University of Medical Sciences.
Sponsors and collaborators
Current and recent research is being carried out with the collaboration, funding and/or support of:
- Dr Hira Nakhasi, Director, Division of Emerging and Transfusion Transmitted Diseases, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Maryland, USA
Publications
- Immunogenicity of Leishmania Donavani Centrin-3 Vaccines. Steal FAA, Ali S, American Journal of Medicine Studies, 2014, 2 (1), 1-11