Abdel Fouda, B.Pharm, Ph.D., (Principal Investigator)
Dr. Fouda joined the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology as a tenure-track Assistant Professor in July 2021. A pharmacist and translational scientist, Dr. Fouda received his Ph.D. in 2015 from the University of Georgia, College of Pharmacy. Dr. Fouda’s predoctoral work helped to define the neurovascular protection from stroke provided by the renin-angiotensin system. These studies were recognized by awards from the American Heart Association, International Stroke Conference, and other professional organizations.
As a postdoctoral fellow at MCG’s Vascular Biology Center, his research on neuro-inflammation included models of traumatic optic neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy, and the role of macrophages in retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury and protection by arginase 1. The latter studies are the focus of a prestigious K99/R00 Career Development Pathway to Independence Award that Dr. Fouda received from the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Fouda has published more than 35 original manuscripts and looks forward to collaborating with investigators at the Jones Eye Institute and across campus.
Esraa Shosha, B.Pharm, Ph.D., (Research Associate III)
Dr. Shosha is currently a Research Associate. She is interested in studying neurodegenerative diseases of the retina. Dr. Shosha got her Ph.D. with distinction from Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA. Her predoctoral work was supported by an American Heart Association fellowship. She then worked as postdoctoral fellow for four years before joining UAMS. Dr. Shosha authored several research and review articles in the field of retinopathy.
Rami Shahror, M.Sc., Ph.D. (Postdoctoral Fellow)
Dr. Rami Shahror holds a doctorate in Neural Regenerative Medicine from Taipei Medical University, Taiwan, and a Master of Science in Medicine degree and a Master of Science degree in Molecular Medical Biology from Orebro University, Sweden. He is currently a Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, in the College of Medicine at UAMS. Prior to this role, he has held positions as Research Fellow at The Shock, Trauma and Anesthesiology Research Organized Research Center (STAR-ORC), School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, USA. He contributed to a number of neurotrauma projects investigating the development of a genetically modified stem cell therapy for traumatic brain injury. He has authored or co-authored several articles in peer-reviewed journals in the field of neuroscience. Dr. Shahror is a fellow of the Society of Neuroscience (SFN) and National Neurotrauma Society (NNS).
Carol Morris, B.S. (Graduate Student)
Carol Morris is a graduate student in the neuroscience track of the graduate program for interdisciplinary sciences (GPIBS). She earned her bachelor’s degree in general biology at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Carol has a background in translational multiple myeloma research. She is currently focused on immune response in retinal ischemic neurodegeneration.