It was during rotations in UAE hospitals that Faten Yasin truly realized her passion for research in modern medical treatment. The Emirati academic also noticed something of a disconnect that ultimately drove her to pursue her work in NYU Abu Dhabi.
Having completed a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree at Sharjah University in 2011, Yasin worked in government hospitals in the city, Ras Al Khaimah, and her hometown of Dubai, across various disciplines.
“I realized we were not introduced to much clinical research that you can apply in clinical settings,” she recalls. “I didn’t have much exposure to actually looking at patients diagnosed with cancer or with hematology-type diseases. That made me want to specialize more… to fill the gap where I can integrate my clinical background and do research.”
Yasin’s interest was piqued during her master’s and PhD in Hematology and Leukemia at University of Liverpool School of Medicine in the UK.
“It was an integrative program where clinicians were doing a part-time or full-time PhD. I looked at patient blood samples and whatever I worked on was applied in clinics as well.”
Fast forward and Yasin has been a NYUAD post-doctoral associate for three years, researching molecular biomedical science and translational medicine in the Magzoub Lab.
What I do, in simple terms, is look at tumors in cancers like breast and pancreatic cancer, and we develop targeted drug therapies. “I also look at adult types of leukemia and study the disease in patient-to-patient variations because not all respond equally.
Yasin recognizes the relevance and implications of this work, both in the UAE and globally. She says clinical research not only contributes to understanding why every patient responds differently or requires personalized treatment, but how it can lead to improved patient outcomes.
“And when we share research around the globe, which creates a wider scientific and medical community, it can advance cancer research, treatment and patient care worldwide. “We all have one target… to advance things in the approach to cancer. Sometimes you have to think outside the box, so clinical and research should be integrated.”
Yasin is the first doctor in her family, apart from an uncle who is an ophthalmologist.
“My dad is a former marine captain and taught us to be resilient, to have patience, and always have the intention of being better, whatever your domain; as long as you have passion, you continue.”
Yasin’s father wanted her to enter business, but she wanted to be in science. As a curious young girl, Yasin could never understand why people with different chronic diseases, like diabetes and hypertension, were taking the same medication.
“Once I entered medical school, my dad told me, ‘You have one year, if you don’t do well, you’re going into business’. I graduated in the top ten.”
Yasin became the first female postdoc with a biology degree to be part of NYUAD’s Emirati-focused Kawader Research Assistantship Program.
She hopes her findings can make a difference, such as contributing to bio bank systems whereby researchers can integrate hospitals with universities.
“I do my own projects, but also I collaborate,” Yasin says. “In our domain, you have to work with people, and the more you collaborate, the more you learn. One hand alone cannot clap.” She describes her journey as tough, thrilling, but also rewarding. For Yasin, that includes seeing her work published in a meaningful journal, or recognized at a prestigious conference.
Ultimately, Yasin says her research could lead to her working in hospitals as a clinical scientist, or perhaps becoming faculty.
In the meantime, she’s happy to inspire younger academics at NYUAD through seminars, lecturing, or doing lab work with high school students, as she has done during summer programs.
“They ask a lot of questions and want a start in medicine,” she says of the latter. “It makes me glad as we need this generation of Emiratis, whether male or female, to think ahead.”
Yasin describes Emirati Women’s Day as “a celebration of how far we’ve come.”
“It is a reminder for me and for others that it’s good to have your ambitions, it’s no longer impossible, but that’s also not enough — you need to know you are essential and needed, always,” Yasin says.
“If you look at the leadership roles of women… the number is increasing. The generations before us had to sacrifice a lot to make this happen, so imagine the incredible potential for the next generation.”
