Fatima Mraiche

fm-new-pic.png

Dr. Fatima Mraiche
Associate Professor

Vargo Teaching Chair 

Education:
BSc, University of Alberta (2004)
PhD, University of Alberta (2010)

Teaching: Pharmacology 306, Pharmacology 425

Contact Information:
Office: 9-43C Medical Sciences Building
Email: mraiche1@ualberta.ca

Additional Links:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fatima-mraiche-phd
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.ca/citations?user=Ral0vBoAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao

Research: Transporter-mediated ion homeostasis and signaling pathways in cardiovascular disease; Educational excellence in higher education teaching and learning pedagogy

Research interests / laboratory techniques

Focusing on pharmacology research and educational excellence, Dr. Mraiche is committed to achieving successful program and graduate outcomes, and advancements in pharmacology. 

She values the transformative power of education and creates impactful learning experiences that enhance student outcomes by merging cutting-edge pharmacology research with innovative teaching practices.

Dr. Mraiche’s research in the area of scholarship of teaching and learning includes curriculum and assessment development, implementation and evaluation and integration of instructional approaches. 

In the laboratory, Dr. Mraiche investigates the role of transporters including the Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 1 (NHE1) and sodium glucose co-transporters (SGLT), the mitogen activated protein kinase pathway (specifically p90 ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK)) and the extracellular matrix in (1) cardiovascular disease and (2) lung cancer. 

1) Molecular signaling pathways associated with the pathogenesis of cardiac remodeling, fibrosis and heart failure: 

Studies from our research laboratory have identified the importance of NHE1 and RSK in cardiac remodeling. Other contributing factors of interest include:

  • Extracellular matrix: Metalloproteinases, cathepsins, osteopontin
  • Inflammatory mediators: CD44
  • Sodium–glucose co-transporters (SGLT1/SGLT2)

2) Molecular signaling pathways associated with the progression of lung adenocarcinomas: 

Studies from our research laboratory have identified the importance of RSK in the progression of lung adenocarcinoma and its potential as a therapeutic target. Areas of focus include:

  • Combination therapy: RSK inhibitors in the presence of platinum based chemotherapeutic drugs
  • Use of novel nanoparticles to deliver RSK inhibitors and other available drugs such as platinum based chemotherapeutic drugs

Select Publications

Scholarship of teaching and learning

White PJ, Guilding C, Angelo T, Kelly JP, Gorman L, Tucker SJ, Fun A, Han J, Chen G, Samak Y, Babey AM, Caetano FA, Sarangi SC, Koenig J, Hao H, Goldfarb J, Karpa K, Vieira L, Restini C, Cunningham M, Aronsson P, Kelly‐Laubscher R, Hernandez M, Rangachari PK, Mifsud J, Mraiche F, Sabra R, Piñeros O, Zhen X, Kwanashie H, Exintaris B, Karunaratne N, Ishii K, Liu Y. Identifying Core Concepts of Pharmacology Education; A Global Initiative. British Journal of Pharmacology. 2023 May; 180(9): 1197-1209 https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.16000.

Osman A, Al-Badriyeh D, Hussain FN, Riaz S, Elewa H, Mraiche F. The Design and Implementation of an Undergraduate Health Professional Degree Elective Course on Scientific Writing, Peer Assessment and Critical Appraisal. Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning. 2022 May; 14(6): 765-772. doi: 10.1007/s40670-022-01532-x.

Ali R, Alnaimi SJ, Abdulrahim S and Mraiche F. Developing Leadership Skills in Pharmacy Education. Medical Science Educator. 2022 April; 32(2): 533–538. doi: 10.1007/s40670-022-01532-x.

Munusamy S, Osman A, Riaz S, Shaima A, Mraiche F. The Use of Socrative and Yammer Online Tools to Promote Interactive Learning in Pharmacy Education. Curr Pharm Teach Learn. 2019 Jan; 11(1): 76-80. doi: 10.1016/j.cptl.2018.09.021.

Wilby KJ, El Hajj MS. El-Bashir, Mraiche F. Overcoming Pitfalls: Results From a Mandatory Peer Review Process for Written Examinations. Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning. 2018 April; 10(4): 423-426. doi: 10.1016/j.cptl.2017.12.015.

Pharmacology research

Gorachinov F, Mraiche F, Moustafa DA, Hishari O, Ismail Y, Joseph J, Crcarevska MS, Dodov MG, Geskovski N, Goracinova K. Nanotechnology – a Robust Tool for Fighting the Challenges of Drug Resistance in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology. 2023 February; 14(1), 240-261. https://doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.14.23.

Abdulrahman N, Ibrahim M, Joseph JM, Elkoubatry HM, Al-Shamasi A, Rayan M, Ahmed R, Eldassouki H, Hasan A, Mraiche F. Empagliflozin Inhibits Angiotensin II Induced Hypertrophy in H9c2 Cardiomyoblasts Through Inhibition of NHE1 Expression. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry. 2022 March; 477(6),1865–1872. doi: 10.1007/s11010-022-04411-6.

Riaz S, Abdulrahman N, Uddin S, Jabeen A, GAdeau AP, Fliege L, Mraiche F. Anti-Hypertrophic Effect of Na+/H+ Exchanger-1 Inhibition is Mediated by Reduced Cathepsin B. European Journal of Pharmacology. 2020 Dec 5; 888:173420. doi: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2020.173420.

Abdulrahman N, Siveen KS, Joseph JM, Osman A, Yalcin HC, Hasan A, Uddin S, Mraiche F. Inhibition of p90 Ribosomal S6 kinase Potentiates Cisplatin Activity in A549 human Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells. J Pharm Pharmacol. 2020 Nov; 72(11):1536-1545. doi: 10.1111/jphp.13335.

Abdulrahman N, Jaspard-Vinassa B, Fliegel L, Jabeen A, Riaz S, Gadeau AP, Mraiche F. Na+/H+ Exchanger Isoform 1 Induced Osteopontin Expression Facilitates Cardiac Hypertrophy Through p90 Ribosomal S6 Kinase. Physiological Genomics. 2018 May; 50(5): 332-342. doi:10.1152/physiolgenomics.00133.2017.

Adbulrahman N, Jaballah M, Poomakkoth N, Riaz S, Abdelaziz S, Issa A, Mraiche F. Inhibition of p90 Ribosomal S6 Kinase Attenuates Cell Migration and Proliferation of the Human Lung Adenocarcinoma Through Phospho-GSK-3ß and Osteopontin. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry. 2016 July; 418(1): 21-9. doi: 10.1007/s11010-016-2727-9.

Jaballah M, Mohamed IA, Almerayat B, Al-Sulaiti F, Milh M, Mraiche F. p90 ribosomal S6 kinase Modulates NHE1 Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy via GATA-4. PLoS One. 2015 April; 10(4): e0122230. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0122230.