Where Science Meets You
MENA Advisors
Malak Althgafi, MD, MBA
Dr. Malak Althgafi, a Professor and Director of the Neuropathology Division and Fellowship. As a physician, pathologist, and molecular geneticist, her research endeavors are aimed at revolutionizing cancer treatment through precision medicine.
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Beyond her academic and research pursuits, Dr. Althgafi is an entrepreneurial force, having founded two companies in the genomics space. These ventures further demonstrate her commitment to applying scientific discoveries to practical applications in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Althgafi’s role as an advisor to international organizations on genomics and precision medicine underscores her global impact on the field.
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Magid Abou-Gharbia, PhD, FRSC
Laura H. Carnell Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Founding Director, Moulder Center for Drug Discovery Research
Magid Abou-Gharbia, Laura H. Carnell Professor and Founding Director of the Moulder Center for Drug Discovery Research at the School of Pharmacy, Temple University. Prior to Temple, he spent 26 years at Wyeth Pharmaceuticals (now Pfizer) where he was senior Vice President of Discovery. He led efforts of 500 scientists which were instrumental in the discovery of 10 marketed drugs, several are 1st in class includes: antidepressant Effexor, antibody-Drug Conjugate anti-cancer Mylotarg and 1st rapamycin analog anti-cancer Torisel. His efforts as Director of the Moulder Center (2008-2020) where he led School’s strategic initiative in achieving School’s research and entrepreneurial missions, resulted in over 40 patents,>$30 grant funding and 3 spinoff companies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yotuH6ZU0c
His efforts with the ACS in the mid 1990’s led to initiatives such as the ACS Heroes of Chemistry program, Pharma Leadership meetings, and joint ACS Mechem/EFMC events. Abou-Gharbia is credited with >125 issued US patents, >350 worldwide, 14 filed invention disclosure, 475 publications, invited lectures and presentations and has received numerous awards including 2 ACS Heroes of Chemistry awards for discovery of Toresil (2008) and Effexor (2014).
• Publications: 139 (Peer reviewed) https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=9lstbyMAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao
• Patents: 130 issued US Patents & >350 World Patents
https://patents.justia.com/inventor/magid-a-abou-gharbia
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Ashraf Allam
Ashraf serves currently as a board member and board advisor for global, regional, and local Pharmaceuticals, Biotech, Medical devices, Self-medications, and digital health companies. He also serves as senior executive advisor for global M&A investment firms, private equity funds, VC’s and family conglomerates in the US, Asia, and middle east.
Recently Ashraf was serving as the CEO of the Pharmaceutical Investment Company (PIC) which is the life science arm for the Public Investment Fund (PIF). PIF is a global investment powerhouse and one of the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world, with assets of more than $900 billion at both domestic and international levels.
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Bobby Kaura
Founder, CEO at Pathway Bio Inc.
Bobby left Illumina in 2024, to pursue his own ambition, inspired by other founders and people with cancer to change the way in which we treat cancer patients. Previously, Bobby headed up Global Entrepreneurial & Ecosystem Development at illumina, developing models that will accelerate the creation of genomics and VC backable startups. He co-created Illumina for Startups and co-launched Illumina accelerator UK, a VC-partnered model in China (Sequoia). Under Illumina Ecosystem Development, he worked with investors, life science stakeholders and startups to create communities that promote this ambition. Prior to this, he was Head, Market and Business Development EMEA, and prior to joining Illumina spent time in the NHS and several years in Pharma. His background is Neuroscience & Genetics, IT. To support the overall startups ecosystem, he is a member of BIAs Genomic Council, mentor at Cambridge Judge and Oxford University Business School and Co-chair’s UKs Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI).