Dr Nahla Afifi earned her MBBCh with honors, Master of Anatomy and Embryology and Diploma of Gynecology and Obstetrics from Ain Shams University, Egypt. She earned her PhD from Ain Shams University with joints supervision UMD, NJ, USA (Teratogenic Effect of Alcohol and Cocaine on CF-1 mice with emphasis on ultrastructural and biochemical changes in the Liver”). Dr Nahla has spent her career working in research, academia and biobanking and earned a wealth of experience in these fields. She started her career as a Medical Researcher in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey then served as Assistant Professor of Anatomy and Embryology at Ain Shams University, and Dubai Medical College for Girls, UAE. In 1999, Dr Nahla joined Qatar University’s Biomedical Sciences Program promoted to associate professor in 2002m and was promoted to full professor of Anatomy and Embryology in 2007. In December 2013 Dr Nahla joined Qatar Biobank part of Qatar Foundation for research, development and innovation as Education and Scientific Manager and obtained her certificate in ‘Principles in Biobanking’ from the University of Luxembourg in 2015. In 2017 she was appointed as Director of Qatar Biobank having been acting direct for the previous 2 years. She has led and motivated the team through accreditation and certifications for ISO standards 9001: 2015 and 27001: 2013 as well as CAP accreditation for the laboratories as well as the design and implementation of the COVID 19 Biorepository. Dr Nahla Afifi has numerous grants and published research in her field of expertise. She is an active member in several international societies’ including ESBB, AAA, ASIP and ISBER and has been part of scientific organizing committees and co-chair for ISBER Annual Meeting and Exhibitions. She participates in National Committees in Qatar for Diabetes, Dementia and Diabetes and Cardiovascular disease.
