Faculty Research Highlights

Faculty Research Spotlight

Dr. Hatem Elshabrawy, PhD

Assistant Professor of Microbiology, Immunology & Pathology

What drives you as a researcher?

After completing my PhD in Microbiology and Immunology in 2012, I became a tenured assistant professor in the School of Pharmacy at Cairo University, Egypt. My research interests have always centered on coronaviruses and filoviruses, with a focus on understanding their pathogenesis and developing therapeutics. During my postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine (2015-2017), I also studied the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and have developed therapeutics for RA. In 2017, I joined California Northstate University, College of Pharmacy as an assistant professor of Immunology, and later joined Sam Houston State University, College of Osteopathic Medicine, in 2019, as a founding assistant professor of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology.

As a researcher, I am driven by the quality and impact of my work on the scientific community. My current research program focuses on characterizing and developing potential therapeutics for coronaviruses (including SARS-CoV-2), parasitic helminth diseases, and RA.

What impact do you see your research having?

My current h-index=20 and i10-index=24 with 2409 citations, as of 03/28/2023, which showcase the impact and significance of my research. I currently have 37 peer-reviewed publications. My research efforts and collaborations after joining SHSU-COM resulted in 24 peer-reviewed publications, where I am the corresponding author in 14 of them. All my publications were published in high impact factor journals (IF=3-10). My research on SARS-CoV-1 resulted in several publications and the characterization of potential antiviral small molecules and monoclonal antibodies. My Journal of Virology paper which characterized broad spectrum antivirals for SARS-CoV-1, Ebola, Hendra, and Nipah viruses study was highlighted in the journal issue and nominated by Dr. Karl Barry Sharpless (Nobel Laureate in Chemistry, 2001) for its significance. Additionally, my research on COVID-19 has resulted in better understanding of the disease pathogenesis and shed the light on potential antivirals. My research on RA has led to better understanding of diseases pathogenesis. It noteworthy to mention that my publications have been highly cited, highlighted in journals for significance, and selected by the editor as editor’s choice articles.

Moreover, based on my expertise in the field, I have been invited by Dr. Candace Walkley (assistant professor of internal medicine at SHSU-COM) to participate in SHSU COVID-19 candid talks to spread expert knowledge about COVID-19 in the SHSU community. I have also been invited by Vaccines journal editor-in-chief to chair a research webinar for Vaccines journal entitled "Infection and pre-symptomatic transmission of SARS-CoV-2", invited to serve as editor and guest editor for Vaccines journal, and invited by Lauren Friedman (a journalist at consumer reports magazine in New York) to provide expert opinion on the use of convalescent sera and monoclonal antibodies as therapeutics for COVID-19.

Recently, I have been ranked among the top 2% scientists in the world according to Stanford University’s ranking.

Below are some select articles that garnered significant recognition and were highly cited within the scientific community:

“Insights into the Recent 2019 Novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in Light of Past Human Coronavirus Outbreaks”- doi: 10.3390/pathogens9030186: cited 623 times as of 03/28/2023 and was selected as the editor’s choice.
“The pathogenic role of angiogenesis in rheumatoid arthritis”- doi: 10.1007/s10456-015-9477-2: cited 414 times as of 03/28/2023.
“Differential impact of obesity on the pathogenesis of RA or preclinical models is contingent on the disease status”- doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-209206: Highlighted by the journal for its significance.
“Identification of a broad-spectrum antiviral small molecule against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus and Ebola, Hendra, and Nipah viruses by using a novel high-throughput screening assay”- doi: 10.1128/JVI.03050-13: cited 110 times as of 03/28/2023 and highlighted by the journal for its significance.

What role do you see research playing in osteopathic medical education?

Research is a vital component of osteopathic medical education since it is crucial in advancing the understanding and practice of osteopathic medicine. Research not only contributes to the advancement of knowledge but also fosters the development of critical thinking and problem-solving abilities among students. Additionally, research identifies new approaches to diagnosis and treatment, improves patient outcomes, and facilitates the acknowledgement of osteopathic medicine as a credible and esteemed field of medical practice.

Moreover, COCA requires accredited institutions to have an active research program as part of their educational programs. This guarantees that graduates from accredited programs are equipped to make significant contributions to the progress of medical knowledge and deliver exceptional patient care. Overall, research plays a critical role in osteopathic medical education and is essential for the future of the field.