Dr Saad Salem
Lecturer
School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy
- Email:saad.salem@newcastle.edu.au
- Phone:(02) 4985 4380
Career Summary
Biography
Dr Saad Salem graduated with a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree with a strong clinical focus; he appreciates the importance of understanding the mechanism of action of medicines in order to develop and optimise pharmacotherapeutic plans and make sound clinical judgements. Saad completed a PhD at The University of Melbourne investigating the role of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) in modulating the cellular responses of glucocorticoids, an important class of medicines used to treat asthma and inflammatory conditions. Dr Salem’s research was awarded multiple prizes including best oral presentation at the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ) annual scientific meeting and Neville Percy prize for best poster presentation at the Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists (ASCEPT) annual scientific meeting. He was invited by the British Pharmacological Society (BPS) to present his research at the BPS annual winter scientific meeting in London for which he was awarded a travel grant. He is a member of the translational research program at the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) focusing on viruses, infections/immunity, vaccines and asthma (VIVA).
Dr Salem is a pharmacist registered with the Pharmacy Board of Australia and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). He incorporates his experience as a community pharmacist into his teaching of pharmacotherapy and pharmacy practice and strives to equip students with the knowledge and skills to become future leaders in pharmacy.
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of Melbourne
- Doctor of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science & Technology - Jordan
Fields of Research
Code | Description | Percentage |
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321403 | Clinical pharmacy and pharmacy practice | 100 |
Professional Experience
UON Appointment
Title | Organisation / Department |
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Lecturer | University of Newcastle School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy Australia |
Awards
Award
Year | Award |
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2020 |
DVC(A) Educator Innovation and Impact Award Office of the DVC(A), The University of Newcastle, Australia |
Prize
Year | Award |
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2011 |
The British Pharmacological Society Travel Bursary The British Pharmacological Society (BPS) |
2010 |
Neville Percy Prize for Best Poster Presentation at The Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists Australian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists |
2010 |
The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand Best Oral Presentation The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand |
Scholarship
Year | Award |
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2011 |
The Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists International Travel Scholarship Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists |
2011 |
The University of Melbourne Abroad Travel Scholarship The University of Melbourne |
2011 |
M.A. Bartlett Research Scholarship Fund The University of Melbourne |
2011 |
The Department of Pharmacology, The University of Melbourne Abroad Travelling Scholarship The University of Melbourne |
Invitations
Speaker
Year | Title / Rationale |
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2011 | TGF-beta Impairs Glucocorticoid Responses in Airway Epithelial Cells |
Publications
For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.
Journal article (7 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||||||||
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2020 |
Drovandi A, Salem S, Barker D, Booth D, Kairuz T, 'Human Biomarker Exposure from Cigarettes Versus Novel Heat-Not-Burn Devices: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis', Nicotine and Tobacco Research, 22 1077-1085 (2020) [C1] Introduction: Novel tobacco products require independent research to assess their safety. This study assessed the current literature for trials comparing levels of biomarkers of e... [more] Introduction: Novel tobacco products require independent research to assess their safety. This study assessed the current literature for trials comparing levels of biomarkers of exposure (BoE) between conventional cigarettes (CC) and heat-not-burn (HNB) devices. Methods: Ten databases were searched using terms including: "heat not burn,""iqos,""teeps,""mrtp,""tobacco heating,"and "glo"between January 1, 2010 and August 13, 2019. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing comparative BoE levels in humans using either CC or novel HNB devices were eligible. BoE were tabulated, and differences between the intervention and control groups were analyzed and combined using a random-effects meta-analysis. Results: Ten nonblinded, RCTs were eligible, involving a total of 1766 participants. Studies regularly reported on 12 BoE (including nicotine). HNB devices assessed included the "IQOS"and "glo"devices and "precursor"(being developed) HNB devices. In comparison to CC, all 12 BoEs assessed were significantly lower for participants assigned to an HNB device. In comparison to smoking abstinence, HNB devices were statistically equivalent for eight BoEs and significantly elevated for four BoEs. Conclusions: This review found that the potential for harm to humans is reduced when using HNB devices compared to CC as indicated by significant reductions in BoE levels. Whilst these results support tobacco manufacturer claims of improved safety, the small number of studies included, limited range of BoE assessed, and involvement of the tobacco industry necessitate further independent research to confirm the HNB devices as being a safer alternative to CC. Implications: This study supports claims made by tobacco manufacturers on the improved safety of HNB tobacco devices in comparison to CC. These novel devices lead to reduced exposure to key biomarkers, which are linked to the health consequences attributed to tobacco use. This has strong implications for international public health as well as further research and policy development relating to the safety aspects and legalities of novel tobacco products.
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Nova | |||||||||
2020 |
Salem S, Cooper J, Schneider J, Croft H, Munro I, 'Student Acceptance of Using Augmented Reality Applications for Learning in Pharmacy: A Pilot Study.', Pharmacy (Basel, Switzerland), 8 1-10 (2020) [C1]
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Nova | |||||||||
2020 |
Schneider J, Patfield M, Croft H, Salem S, Munro I, 'Introducing Augmented Reality Technology to Enhance Learning in Pharmacy Education: A Pilot Study.', Pharmacy (Basel, Switzerland), 8 (2020) [C1]
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Nova | |||||||||
2014 |
Keenan CR, Mok JSL, Harris T, Xia Y, Salem S, Stewart AG, 'Bronchial epithelial cells are rendered insensitive to glucocorticoid transactivation by transforming growth factor-ß1', Respiratory Research, 15 (2014) [C1] Background: We have previously shown that transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) impairs glucocorticoid (GC) function in pulmonary epithelial cell-lines. However, the signalli... [more] Background: We have previously shown that transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) impairs glucocorticoid (GC) function in pulmonary epithelial cell-lines. However, the signalling cascade leading to this impairment is unknown. In the present study, we provide the first evidence that TGF-beta impairs GC action in differentiated primary air-liquid interface (ALI) human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs). Using the BEAS-2B bronchial epithelial cell line, we also present a systematic examination of the known pathways activated by TGF-beta, in order to ascertain the molecular mechanism through which TGF-beta impairs epithelial GC action.Methods: GC transactivation was measured using a Glucocorticoid Response Element (GRE)-Secreted embryonic alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) reporter and measuring GC-inducible gene expression by qRT-PCR. GC transrepression was measured by examining GC regulation of pro-inflammatory mediators. TGF-beta signalling pathways were investigated using siRNA and small molecule kinase inhibitors. GRa level, phosphorylation and sub-cellular localisation were determined by western blotting, immunocytochemistry and localisation of GRa-Yellow Fluorescent Protein (YFP). Data are presented as the mean ± SEM for n independent experiments in cell lines, or for experiments on primary HBEC cells from n individual donors. All data were statistically analysed using GraphPad Prism 5.0 (Graphpad, San Diego, CA). In most cases, two-way analyses of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni post-hoc tests were used to analyse the data. In all cases, P <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.Results: TGF-beta impaired Glucocorticoid Response Element (GRE) activation and the GC induction of several anti-inflammatory genes, but did not broadly impair the regulation of pro-inflammatory gene expression in A549 and BEAS-2B cell lines. TGF-beta-impairment of GC transactivation was also observed in differentiated primary HBECs. The TGF-beta receptor (ALK5) inhibitor SB431541 fully prevented the GC transactivation impairment in the BEAS-2B cell line. However, neither inhibitors of the known downstream non-canonical signalling pathways, nor knocking down Smad4 by siRNA prevented the TGF-beta impairment of GC activity.Conclusions: Our results indicate that TGF-beta profoundly impairs GC transactivation in bronchial epithelial cells through activating ALK5, but not through known non-canonical pathways, nor through Smad4-dependent signalling, suggesting that TGF-beta may impair GC action through a novel non-canonical signalling mechanism. © 2014 Keenan et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
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Show 4 more journal articles |
Conference (5 outputs)
Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||
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2013 |
Keenan C, Lopez-Campos G, Salem S, Harris T, Schuliga M, Johnstone C, Stewart A, 'RNA-seq analysis of transforming growth factor-beta-induced glucocorticoid resistance in human bronchial epithelial cells', EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY JOURNAL (2013)
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2013 |
Keenan CR, Salem S, Harris T, Schuliga M, Stewart AG, 'TRANSFORMING GROWTH FACTOR-beta INDUCES GLUCOCORTICOID RESISTANCE IN HUMAN BRONCHIAL EPITHELIAL CELLS', RESPIROLOGY (2013)
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2011 |
Salem S, Harris T, Schuliga M, Mok J, Stewart A, 'Transforming Growth Factor Beta (TGFBeta) Induces Glucocorticoid-Resistance In A549 Adenocarcinoma Cell Line By Reducing Glucocorticoid Receptor Nuclear Localisation', AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE (2011)
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Show 2 more conferences |
Grants and Funding
Summary
Number of grants | 4 |
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Total funding | $18,400 |
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
20191 grants / $2,500
Simulation Technology in Pharmacy Learning$2,500
Funding body: the Educator Network (tEN)
Funding body | the Educator Network (tEN) |
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Project Team | Irene Munro, Saad Salem, Joyce Cooper, David Newby, Hayley Croft and Hennifer Schneider |
Scheme | Teaching and Innovation Investment Scheme (TI2) |
Role | Investigator |
Funding Start | 2019 |
Funding Finish | 2019 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | N |
20183 grants / $15,900
Assessment Algorithm for Pharmaceutical Dispensing and Medication Counselling$8,000
Funding body: Faculty of Health and Medicine, The University of Newcastle
Funding body | Faculty of Health and Medicine, The University of Newcastle |
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Project Team | Therese Kairuz, Saad Salem, Joyce Cooper, Angela Hawke and Pari Efekthari |
Scheme | UON Faculty of Health and Medicine Pilot Scheme |
Role | Investigator |
Funding Start | 2018 |
Funding Finish | 2018 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | N |
Development of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) Applications to Enhance Learning in Pharmacy$4,000
Funding body: Faculty of Health and Medicine, The University of Newcastle
Funding body | Faculty of Health and Medicine, The University of Newcastle |
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Project Team | Saad Salem, Irene Munroe, Hayley Croft and Jennifer Schneider |
Scheme | UON Faculty of Health and Medicine Pilot Scheme |
Role | Lead |
Funding Start | 2018 |
Funding Finish | 2018 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | N |
Let's Talk About Sex$3,900
Funding body: the Educator Network (tEN)
Funding body | the Educator Network (tEN) |
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Project Team | Karen Mate and Saad Salem |
Scheme | Teaching and Innovation Investment Scheme (TI2) |
Role | Investigator |
Funding Start | 2018 |
Funding Finish | 2018 |
GNo | |
Type Of Funding | Internal |
Category | INTE |
UON | N |
Dr Saad Salem
Position
Lecturer
School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy
College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing
Contact Details
saad.salem@newcastle.edu.au | |
Phone | (02) 4985 4380 |
Office
Room | MS116 |
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Building | Medical Science Building |
Location | Callaghan University Drive Callaghan, NSW 2308 Australia |