An Interview by: Inas Essa

 

“Arguably, not all scientific breakthroughs happen through planned research and discovery. Sometimes, you come across things by accident. Therefore, a person should be brave and try different things. Even the most ridiculous ideas could sometimes be turned into brilliant inventions and innovations.”

Dr. Atheer Awad has recently been honoured as one of 15 innovators from the MENA region under 35 by MIT Technology Review, for her outstanding and highly-impactful work. Her current research at the University College of London (UCL) involves 3D printing of personalized medications allowing patients to have their precise needs met rather than be served through generic dosages of the active pharmaceutical ingredient and application methods of the medications that may not be suitable for them.

 

NAMES: Tell us a bit about yourself, your studies, and your career.

Dr. Atheer: I am Jordanian but was born and raised in the UAE. I received my Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from the Applied Science University in Jordan. Then, I pursued an MSc in Pharmaceutics at UCL School of Pharmacy, University College of London. In early 2021, I completed a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics at the same institution where my research was focused on fabricating drug delivery systems and implantable devices using 3D printing. Currently, I am working as a Research Fellow at UCL School of Pharmacy, looking into using 3D printing and other digital health technologies to improve site-specific drug delivery to the colon as part of the Interreg 2 Seas Mers Zeeën project for site drug, which is funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

 

NAMES: What was the motive that pushed you to pursue a career in the pharmaceutical field?

Dr. Atheer: Actually, I never intended to pursue a career in Pharmacy. It was rather a sudden decision that I made after I finished high school. To be frank, it was one of those things that I did not choose but rather chose me.

Looking back at it now, I am sure that I made the right decision. In my opinion, the power of pharmacy lies in the impact it has on people’s lives and being able to provide them with the medicines they need. That is what motivates me to continue in this field.

 

NAMES: How was the field of sciences introduced to you during childhood; interesting, just for men, requires too much effort, …?

Dr. Atheer: Whether at home or school, science has always been introduced to me as a topic of interest. From a young age, I was taught that science is all about being curious and having the desire to discover new and different things around us.

I believe that this curiosity that grew over time is what helped me push through the boundaries of science. There is no argument that science requires effort; as the saying goes, good things do not come easy in life. When you want to achieve something big in life, you must work hard so that you can taste the fruits of success.

 

 

NAMES: Who was/were the main source of support and guidance for you? And who was the role model in science that made you more interested in it?

Dr. Atheer: My main source of support and guidance is my parents. I am forever grateful for their constant encouragement, being there for me, and making sure to support me in every way they can.

Another key source of support in my life, as well as my role model, is my oldest brother. He is truly passionate about his work and excels at what he does. He continuously has the desire to learn about new technologies and find new ways that could change the world. Like him, I want to keep on exploring new things and learn along the way. I want to climb up the ladder of academic excellence while enjoying and appreciating every moment of what I do.

Last but not least, I will not forget my mentors and peers at University College London, who always motivate and inspire me in different ways, giving me the confidence to do the work that I love.

 

NAMES: What were the ideas you believed in before entering the scientific field that has changed afterward? 

Dr. Atheer: I think that one of the things that people often overlook is that, in most cases, a new idea or invention does not come from one person. Instead, ideas are nurtured through teamwork, communication, and the exchange of experiences. Thus, one lesson learned is not to say “I accomplished” but rather “we accomplished”. This is why at the Basit Research Group we refer to ourselves as one family that shares the hard work and successes.

Furthermore, another thing I realized is that small ideas need both time and effort to become great ones. Thus, one should be patient and persistent to reach his/her goal.

 

NAMES: What are the challenges you faced along the way and how could you manage to overcome them? Were the challenges during the study the same as ones you’ve experienced at work?

Dr. Atheer: One of the early challenges that I had was getting myself to like pharmacy when I never intended to study it, to begin with. At the start, all that I saw were the things that I did not like about pharmacy. But then, as time passed, I learned to appreciate the good things about this field and focus on the positive impact it has on people’s lives. It gave me a whole new perspective on life and a new appreciation for science.

Another challenge, which I still face even in my work now, is how frustrating it can be to get negative and/or unexpected data and results. This can be very stressful and put someone under great pressure. However, with time and experience, one learns that frustration will only confuse him/her more and that sometimes all that is needed is a bit of patience and persistence. Moreover, it is important to remember that there is no such thing as “negative data” in science. Instead, all types of data, whether good or bad, are positive data that provide more knowledge and insight.

 

 

 

NAMES: What has pursuing a career in science taught you? Things that you have never known before or thought of?

Dr. Atheer: Pursuing a scientific career has taught me many things; for one, a person should never stop learning. We live in a dynamic world, where new scientific discoveries are being made almost every day. There is no such thing as “I know everything”. Thus, to stay ahead of the game, one should keep on reading, thinking, and seeking knowledge everywhere they go.

Arguably, not all scientific breakthroughs happen through planned research and discovery. Sometimes, you come across things by accident. Therefore, a person should be brave and try different things. Even the most ridiculous ideas could sometimes be turned into brilliant inventions and innovations.

 

NAMES: What is the one thing you like the most about your field that makes you eager to carry on?

Dr. Atheer: What I like the most about research, and in particular 3D printing, is that every day is a new, exciting day. In other words, this technology and the prospects it holds never fail to impress me.

One day we print tablets for kids in different shapes, colors, and flavors, allowing them to design the medicines that they like and are willing to take. The next day, we print one tablet with six different drugs, improving the quality of life of many elderly patients. On another day, we print tablets with QR codes and data matrices, enabling patients to access their digital prescriptions anywhere and anytime, even when on the go. Really, the possibilities with 3D printing are simply endless.

I have been working in this field for almost seven years now and I am still enthusiastic about it as much as I was on the first day, if not even more!

 

NAMES: Tell us more about your latest achievement.

Dr. Atheer: In my work, I mainly try to focus on finding ways where 3D printing could be implemented in pharmaceutical practice to help improve the quality of life. In other words, trying to find indications or medical conditions where 3D printing could serve as a facilitator to enhance treatment efficiency.

We have shown that this technology could be exploited to create flexible medications suited for patients from different age groups or with different disease states. From single or multi-drug tablets, capsules, and pellets all the way to bespoke medical devices and implants, the capability of this technology is only limited by one’s imagination.

As an example, we demonstrated how 3D printing could be used to create tablets for blind and visually impaired patients, enabling them to identify and distinguish their medicines, even when taken out of their original packing or in the absence of a caretaker. In another approach, we have shown that more than one medication can be combined in a single dosage form (e.g., tablet or pellet), reducing the bill burden on patients with multiple chronic diseases and simplifying their treatment plan.

More recently, we developed a 3D printer that functions using a smartphone device’s screen. The compactness and portability of the system allow it to be used in the clinic, at home, or even on the go. Thus, improving the accessibility of medicines and reducing the burden on healthcare practitioners and institutions.

One of the strengths of this technology is its digital nature, which allows it to be integrated with other digital and cyber tools, such as artificial intelligence, biosensors, robots, and drones. Therefore, our future direction is to show how these technologies can be combined with one another to help develop a novel digital healthcare model.

 

 

 

NAMES: What would you say to young girls who want to study and pursue a career in STEM?

Dr. Atheer: Set your goals, work your way to success, and follow your dreams. Never be afraid of failing and more importantly, learn from experiences, both the positive and negative ones. Finally, always remember, while research may be a male-dominated industry, women have made significant gains in various fields, so always believe in yourself and your abilities. You are not on your own; there is a whole community of women that are out there to support you and motivate you. I should note, however, that support does not only come from other women. In fact, you will be surprised by the number of men who genuinely care and go the extra mile to provide fair opportunities for women in STEM.

 

NAMES: How do you try to communicate the scientific knowledge you have acquired? What are the possible ways you think of to spread your knowledge?

Dr. Atheer: I believe that part of communicating knowledge is by raising awareness of the problems that surround us. Thus, I always ensure to start my discussion by laying out the current obstacles facing the pharmaceutical industry. It is also equally important in science communication to ensure that information is being relayed using the simplest language possible, without using advanced or expert terms which may be hard to understand. As Albert Einstein once said, “If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough”.

Science communication should not be reserved for a particular industry role, scientific background, or age, and instead should be made available to different audiences. Therefore, I always try to communicate my scientific knowledge using different ways, such as writing scientific papers or book chapters, presenting posters, giving oral presentations, or even by inspiring my nieces. This helps capture the attention of different people, including the young minds.

Furthermore, nowadays, social media also plays a role in terms of dissemination. Consequently, one should not underestimate its power and should rather make use of this technology in every possible way to help spread their knowledge to a bigger audience.

 

 

NAMES: What are your future plans?

Dr. Atheer: I am currently pursuing a career in academia and my future plans are to keep going forward; continue to do the research that I like, explore new things and share the knowledge with the whole world. In the long term, I aspire to make a real difference in the field of pharmacy; a difference that would be significant enough to be remembered as my legacy as a scientist, and a human.