INNOVATION
FLOW CYTOMETRY
AND MICROSCOPY

Dr. Giusy Gentilcore

is the Manager of the Flow Cytometry Core at Sidra Medicine and Co-Chair of MENA ART 2025. She holds a Doctorate in Clinical Pathology from the University of Chieti, Italy, and advanced degrees in Cancer and Environment, Biotechnological Sciences, Nutrition, and Hospital Management from SDA Bocconi/Columbia University. She completed the SITC Women in Cancer Immunotherapy Network (WIN) Leadership Program in 2023. An expert in cancer immunology, immune-related diseases, and advanced flow cytometry technologies, since 2014, she has developed and led Sidra’s Flow Cytometry Core, supporting scientific and clinical research across the Middle East. Her research focuses on developing strategies to advance translational research, biomarker discovery, and precision medicine in both adult and pediatric populations.

Dr. Abbirami Sathappan

Dr. Abbirami Sathappan is the Lead of the Advanced Imaging Core Facility at Sidra Medicine and Co-Chair of MENA ART 2025. She holds a PhD in Hematology, Oncology, and Translational Medicine from the University of Genova and degrees in Biomedical Engineering from Imperial College London. She completed the Harvard Women's Leadership Program in 2022. An expert in microscopy, tumor immunology, and advanced imaging technologies, she is dedicated to enhancing imaging methodologies, supporting translational research, and training scientists. Her research focuses on immune-tumor interactions in pediatric cancers, driving innovation in precision medicine and oncology research.

Dr. Sara Tomei

Dr. Sara Tomei earned her PhD in Experimental and Molecular Oncology from the University of Pisa, Italy. She has held research roles at the NIH and Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, focusing on immunogenetics and population genomics. Currently, she is the Acting Director of the Advanced Research Cores (ARC) at Sidra Medicine, overseeing multiple core facilities and biorepository initiatives.

Muhammad Ali Hameed

Muhammad Ali Hameed, Executive Director of the Core Facilities, has 15+ years of experience in finance and business management across healthcare, energy, manufacturing, and education. He has led large-scale clinical research, core lab, and biobank operations, driving commercialization and biotech innovation. He holds an MBA, Engineering degree, and multiple professional certifications, including CPA, P.Eng., PMP, and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.

Nelly El Mistekawy

Office Manager
CRO office/ MENA ART Organizer

Rana Hamada

Executive Assistant
CRO office/ MENA ART Organizer

Raoudha Essaker

Administrative Assistant
CRO office/ MENA ART Organizer

Shweta Chaudhary

Senior Administrative Assistant
CRO office/ MENA ART Organizer