Brief Bio

Science

I received my PhD in 1999 from University College London. The thesis described the characterization of the Purkinje-cell type dystrophin promoter and transcript. My first post-doc was with Prof. Steve Marston at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College studying mutations in troponin leading to Familial Dilated Cardiomyopathy. After that I worked briefly at Harvard University in the lab of Prof. Amin Arnaout, studying unusual DNA structures in the promoter of an integrin gene. I returned to Imperial College in 2002 to work with Dr. Clare Huxley on Mammalian Artificial Chromosomes and other episomal vectors. Since 2006, I have been working on stem cell research. I often comment on breaking science stories for the Arabic department of the BBC  (TV & Radio).

Arts

My first play Baghdad Wedding premiered at Soho theatre, London and went on to have productions in Australia and India. My second play, The Prophet premiered at the Gate theatre, London. I have also written numerous short plays, short stories, poems and articles (see writing page).


Awards won: George Devine, Meyer Whitworth, Pearson and the Arab British Centre Award for Culture.

Represented by: Emily Hayward-Whitlock at the Knight Hall Agency