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Farag Mosa

As a child, Farag Mosa wondered how pain medication works. “Everybody grows up knowing that taking medication when we are in pain makes our pain go away, but I wanted to know how the medication works,” he recalls. 

The question stayed with him after childhood, motivating him to pursue a career that would allow him to contribute to better human health. After completing high school, he chose to study pharmacy and began an academic journey that would lead him to the forefront of a discovery that has the potential to save lives. 

Ready for a challenge

Mosa came to the ß÷ßäÉçÇø after completing an undergraduate degree in pharmacy from the University of Omar Al-Mukhtar in his hometown Tobruk, Libya and a master’s degree in pharmacology and toxicology from Wright State University in the U.S. He had a few options when deciding on a university for his PhD program, but he chose the U of A after meeting Dr. Ayman El-Kadi, associate dean and professor in the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, who would become his supervisor with Dr. Khaled Barakat during his PhD program.

“I was offered admission from three different universities. But when I had the interview with Dr. Ayman El-Kadi, I saw in him a person who could lead and help me.”

Mosa is a scientist, but the appeal of pursuing a PhD was largely because he saw the potential for creativity in his work.

“In an undergraduate or master's program, you only get to apply the knowledge, not invent something. With a PhD, you can be more creative and challenge yourself to create your own scientific space.”

Finding repurpose

In Mosa’s case, that creative space was drug repurposing, a relatively new field in pharmaceutical sciences that involves finding new therapeutic uses for existing drugs. 

“Drug repurposing is a cleverer, more efficient and less risky approach to drug discovery and development in terms of cost. Because of that, it is a highly attractive field for research to deliver new treatments to patients more quickly and affordably,” explains Mosa.

Mosa’s research is the first of its kind to specifically identify existing drugs that can be repurposed to fight cancer and other diseases. His approach involves targeting the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a protein known to be a major contributor to cancer and autoimmune disease. His thesis, “Identifying aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) modulators from clinically approved drugs,” focused on finding authorized drugs already on the market for treating a certain disease and repurposing them to target the AHR protein.

“If the drug does target AHR, then we know we can repurpose it. For example, an antifungal drug could be used as an anti-cancer drug; that is drug repurposing,” says Mosa.

Mosa identified 12 existing drugs that are AHR antagonists — substances that block the effects of AHR — with repurposing potential. Under Dr. Barakat’s supervision, he has already used computer modelling to identify the drugs and has tested them on cell based assays. These drugs will still be required to undergo an approval process before being repurposed, but Mosa’s work is foundational for drug companies or the scientific community to proceed with the next steps required to re-authorize the drug for cancer treatment, including clinical trials.

“Farag’s work on AHR is poised to lead to several important discoveries, with potential implications for both basic science and therapeutic development,” says his supervisor and mentor, El-Kadi. “He was an outstanding student, demonstrating exceptional dedication, intellectual curiosity and a strong commitment to academic excellence throughout his graduate studies."

Being published in five research papers and in a peer-reviewed open-access chapter for the book is a point of pride for Mosa, but more importantly, he wants his work to contribute to better health outcomes for patients.

Staying motivated

Mosa knows from his experience that getting a PhD is a long journey, with successes and failures along the way. He is not deterred by unexpected results because he believes that you learn from everything; the biggest challenge is learning to overcome the setbacks you experience, and this requires patience. 

“Some people are lucky to answer their PhD questions in one year and they start publishing papers. Some people struggle until the fourth year; they are not able to publish anything. You need to be patient.” 

Recognizing how grueling graduate studies can be, he encourages students to share their problems with colleagues and mentors, and to remember to find ways to enjoy life outside of the classroom or lab. 

“If you have a problem, seek help from your senior, from your postdoctoral fellow, your mentor or from your department. And, be open to the world outside of your program. You have to take time for yourself to refresh and regroup. If you spend seven days a week in the lab, you will get stressed out.”

In addition to the support he found from his research colleagues and the resources available from the university, Mosa credits his wife, children and parents for making his success possible.

“I would not be able to finish this program without them. I am so proud of them and grateful for them.” 

Now doing postdoctoral work with one of his mentors, Dr. Khaled Barakat, a professor in the Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mosa sees this time as transitional. He is unsure whether he will stay in academia or join the pharmaceutical industry, but he is confident his work will make a difference.

“I'm very proud that the outcome from my thesis can somehow be translated to improve human health outcomes for many patients suffering from different diseases or maybe even find a cure for a disease.” says Mosa.