People Biography

Dr Hanan Qasem obtained her MSc in Biochemistry from King Saud University, KSA, and completed her PhD in Biological and Biomedical Sciences at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar, in 2025. 

Her doctoral research explored the therapeutic potential of targeting the cancer testis antigen Lactate Dehydrogenase C (LDHC) in triple-negative breast cancer. Her work identified key molecular mechanisms by which LDHC drives tumor progression, immune evasion, and chemoresistance. She validated a novel cell-penetrating peptide-based therapeutic approach to target LDHC in a xenograft zebrafish model, resulting in a significantly reduced tumor burden. Her research has contributed to advancing our understanding of TNBC biology and provides a foundation for novel therapeutic strategies to overcome chemotherapy resistance. 

In 2025, Dr Qasem joined Dr Julie Decock’s team at QBRI as a Postdoctoral Researcher, where she investigates the role and clinical relevance of cancer testis antigens in pediatric oncology. She is passionate about translating fundamental scientific discoveries into clinical applications to improve treatment outcomes for cancer patients.