Associate Professor

Bio

Dr. Fatme Al Anouti  is an Associate Professor at College of Natural and Health Sciences (CNHS). She holds a PhD degree in Clinical Biochemistry. Her current research looks into the biochemical and genetic basis of Vitamin D Deficiency among UAE nationals. She has recently been awarded the Abu Dhabi Medical Distinction Award for research contributions in public health field pertaining to vitamin D studies within the UAE. She has numerous publications and presentations at international and national conferences and is a member of many professional organizations like the American Association of Clinical Chemistry and the UAE Genetic Diseases Association.

Employment History:

• Associate Professor, June 2015-present, Zayed University, College of Natural and Health Sciences, Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Abu Dhabi, UAE

• Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, College of Natural and Health Sciences, Zayed University (Fall 2016-August 2020) and Assistant Dean of the College of Sustainability Sciences and Humanities, Zayed University (Fall 2014-summer 2016)

• Internship Coordinator, College of Arts and Sciences, Natural and Health Sciences, Sep. 2009-2014, Abu Dhabi, UAE

• Assistant Professor, Sep. 2005-2015, Zayed University, College of Arts and Sciences, Natural and Health Sciences, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Office

Abu Dhabi - Khalifa City, FF1-01-08

Phone:

+971 2 599 3810

Email:

Teaching Areas

Biochemistry, Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology, Immunology, Environmental and Public Health, Research Methods, Food Safety and Food Chemistry.

Courses Taught:

-Chemistry (General & Organic), Biochemistry, Biology (General), Microbiology, Research Methodology, Food sanitation & Hygiene, Environmental Science, Exploration in Mathematics, Introductory Physics
-Chemistry/Biochemistry (Bridging Program, MSc, Friedman’s School of Nutrition, Tufts-RAK, UAE).

Supervision of Graduate Students (PhD & MSc thesis)

• External supervisor; for Marc Doumit, January 2022-present; PhD Biomedical Sciences, American University of Beirut. Thesis:“Investigating the Effect of Vitamin D Deficiency and Supplementation on Measures of Neurogenesis, Oligodendrogenesis, and Adult Male Mice”.
• Co-supervisor for AbdelRahman Koudmani; May 2022-present; MSc. Pharmacoepidemiology, University of Bordeaux, France. Thesis: “Cosmetic vigilance within the UAE: A Study regarding the Knowledge, Attitude & Practice”.
• External supervisor; for Shaikha Al Mazrooei, April 2009, MSc. Environmental Science, UAE University. Thesis: “The Genetic Basis of Familial Hypercholesterolemia in the UAE”.

Selected Projects Coordinated or Facilitated during Academic Appointment:

• Student Mentorship/Training Program at SEHA Health Services & Abu Dhabi Public Health Center during COVID-19 for tracking and surveillance
• Binational UNESCO Environmental Sustainability Biosphere Excursion (UAE & Ethiopia) in collaboration with the Global Citizen Foundation
• Ambassador Plus Study Abroad Program with McGill University, London School of Economics and Political and University of Korea in collaboration with the Ministry of Education (UAE)
• The Digital Badge System for student community engagement and outreach
• Green Growth Majlis & Sustainable Campus initiative
• Student Honor Code & Academic Integrity Pledge

Research and Professional Activities

My research scope spans across diverse disciplines in science and education with the following focus:

• Utilizing genetic and biochemical approaches to study Vitamin D metabolism and its anti-inflammatory role across the lifespan in different disease and health conditions

• Developing models to predict chronic disease based on inflammatory markers

• Exploring the therapeutic potential of camel milk by modulating gut microbiome

• Food fortification with Viatmin D and Microbiomes

• Innovative pedagogical approaches for student empowerment and leadership through research, experiential learning, social responsibility and global engagement programs

Research Grants:

• Secure and Instant Digital certificate for cross-Border Validation (SINDIBAD Verifier)-COVID19 Certificates as Use Case (Co-PI, ongoing).

• The Helio-Metric Wristband for Vitamin-D levels and depressive symptoms (PI, ongoing).

• The Protective Effects of Camel Milk on Gut Microbiome; realms for therapeutics (Co-PI, ongoing).

• Patterns of COVID-19 Infection in the Context of Vitamin D in the UAE (PI), completed-May 2021.

• Investigating the Clinical, Genetic and Environmental Determinants of Energy Metabolism and Vitamin D Status in the UAE (PI), completed-June 2022).

• Obesity in the UAE Youth from OMICs to Function: Towards the Early Prediction of Associated Chronic Disease (Co-PI), completed-2018.

CONSULTANCY & INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE:

• DNA Genotek(Ottawa, Canada), Medlab Middle East by Informa; Medical Laboratory Industry Forum (Regional), Al Rawabi Diary Company, Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority Environmental Agency of Abu Dhabi, Department of Health, Abu Dhabi Public Health Center (UAE).

MEMBERSHIP OF SCIENTIFIC AND PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES:

• Co-chair of Zayed University Student Discipline Committee, Fall 2020-present

• Steering Committee of Zayed University Undergraduate Research Scholar Program, 2010-present

• UAE National COVID-19 Research Committee, May 2020-present

• Sustainable Campus Initiative SCI Coordinator (2014-present)

• Chair of the Scientific Committee for the Annual International Vitamin D Conference (2012-present)

• Co-Chair of ZU Accreditation Self-Study Steering Committee for Middle States Commission on Higher Education-University Climate Group, 2011-2012 and member of Education-Student Learning Assessment Working Group, 2006-2008

• Member, MENA Association of Food Safety (MEFOSA), American Association for Chemistry, UAE Genetic Diseases Association, American Society for Microbiology, University Leadership Consortium Association

Google Scholar

Scopus

ORCID

ResearchGate

Clarivate

Journal Articles:

• Grant WB, Boucher BJ, Al Anouti F, Pilz S. Comparing the Evidence from Observational Studies and Randomized Controlled Trials for Nonskeletal Health Effects of Vitamin D. Nutrients. 2022; 14(18):3811.

• Al Anouti F, Thomas J, Karras S, El Asswad N. Outdoor Activity in the Daytime, but Not the Nighttime, Predicts Better Mental Health Status During the COVID-19 Curfew in the United Arab Emirates. Front Public Health. 2022 Apr 4; 10:829362.

• Al Anouti , F.; Mousa, M.; Karras, S.; Grant, W.; Al Halwachi, Z.; AbdelWareth, L.; Uddin, M.; Alkaabi, N.; Tay, G.; Mahboub, B.; AlSafar, H. Associations between Genetic Variants in the Vitamin D Metabolism Pathway and Severity of COVID-19 among UAE Residents. Nutrients 2021, 13, 1824.

• Fakhoury, H., Kvietys, P., AlKattan, W., Al Anouti, F., Affan Elahi, M, Karras, S., Grant, W. Vitamin D and intestinal homeostasis: Barrier, microbiota, and immune modulation, The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Volume 200, 2020,105663.

• Al Anouti F., Taha Z., Kaabi L., Khalaf K and AlSafar Habiba. An Insight into the Paradigms of Osteoporosis: From Genetics to Biomechanics, 2019. Bone Reports.

• Safar HA, Chehadeh SEH, Abdel-Wareth L, Haq A, Jelinek HF, ElGhazali G, Anouti FA. Vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms among Emirati patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2018 Jan; 175:119-124. doi: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2017.03.012. Epub 2017.

Book Chapters:

• Matthews, J., Hashimi, S., Anouti, F., & Allen, J. (2022). Undergraduate Research in the United Arab Emirates: Research Training in Support of a National Vision. In H. Mieg, E. Ambos, A. Brew, D. Galli, & J. Lehmann (Eds.), The Cambridge Handbook of Undergraduate Research (Cambridge Handbooks in Education, pp. 524-532). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/9781108869508.073.

• Khalaf, K., Mohan, D.M., El Asswad, N., Al Anouti, F. (2022). Predictive Modeling for Obesity and Overweight in Adolescents, Current Status and Application to the MENA Region. In: Barakat, C., Dghaim, R., Al Anouti, F. (Eds.) Adolescent Health in the Middle East and North Africa. Global Perspectives on Health Geography. Springer, Cham.

Proceedings:

• S. Al Hashimi, F. Al Anouti & M. Allen (2017) Empowering University Students Through Research Based Methodology in The United Arab Emirates: A Case Study at Zayed University,The 10th International Conference of Education, Research & Innovation 2017 Proceedings, Pp. 2071-2076.

• Zein, R. Al Anouti, F., Farag, M. Using Online Assessment and Peer Instruction to Improve Mathematical Outcomes for Non-English Native Students, Edulearn17 Proceedings, 2017, Pp. 3312-3321.

• Research Methods in the United Arab Emirates: A Case Study at Zayed University. Allen, M., Ratliff, JR., Essary, J., Al Hashimi, S., Al Anouti, F. The National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), University of North Carolina, Asheville, USA, April 2016.

• Establishing the Undergraduate Research Scholar Program (URSP) at Zayed University: Successes and Challenges, Enhancing Knowledge through Global Undergraduate Research and Training, F., Al Anouti and S., Al Hashimi. The National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), University of Kentucky, Lexington, USA (April 2014).

Awards and Recognition:

• Acknowledgement certificate for being a runner up nominee for H.E. Sheikh Mohamad Bin Rashed Government Excellence Award for the year 2018.

• Provost Research Award, Fall 2019, Development of Screening Tool for the Detection of Osteoporosis.

• Ministry of Education Acknowledgement, UAE, for coordinating the Ambassador Plus Program, 2019.

• Zayed University Exceptional and Exemplary Faculty Performance and Merit Award, 2016, 2014 and 2007

• Food Security Center, UAE, recognition for educating about food security issues, 2018.

• UNESCO; Economic Comission African Union; recognition for facilitating Binational Excursion, 2016.

• Ministry of Interior, UAE, recognition for contributions to research on Health Week event, April 2013.

• Abu Dhabi Medical Distinction Award for exceptional research contributions, 2013.