Dr. Mohamed Jamaâ Wins Best Young Researcher Award in Cancer Research in the Arab World
Dr. Mohamed Jamaâ, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Science, University of Tunis El Manar, and Principal Researcher at the Human Genetics Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Tunis, has won the Best Young Researcher Award in Cancer Research in the Arab world at the 2025 King Hussein Cancer Research Award. He was selected from among hundreds of researchers representing over 26 countries. The King Hussein Cancer Center (KHCC) and its foundation, the King Hussein Cancer Foundation (KHCF), are Jordanian non-governmental, non-profit institutions recognized as leaders in the fight against cancer in the Middle East.
Background of the Award
The annual award, created in 2020, pays tribute to King Hussein bin Talal, a strong advocate for cancer research. It aims to strengthen research efforts in the Arab world, honor established and promising Arab researchers, and advance the understanding of cancer characteristics in the region. The ceremony was attended by Her Royal Highness, Princess Ghida Talal, President of the KHCC and KHCF.
Dr. Jamaâ's Research
Dr. Jamaâ has distinguished himself through his research on solid metastatic tumors, which develop in tissues and organs such as skin, bones, muscles, lungs, breast, and colon. His work has demonstrated the existence of specific tumor cells with increased mobility, acquiring additional chromosomes that confer resistance to conventional treatments and flexibility in migration through tissues. His research has been recognized internationally and has led to the proposal of new therapeutic protocols, currently in clinical trials.
Dr. Jamaâ's Background
Holder of a Ph.D. in Cancer Science from the University of Gustave-Roussy in France, Dr. Jamaâ is also the founder and coordinator of the Tunisian Young Researchers Network in Biology. He is the author of approximately 60 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals and has received over 25 international research grants, including the prestigious Excellence Grant at the Cancer Research Pole in Paris. After his post-doctorate, he participated in the development of new anticancer drugs in collaboration with an international pharmaceutical laboratory, before leading research teams in Germany and Sweden. Since 2022, he has been pursuing his research at the Human Genetics Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Tunis, while teaching biology at the Faculty of Science.
Other Awardees
At this edition of the King Hussein Award 2025, other distinctions were awarded, including the "Career Award - International Path" to Professor Mohamed Kharfan Debbage (Mayo Clinic, Florida), and the "Career Award - Regional Path" to Professor Mohamed Abu Hilal (University of Jordan). The "Emerging Researcher Award - International Path" was awarded to Dr. Mina Sedrak (Johnson Comprehensive Cancer Center, USA), while Dr. Walehan Al-Shaer (University of Jordan) shared the regional emerging researcher award with Dr. Mohamed Jamaâ. Promising Researcher Grants were awarded to Dr. Timidayo Omolawi (Mohammed Bin Rashid University, Dubai) and Dr. Larry Boudji (American University of Beirut), in recognition of their innovative work in the fight against cancer. The Professional Development Program Award for Excellence in Oncology Care was presented to the Regional Pediatric Oncology Training Program at the King Hussein Cancer Center.
About the King Hussein Cancer Research Award
Awarded annually, the King Hussein Cancer Research Award aims to reward scientific excellence, encourage innovation in prevention and treatment, and strengthen scientific cooperation at regional and international levels. Over the past five years, the award has brought together nearly 900 researchers and scientists and funded eight innovative research projects in the region.
