Iman Almansour, Ph.D.

Assistant professor at the Department of Epidemic Diseases Research, IRMC, IAU. Established the Nucleic Acid Vaccine Laboratory (NAVL), in which my role is to direct the development of novel vaccine candidates including pDNA and mRNA against emerging and re-emerging viruses, autoimmune diseases, and cancers. Goal-oriented researcher and team builder who excels in leading research grants at national and international levels. The accomplishments of these works and partnerships include leading the clinical development of pDNA Covid-19 vaccine candidate. Actively responsible in overseeing all aspects of vaccine development from GMP manufacturing, regulatory oversight, to projects management. Excellent written and oral communication skills with a high commitment to research innovation and collaboration.

Principal Investigator on the following research grants:

1. Phase-I, Randomized, Observer Blind, Dosage Finding Study, to Evaluate the Safety and Immunogenicity of a Prophylactic pDNA Vaccine
Grant budget: 15,000,000 SR

Funder: MOE

2. Epitope discovery/mapping of SARS-CoV-2 and a development of mutisystem, data driven bioinformatics resource for the surveillance of human Coronaviruses

Grant budget: 350,000 SR

Funder: KACST (20-01-070-0014)

3. Covid19-2020-079-Med 2. Development of nucleic acid-based vaccines against SARS-CoV-2

Grant budget: 350,000 SR

Funder: IAU (DSR-2020-161-IRMC)

4. Humoral Antibody Responses Elicited by Engineered RNA Vaccine Against Zika
Grant Budget: 160,000 SR
Funder: IAU (DSR-2017-131-IRMC)
5. RNA Vaccine Delivered by Nano-silica as Novel Vaccine Candidate Against MERS-CoV
Grant budget: 72,000 SR

Funder: IAU (DSR-2018-172-IRMC)

6. MMRdb: Measles, mumps, and rubella viruses database 

Funder: Non-funded

7. IRAM: Virus capsids database and analysis Resource 

Funder: Non-funded

CO-PI on the following projects:

1. Antibodies responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection in hospitalized patients. Prospective observational study

Grant budget: 140,000 SR

Funder: IAU (Covid19-2020-079-Med)

1. Almansour., et al. GLP toxicity evaluation for the clinical-grade pDNA Covid-19 vaccine. In preparation. 2024.

2. Almansour., et al. Protective efficacy for pDNA Covid-19 vaccine candidate in Syrian Golden Hamsters. In preparation. 2024.

3. Almansour I., & Jermy R. Nucleic acid vaccine encapsulated nanosilica as vaccine candidates against MERS-CoV. Under review. 2024

4. Almansour, I., & Boudellioua, I. (2022). hCoronavirusesDB: an integrated bioinformatics resource for human coronaviruses. Database, 2022.

5. Almansour, I., Macadato, N. C., & Alshammari, T. (2021). Immunogenicity of Multiple Doses of pDNA Vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. Pharmaceuticals, 14(1), 39.

6. Almansour, I. (2020). Mumps Vaccines: Current Challenges and Future Prospects. Frontiers in Microbiology, 11.

7. Almansour, I ., Alhagri, M., Alfares, R., Alshehri, M., Bakhashwain, R., & Maarouf, A. (2019). IRAM: virus capsid database and analysis resource. Database, 2019. Volume 2019, 2019, baz079.

8. Almansour, I. , & Alhagri, M. (2019). MMRdb: Measles, mumps, and rubella viruses database and analysis resource. Infection, Genetics and Evolution, 75, 103982.

9. Almansour, I., Alfares R and Aljofi H. Large-scale analysis of B-cell epitopes of envelope: Implications for Zika vaccine and immunotherapeutic development [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]. F1000Research 2019, 7:1624.

10. Almansour, I. , Chen, H., Wang, S., & Lu, S. (2013). Cross reactivity of serum antibody responses elicited by DNA vaccines expressing HA antigens from H1N1 subtype influenza vaccines in the past 30 years. Human vaccines & immunotherapeutics, 9(10), 2049-2059.

1. Aldahhan, R., Calamata. N., El Tahan. M., Alshahrani, M., & Almansour. I. Antibodies responses to SARS-CoV 2 infection in hospitalized patients. A prospective observational study. submitted. Scientific Report.2023

2. Alshammari., & Almansour I. Current progress on pDNA based Covid-19 vaccines: a review. in preparation.2023.

3. Khan, F. A., Lammari, N., Muhammad Siar, A. S., Alkhater, K. M., Asiri, S., Akhtar, S., Almansour, I.,... & Meniai, A. H. (2020). Quantum dots encapsulated with curcumin inhibit the growth of colon cancer, breast cancer and bacterial cells. Nanomedicine, (0).

4. Alomari, M., Almohazey, D., Almofty, S., Alhibshi, A., Almansour, I. , Kaewsaneha, C., ... & Elaissari, A. (2019). Magnetic-responsive polysaccharide-inorganic composite materials for cancer therapeutics. In Polysaccharide Carriers for Drug Delivery (pp. 179-216). Woodhead Publishing.

• Covid-19 pDNA vaccine candidate(Exhibition). Sustainable Partnerships Conferences, MOE, 2023.
• Technologies and Future trends in DNA vaccines. Speaker at the Knowledge Series, Innovation Group, SFDA, 2022.
• Beyond Pandemic: Harnessing the Power of DNA vaccines. Speaker at The importance of medical biotechnology research in Saudi universities and its reflection on the knowledge economy. Shaqra University, 2022.
• Vaccine Development in the Kingdom: Prospects and Challenges. Speaker at Research and Innovation in Pharmaceutical Industry, MOE, 2021.
• Immunogenicity of pDNA Vaccines Against SARS-CoV-2. Speaker at knowledge integration conference, Deputyship for Research and Innovation, MOE, 2021.
• Newly Developed pDNA Vaccines for COVID-19. Speaker at the conference COVID-19 vaccines: Global challenges and future Prospects, KAIMRC, 2020.
• Nucleic Acids Based Vaccines Against SARS-CoV-2. Speaker at COVID-19 pandemic workshop, MOE, 2020.
• Immunogenic cross-reactivity between Zika and Dengue viruses. Capacity Building in Tropical Diseases Implementation Research. WHO-EMR tropical diseases research, 2019.
• Bioinformatics prediction of B cell Epitopes of NS5 and Their Implications in Zika Vaccine and Immunotheraputics. Poster presented at Arab International Pharmacy Congress, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 2018.
• Antigenicity and Immunogenicity of H1N1 HA Influenza Vaccines. Poster presented at the 20th DNA Vaccine Conference, San Diego, CA, United States, 2012.
• Designing Broadly Reactive Influenza H1N1 Vaccine From Antigenically Different Hemagglutinin. Poster presented at Sigma Xi 17 Annual Research Exhibition, Dartmouth, MA, United States, 2011

1. Synthetic pDNA vaccine against COVID-19, Iman Almansour, 5,18,2021. Publication number (20220370596). Issue date: Jan 2024. USPTO.

2. Method for Inducing Cellular Immunity to Infection by SARS-Cov-2, Iman Almansour. Filing date: Nov 2023. USPTO.

3. Nucleic acid vaccines encoding S gene encapsulated with nanosilica as vaccine candidate against MERS-CoV, Iman Almansour and Rabindran Jermy. Patent application date: Jan, 2024. USPTO

4. Synthetic Prm/E based pDNA and RNA vaccines against Zika virus, Iman Almansour, 6/13/2019. Patent status: Disclosed (Green light) Case number 520200US. USPTO.

International Partnership:

Established effective partnerships with world's leading clinical trials stakeholders to take trial from local to global level. Actively responsible in the clinical development of vaccine candidate from concept design, project execution, project oversight and collaborating with the following partners:

• Cobra biologics-CRL, UK (GMP manufacturing)
• Symbiosis, UK (GMP manufacturing)
• Sharp, UK (GMP packaging and release)
• Icon, Ireland (DMC & IRT)
• SGS, Switzerland (Medical and Safety monitor)
• KU Leuven, Belgium ( Participating clinical site)
• Southern Research, USA (GLP animal facility)
• Synexa, Germany (Centralized lab)
• Medidata, USA (EDC system)

National collaboration:

• KAIMRC
• King Fahad University for Petroleum and Minerals
• King Saud University

Good Clinical Practice (GCP)| NIDA Clinical Trial Network (2020)

Capacity Building in Tropical Disease Implementation Research | World Health Organization, AGU, Bahrain (2019)

Faculty Mentorship Certification Program | IAU (2018)

Innovation Ambassador: Health Innovation leadership Summit | IAU (2017)

The Exceptional Leader: A Framework for Successful, Scalable, and Impactful Leadership | Stanford University (2016)

Making Biologic Medicine for Patients: The Principle for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing | MIT (2016)

Thamer Alshammari, (2020, current)

Project: Development of Nucleic Acid Based vaccine against SARS-CoV-2

Current position: postgraduate student

Manal Alshehri (2017-2018)
Project: IRAM-Virus Capsids Database and Analysis Resources

Current position: Bioinformatician, Bioinformatic Unit, KACST

Rahaf Alfares (2017-2018)
Project: IRAM-Virus Capsids Database and Analysis Resources

Current position: Postgraduate student at Western Ontario University, Canada

Halah Aljofi, (2017-2018 )
Project: Large Scale Analysis of B-cell Epitopes of Zika Envelope Protein
Current position: PhD Candidate at University of Leeds, UK.

Abeer Alanazi (2017-2018)

Bioinformatics Prediction of antigenic epitopes of NS5 and their implications in Zika vaccine design. Current position: PharmD interns.

Tuqa Ramadan (2017-2018)
Bioinformatics Prediction of antigenic epitopes of NS5 and their implications in Zika vaccine design.

• International Society for Vaccine (ISV), USA (2023-Present)
• European Virus Bioinformatics Center, Friedrich Schiller University, Germany (2020-Present)
• ECA for GMP Compliance, Germany (2022-Present)
• International Society of Global Health (ISoGH), UK (2020-Present)

Postgraduate courses:

821 MSBE Immunology | lectures

821 MSBE Immunology | labs

841 MSBE | Seminar

Undergraduate courses:

507 CLPH | Academic mentor

Sustainable Partnerships Conference- MOE- KSA (2022)

IAU-Vice Presidency of Female Affair- Testahel- Faculty member-KSA (2019-2020)

IRMC-IAU Faculty Recognition-Summer research program-IRMC-IAU-KSA (2019)

King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Scholarship-Doctorate program-USA (2009-2016)

Outstanding Academic Achievement-Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission-USA (2009)

Outstanding Academic Achievement-Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission-USA (2008)

King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Scholarship-Master program-USA (2007-2009)

Dean's list-King Faisal University-KFU-KSA (2002-2003)

Established open-source bioinformatics databases and analysis resources for the global virology/ virus immunology research community:

1. IRAM-Virus Capsids Database and Analysis Resource

Database URL: https://iram.iau.edu

2. MMRdb: Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Viruses Database and Analysis Resource

Database URL: http://mmrdb.org

3. hCoronaviruses Bioinformatics Resource

Database URL: www.hCoronaviruses.net

The resources are being featured at the European Virus Bioinformatics Center (EVBC) under collection in virus Bioinformatics resources: Link: http://evbc.uni-jena.de/tools

IRMC Safety Committee | Member, IRMC, IAU, Saudi Arabia (2022-current)

Risk Assessment | Member, IRMC, IAU, Saudi Arabia (2021-current)

IRMC Safety Committee | Chair, IRMC, IAU, Saudi Arabia (2020-2021)

Summer Research Program | Member, IRMC, IAU, Saudi Arabia (2019-2020)

Biotechnology Master Program | Member, IRMC, IAU, Saudi Arabia (2017-2019)

• "Saudi Arabia’s first COVID-19 vaccine set for clinical trials", Press interview (2021). https://www.arabnews.com/tags/dr-iman-almansour
• "The first Saudi Vaccine against COVID-19 amongst the Strategic Projects of Research funded by Saudi Ministry of Education, A research published in Q1 Journal", Press release (2021) Web: https://www.iau.edu.sa/en/news/the-1st-saudi-vaccine-against-covid-19-a-research-published-in-q1-journal.
• First Saudi Vaccine for COVID-19 is Set for Clinical Trial, QS, Press release (2021) Web: https://qs-gen.com/first-saudi-vaccine-for-covid-19-is-set-for-clinical-trial.
• Dr. Iman Almansour Grants Saudi Arabia its First Covid-19 Vaccine, CGC (2021) Web: https://cgc.gov.sa/en/node/427.
• Saudi university begins clinical trials to produce first coronavirus vaccine, Saudi Gazzette (2021) Web: https://www.saudigazette.com.sa/article/603364.
• Leading the way how Saudi Arabia is pioneering research among global partners, Nature Portfolio, Press release (2020). Web: https://www.nature.com/articles/d42473-021-00252-x.

Dr. Shan Lu

Professor, University of Massachusetts Medical School

Email: Shan.Lu@umassmed.edu

Dr. Shixia Wang

Professor, University of Massachusetts Medical School

Email: Shixia.Wang@umassmed.edu

Dr. Francis Borgio Alexander

Associate Professor, IRMC, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University

Email: fbalexander@iau.edu.sa