Samir Khatib, PhD

2008-2009 BCRF Project:
Co-Investigators: Moein Kanaan, PhD, Bethlehem University, Palestinian Authority; Mary-Claire King, PhD, University of Washington, Seattle, WA and Ephrat Levy-Lahad, MD, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel

The goal of this project is to provide genetic analysis of BRCA1 and BRCA2 and cancer genetic counseling services for inherited breast cancer predisposition among Palestinian and Arab-Israeli women in the Middle East. In the Middle East, genetic analysis and medical follow-up services for breast and ovarian cancer risk are among the best in the world for Jewish women. However, neither genetic analysis nor follow-up services have yet been extended to women of other ancestries in the region. The researchers are addressing this challenge.

Over the past year they have created an infrastructure for Cancer Genetics counseling and testing for Arab women in the Palestinian Authority and Israel. Following a training course at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, Palestinian genetic counselors now provide counselng at Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH) in East Jerusalem, the major referral hospital for Palestinian cancer patients, ArabCare Hospital in Ramallah and Bethlehem University. Laboratory infrastructure for sequencing has been established at the Hereditary Research Lab in Bethlehem University.

In the Palestinian Authority and Israel combined, the researchers have ascertained 91 Arab women with breast cancer. In 24 of these, family history is suggestive of an inherited predisposition to breast cancer, and genetic analysis is underway. These analyses will allow identification of the spectrum of mutations characteristic of the Arab population, which will increase our understanding of the causes of breast cancer and enable early detection and prevention in this underserved population.

Bio:
Dr. Samir Khatib was born in Jerusalem in 1957. He received a BSc Biochemistry (Honours) 1979, from Liverpool University, England; a BSc Medical Technology 1982, from Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis; and his PhD in Biochemistry 1987, also from Indiana University School of Medicine.

His professional posts include: 1995-present: Director of Laboratories, Arabcare Hospital, Ramallah, Palestine; 2003-present: Director, National Blood Transfusion Services, also in Ramallah; and 1994-1995: Director of Laboratories and Blood Banks, Palestinian Ministry of Health.

His academic positions include: 1987-1993: Director, Medical Technology Program, Al-Quds University, Palestine; 1997-2000: Al-Najah National University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Nablus, Palestine; 1999-present: Birzeit University, Masters Program in Laboratory Sciences, Birzeit, Palestine; 2007-present: Al-Quds University, Faculty of Medicine, Biochemistry Department, Palestine; and 2004-2005: Bethlehem University, Faculty of Science, Bethlehem, Palestine.

Dr. Khatib has memberships in: the American Association for Clinical Chemistry and the American Society of Clinical Pathology, both since 1982; the International Society of Blood Transfusion, since 2004; the American Association for Blood Banks, since 2007. His Board appointments include: Patients Friends Society, Jerusalem, since 1990; Palestinian Hemophilia Society, 1997-1999; Palestinian Medical Technology Union, 1998-2002; Palestinian Academy for Science and Technology since 1999; Medical Advisory Council, Arabcare Hospital, since 2001; and the Diabetes Patients Friends Society, since 2005.

Special consultancies include: Central Public Health Laboratories, Palestinian Ministry of Health, 1994-2001; External Quality Assessment Team Member, Palestinian Ministry of Higher Education and UNESCO, 2003; and Assessment of Clinical Laboratory Services in East Jerusalem Hospitals, Welfare Association, European Union Project, 2005.