Sahar Kamel, MD, MS, CTTS
Program manager/Research Administration Management Analyst 3
The Ohio State University
Q: Please describe your current position and research interests.
A: As a program manager for the Dr. Shields lab, I oversee several clinical tobacco and biomarker studies. In addition to conducting research visits, my role also includes personnel management, planning and implementation, data quality review, reporting, regulatory submissions, and training staff. I support activities to ensure institutional and federal compliance. I also assist with interviewing and hiring new staff and assist with developing a broader approach to training that provides a foundation for conducting any research study to help improve SOP adherence and employe satisfaction.
Q: What do you think is an emerging issue related to nicotine and tobacco?
A: The lack of consistent health education campaigns and advertisement restriction on
e-cigarettes, as well as the commercial availability of e-cigarettes are the most important contributing factors to the increased e-cigarette use, not just among the U.S. youth and young adults, but worldwide. These factors need the attention of tobacco-free policy makers to reduce tobacco use and exposure.
Q: What advice or tips would you offer to new nicotine and tobacco researchers?
A: In my opinion, new tobacco researchers need to investigate new evidence-based strategies and methods, other than just the traditional tobacco cessation methods (e.g., NRT, counseling, etc.). This would help educate youth and young adults including secondhand smokers, about the harm of nicotine and tobacco on the body, in a suitable way that counteracts the misleading advertisements and provoke their attention to learn how to quit.
Q: How did you first become interested in nicotine and tobacco research?
A: As a medical professional, during my internship rotation I worked in an oncology department for adults, and I treated several lung cancer patients. One of them, was a father of a close friend who was a heavy smoker and died from metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). I became interested in learning more about the signaling pathways of this disease, which began my journey in clinical research. My primary goal is to enhance my learning and growth, and contribute to future prevention and cure of cancer.
Q: Describe one of your projects related to nicotine and tobacco research and why you are proud of the project.
A: In 2016, we conducted a pilot project titled “The effect of electronic cigarettes on the human lungs”, which was supported by the FDA and NCI and funded by our NCI P50 Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science. The results are published here:
- https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/10.1164/rccm.201808-1467LE
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7007320/
This pilot project established feasibility and provided preliminary data for assessing target organ (lung) exposure and toxicity. I served as the clinical lead and extended by skillset by learning new research methods such as conducting inhalation assessments and utilizing software used to interpret physiologic measures (e.g., BioRadio and Vivosense). I also helped implement new sample collection techniques such as nasal lavage and successfully met accrual goals.
Q: What do you do in your spare time (what are your hobbies)?
A: I love reading, baking, cooking with my daughters, spending time with my kids, and playing Uno with them.