Dr. Hamdan, an Assistant Professor at Khalifa University and visiting professor at Baylor College of Medicine, specializes in neurodegenerative diseases and autism spectrum disorders. Dr. Hamdan’s laboratory aims to understand the mechanisms by which the axon initial segment (AIS) and the nodes of Ranvier are assembled and maintained in their normal health and during injury or their role in neurodegenerative diseases. Any therapeutic intervention for the nervous system must involve the proper maintenance and assembly of the node of Ranvier and the AIS. He’s part of a pioneering team from Khalifa University, the first in the MENA region to reach the semi-finals of the Longitude Prize on Dementia. In addition to his research, Dr. Hamdan is an expert in designing different serotypes of viruses, leveraging viral vectors as vehicles for delivering therapeutic genes into cells; he utilizes gene editing CRISPR/Cas9 techniques, designs transgenic animal models, and focuses on advancing our understanding and treatment of neurological disorders. His proficiency in this area and his expertise in gene editing using CRISPR/Cas9 positions him at the forefront of innovative approaches for studying and potentially treating neurological disorders.