Norah Alghamdi, PhD

Assistant Professor

School of Medicine
Norah Alghamdi

Education & Affiliations

2016-2021 Clinical Chemistry Fellowship program | University of Louisville Hospital
2013-2019 PhD, Clinical-Bioanalytical Chemistry | Cleveland State University
2009-2012 Master's, Chemistry | Cleveland State University

Research

Research Experience

Umbilical Cord Tissue vs Meconium in Neonate Drug Screening (NDS)

We compared five HPLC/MS-MS NDS cases of paired umbilical cord and meconium specimens. Interestingly, the data indicated that  meconium provides higher sensitivity, and is likely to remain the specimen of choice when sensitivity is of greatest importance. These results can help clinicians, laboratorians, and epidemiologists to (1) select the most appropriate test and (2) interpret discordant results.

Biomarker for PTSD

Our work aims to test the hypothesis that subjects suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) have an inherent dysregulation of the corticotropin-axis involving the neuropeptide Urocortin 3 (UCN3). No clinical laboratory test is currently available to aid in this diagnosis; thus, we are developing a rapid and inexpensive biomarker test that would have substantial clinical impact.

Biomarker for OSA and ADHD

Both obstructive sleep apnea and Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have a common physiological connection that warrant the development of clinical assays for UCN3. We are developing a highly sensitive aptamer-based immunoassay to test UCN3 as a viable biomarker.

Circulating DNA (ctDNA)

In this research we tested the tumor burden by measuring the BRAF V600 ctDNA in patients with metastatic melanoma using PCR technique on BioCartis Idylla platform and droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) from BioRad.

Role of RNase L in Kidney

  • Investigate the role of RNase L in kidney function and development using animal model of wild type and RNase L null mice
  • Assess the kidney function after acute kidney injury and how RNase L involves
  • Illustrate the regulatory mechanism of RNase L in the shedding of EGF
  • Identify the phosphor-protein profile in kidney cells. 

Signal Transduction pathway in Colon cells

Using cell culture technique utilizing HT29 cell line to investigate the signal transduction pathway that induced/inhibit by certain stimulus

Drugs Metabolism

  • Using animal model of wild type and RNase L knock out mice to investigate the role of RNase L in drug metabolism
  • IP injection of different drugs and use mass spectrometry analysis to measure the intact drugs molecules and their metabolism in serum obtain from mice
     

Publications

  1. NJ Alghamdi, C. Burners, R. Valdes Jr. (2021). Urocortin 3 (UCN3): Biological Relevance and Measurement in Laboratory Medicine. Critical Review in Clinical Laboratory Journal. (2021). Review manuscript.
  2. Mark W. Linder, Michael E Egger, Tracy Van Meter, Shesh Rai, Roland Valdes Jr., Melissa Barousse Hall, Xiaoynong Wu, Norah J. Alghamdi, and Jason Chesney. (2021). Longitudinal Relationship between Idylla plasma ctBRAF V600 mutation detection and tumor burden in metastatic melanoma patients. Mol Diagn Ther (2021). PMID: 33970440. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40291-021-00528-4
  3. Norah J. Alghamdi, Cierra Sharp, Tonya Robinson, Saeed Jortani. (2020). Newborn Drug Screening: Differential Outcome Using Meconium Versus Umbilical Cord Tissue. American Journal of Clinical Pathology, 154(1):S2-S5.
  4. Norah J. Alghamdi, Lakshmi Balaraman, Kylin A. Emhoff, Ahmed M. H. Salem, Ruhan Wei, Aimin Zhou, and W. Christopher Boyd. (2019). Cobalt(II) Diphenylazodioxide Complexes Induce Apoptosis in SKHEP‑1 Cells. ACS, 4, 14503−14510.
  5. Haiyan Tan, Chun Zeng, Junbo Xie, Norah J. Alghamdi, Ya Song, Hongbing Zhang, Aimin Zhou, and Di Jin. (2015). Effects of Interferons and Double-Stranded RNA on Human Prostate Cancer Cell Apoptosis. Oncotarget, 6(36), 39184–39195.
  6. Norah J. Alghamdi and Aimin Zhou. RNase L Regulates Phosphorylation in Kidney. In preparation.

Conference/Meetings/Presentation/Poster

  1. N. Alghamdi, PhD; R. Valdes, PhD., Association of Clinical Scientists 2021 Annual Meeting. Title: A proposed novel biomarker for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). May 13-14, 2021 (Oral)
  2. Roundtable Scientific Session speaker at AACC 2020 annual meeting. Title: Newborn Drug Screening: Meconium vs Umbilical cord. December 17, 2020 (Speaker)
  3. N. Alghamdi, PhD; C. Sharp, PhD; T. Robinson, MD.; S. Jortani, PhD. Newborn Drug Screening Differential Outcome Using Meconium Versus Umbilical Cord Tissue. AACC 2020 Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo. Virtual Conference. December 13-17, 2020 (Poster)
  4. N. Alghamdi, PhD; C. Sharp, PhD; T. Robinson, MD.; S. Jortani, PhD. Newborn Drug Screening Differential Outcome Using Meconium Versus Umbilical Cord Tissue. ACLPS 2020 Annual Meeting. Virtual Conference. June 25, 2020 (Poster)
  5. N. Alghamdi, R. Valdes. A High Sensitivity Aptamer-based Assay for Urocortin 3; a Potential Marker for PTSD. Pathology Residents Research Day. University of Louisville Hospital. June 19, 2020 (Oral)
  6. SYCL travel grant recipient, 70th AACC Scientific Meeting and Clinical Lab Expo. Chicago, IL. July 29- August 2, 2018
  7. N. Alghamdi, A. Zhou. Role of RNase L in Kidney. Mass Spectrometry Applications to the Clinical Labs (MSACL) Palm Springs. CA. January 21 - 25, 2018. (Poster)
  8. N. Alghamdi, A. Zhou. Role of RNase L in Kidney. American Chemical Society Meeting-in-Minute (ACS MiM). Oberlin, OH. March 28, 2018. (Oral)
  9. N. Alghamdi, A. Zhou. Role of RNase L in Kidney. 69th AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo. San Diego, CA. July 30 – August 3, 2017. (Poster)
  10. N. Alghamdi, A. Zhou. Role of RNase L in Kidney. 65th ASMS Conference on Mass Spectrometry and Allied Topics. Indianapolis, IN. June 4 –8, 2017. (Poster)
  11. Waters Corporation Conference, LC-MS/MS in the Clinical Laboratory: Current Considerations. Cleveland, OH. Mar 3rd, 2015.
  12. N. Alghamdi, A. Zhou. Role of RNase L in Kidney. Meeting in Miniature: Center for Gene Regulation in Health and Diseases (GRHD), CSU. Cleveland, OH. April 2015. (Poster)
  13. N. Alghamdi, A. Zhou. Role of RNase L in Kidney. Research Day. Cleveland State University. Cleveland, Ohio. March 2015. (Poster)
  14. D. Liu, N. Alghamdi, Y. Zhang, J. Xie, A. Zhou. Polysaccharides Isolated from Agaricus Blazei Murill Induce Phosphorylation and Apoptosis in Raw 264.7 Cells. Research Day 2015: Center for Gene Regulation in Health and Diseases (GRHD), CSU. Cleveland, Ohio. 2015. (Poster)
  15. Q. Zheng, N. J Alghamdi, D. Liu, A. Zhou. TMCO1 is A Novel Marker in Cancer Metastasis. Research Day 2015: Center for Gene Regulation in Health and Diseases (GRHD), CSU. Cleveland, Ohio.2015. (Poster)
  16. American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science-Ohio, the Ohio Collaborative Laboratory Conference (CLC), an Investigation of Medical Laboratory Science. Columbus, Ohio May 6-8, 2015
  17. N. Alghamdi, A. Zhou. Role of RNase L in Kidney Function and Development and RNase L Regulation of Epidermal Growth Factor Shedding. AACC 2015 Annual Meeting. Atlanta, Georgia. July 26 – 30, 2015 (Poster)
  18. C. Liu, D Liu, N. Alghamdi, G. Jin, A. Zhou. RNase L is involved in Foam Cell Formation. Research Day 2014: Center for Gene Regulation in Health and Diseases (GRHD). CSU. Cleveland, Ohio. 2014. (Poster)
  19. BS Yun, N. Alghamdi, D. Liu, Q. Huang, A. Zhou. RNase L is involved in the Pathogenesis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Research Day 2014: Center for Gene Regulation in Health and Diseases (GRHD). CSU. Cleveland, Ohio. 2014. (Poster)