Nesrine Affara

Nesrine Affara is an Associate Teaching Professor in Biological Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) Qatar. Her research focuses on cancer biology, immune cell interactions, and molecular mechanisms underlying tumor progression, particularly in pancreatic and squamous carcinomas. She investigates therapeutic targets such as Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) and antifibrotic agents like ibrutinib. Affara’s work bridges immunology, pharmacology, and oncology to advance targeted therapies and understand tumor microenvironment dynamics.

Her studies explore how B cells and macrophages influence cancer development and chemotherapy responses, with a focus on protease regulation (e.g., cathepsin C, MMP14) and signaling pathways (e.g., Akt/mTOR). She has contributed to identifying novel splice variants of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) impacting angiogenesis and cell survival.

Affara’s publications highlight themes of immune cell crosstalk, stromal regulation, and preclinical drug efficacy in pancreatic adenocarcinoma models. Her research emphasizes translational applications, such as BTK inhibitors for antifibrotic and antitumor therapies.