.jpg "Nada R. Abuknesha, PhD photo")
Research Assistant
Global Organisation of EPA and DHA Omega-3 (GOED)
London, England, United Kingdom
My research interest is nutritional neuroscience, with a focus on lipid biochemistry. I am interested in how the effect(s) of lipids in the body and diet/supplements have on neurochemistry/biology, behavior, and cognition on neurological- drug-resistant epilepsy and neurodevelopmental-ADHD and autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
In March 2024 I was awarded a PhD where I investigated omega-3 (n-3) fatty acid supplementation- eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids as an add-on treatment in adjunct with anti-seizure medication (ASM), for the management of uncontrollable seizures in drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) in Sudan. This type of non-pharmacological treatment intervention targets the fatty acid composition of cell-membrane phospholipids, which may have implications for seizure control in patients (registered as ISRCTN57643242). My research focused on:
-Reporting the baseline fatty acid profiles (PMID 33798873) and antioxidant vitamin status of patients with DRE, and assessing their implications for seizure frequency within patients.
-Investigating the effects of EPA and DHA on plasma fatty acid profiles and antioxidant vitamins in said patients, and understanding its implications for seizure control.
I have presented my PhD research findings at several national and international conferences (oral and poster), and have received several awards:
SCI Young Lipid Scientist Award (2023)
GOED Clinical Study Database Research Award (2023)
ISSFAL New Investigator Award (2021).
I was selected as a finalist at the prestigious UK Government Parliamentary & Scientific Committee’s STEM for BRITAIN poster competition at the Houses of Parliament during British Science Week (2023).
An aspiration of mine has been to make the recommendation of n-3 EPA and DHA as an add-on treatment with ASMs, for the management of uncontrollable seizures in DRE, official. My aim is in line with the overall mission and ethos of the Global Organisation of Omega-3 EPA and DHA (GOED), which is to improve and enhance the worldwide consumption of n-3 EPA and DHA by disseminating and communicating accurate and up to date information on the clinical effect of these nutrients to the international community. Since June 2023, my first research assistant role post-PhD has been to apply my skills (attention to detail, critical thinking, pattern recognition, identifying gaps, scientific data interpretation and communication) to extract relevant data from selected clinical trial manuscripts (particularly on neurological disorders), and carry out data entry into the GOED database.
I am also a member of several groups and committees including the UK Government All-Party Parliamentary Group on Epilepsy, the GOED Scientific Committee and the SCI Lipids Group Committee, which in the latter I am currently co-coordinating an international conference ‘Lipids in Diet and Health’ due to take place in Southhampton, UK in late 2025 (date TBA). This conference will bring together leading experts from around the world to discuss the latest developments in novel lipids and metabolites, mechanisms of action, and associations with health.
I very much would like to continue work in my area of interest and expand my research on n-3 fatty acids, ASD and ADHD disorders.
Sunday, June 30, 2024
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM CT
Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
Sunday, June 30, 2024
12:04 PM – 12:08 PM CT
Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.