About

José-Noel Ibrahim

Assistant Professor of Biology

Dr. José-Noel Ibrahim joined LAU as an assistant professor in genetics in September 2022. He holds a joint PhD in Biology, Medicine and Health with a specialization in cellular and molecular biology from the Lebanese University and the University of Poitiers, France. 

Throughout his doctoral thesis, Dr. Ibrahim focused on studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF): a common auto-inflammatory genetic disorder in Lebanon. He was able to define a specific ex vivo cytokine profile characterizing FMF patients and identify different genes and inflammatory markers that are potentially involved in the susceptibility and clinical severity of the disease. Considering these findings, he proposed a schematic model of the inflammatory process of FMF, highlighting various potential targets for therapeutic intervention, particularly among patients with refractory FMF. 

Dr. Ibrahim taught various courses, including genetics, cellular and molecular biology, immunology and microbiology for eight years at the Lebanese University, the Lebanese German University (LGU) and La Sagesse University. He also supervised undergraduate and graduate students’ projects and theses. He was appointed chairperson of the Medical Laboratory Sciences Department at LGU in March 2015, after which he got promoted to director of the Faculty of Public Health in 2019. In November 2020, he was granted the rank of assistant professor at the Lebanese University. 

Research Interests

Dr. Ibrahim is a passionate researcher determined to contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge, the promotion of health education and awareness, and the prevention of diseases in the community. He is constantly expanding his knowledge and expertise in biological sciences through projects of different scopes in collaboration with national and international universities and institutions. He focuses not only on studying molecular genetics and immunocellular aspects of auto-inflammatory and auto-immune diseases but also on understanding the physiopathology of other diseases, such as cancer and metabolic disorders, as well as different public health conditions affecting the Lebanese population.

SDGs Research Mapping

Dr. José-Noel Ibrahim conducts research relevant to the following SDGs:

Selected Publications

  • José-Noel Ibrahim, Chirine Fares, Robert Bader. “Relationship between emotional expressivity and lifestyle changes among university students during COVID-19 lockdown in Lebanon,” Journal of Infection in Developing Countries, 2022, 16(7):1148-1158.
  • José-Noel Ibrahim, Alexandre Chaib, Dania Sawan, Rita Bou Saab, Johnny Hanna, Rania Jounblat, Myrna Medlej-Hashim. “Hashimoto thyroiditis in Lebanon: Fibrinogen levels increase and redox homeostasis alteration in euthyroid patients and detection of a new SAA1 “ε” isoform (V52-V57),” Gene Reports, 2021, 24:101288. 
  • José-Noel Ibrahim, Léa Audi. “Anxiety symptoms among Lebanese health-care students: prevalence, risk factors, and relationship with vitamin D status,” Journal of Health Sciences, 2021, 11(1):29-36.
  • Myrna Azoury, Fadi Abou Mrad, Issam Mansour, José-Noel Ibrahim, Zahi Abou Rjeily,Grégory Schmit. “Perception of the general public towards the ethical and legal issues surrounding DNA paternity testing in Lebanon,” Ethics, Medicine and Public Health, 2021, 17:100640.
  • Ali El Roz, Ghassan Ghssein, Batoul Khalaf, Taher Fardoun, José-Noel Ibrahim.“Spectrum of MEFV variants and genotypes among clinically diagnosed FMF patients from Southern Lebanon,” Medical Sciences, 2020, 8(3): 35.
  • Josiane Semaan, Sandy El-Hakim, José-Noel Ibrahim, Rémi Safi, Arpiné Ardzivian Elnar & Charbel El Boustany. “Comparative effect of sodium butyrate and sodium propionate on proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis in human breast cancer cells MCF-7.” Breast Cancer, 2020, 27(4): 696-705.
  • Robert Bader, José-Noel Ibrahim, Ali Mourad, Mayssam Moussa, Joan Azoury, Joseph Azoury, Nada Alaaeddine. “Improvement of human sperm vacuolization and DNA fragmentation co-cultured with adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell secretome: in vitro effect,” International Journal of Stem Cells, 2019, 12(3): 388-399.
  • Nahed Ghaddar, Ali El Roz, Ghassan Ghssein, José-Noel Ibrahim. “Emergence of vulvovaginal candidiasis among Lebanese pregnant women: prevalence, risk factors and species distribution,” Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2019: 5016810.
  • Chirine Fares, Robert Bader, José-Noel Ibrahim. “Impact of alexithymia on glycemic control among Lebanese adults with type 2 diabetes,” J Diabetes Metab Disord, 2019, 18: 191-198.
  • Robert Bader, José-Noel Ibrahim, Mayssam Moussa, Ali Mourad, Joan Azoury, Joseph Azoury, Nada Alaaeddine. “In vitro effect of autologous platelet-rich plasma on H2O2-induced oxidative stress in human spermatozoa,” Andrology, 2019, 8(1):191- 200.
  • José-Noel Ibrahim, Elias Eghnatios, Ali El Roz, Taher Fardoun, Ghassan Ghssein. “Prevalence, antimicrobial resistance and risk factors for campylobacteriosis in Lebanon,” Journal of Infection in Developing Countries, 2019, 13(1) : 11-20.
  • José-Noel Ibrahim, Rania Jounblat, Nadine Jalkh, Joelle Abou Ghoch, Cynthia El Hajjeh,Eliane Chouery, André Mégarbané, Jean-Claude Lecron, Myrna Medlej-Hashim. “RAC1expression and role in IL-1β production and oxidative stress generation in familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) patients,” European Cytokine Network, 2018, 28(4): 127-135.
  • José-Noel Ibrahim, Isabelle Jéru, Jean-Claude Lecron, Myrna Medlej-Hashim. “Cytokine signatures in hereditary fever syndromes (HFS),” Cytokine and Growth Factor Reviews, 2017, 33: 19-34.
  • José-Noel Ibrahim, Eliane Chouery, Jean-Claude Lecron, André Mégarbané, Myrna Medlej Hashim. “Study of the association of IL-1β and IL-1RA gene polymorphisms with occurrence and severity of Familial Mediterranean fever,” Eur J Med Genet, 2015, 58(12): 668-673.
  • Myrna Medlej-Hashim, Rania Jounblat, Aline Hamade, José-Noel Ibrahim, Francine Rizk, Georges Azzi, Marwa Abdallah, Layane Nakib, May Lahoud, Rita Nabout. “Hypovitaminosis D in a young Lebanese population: effect of GC gene polymorphisms on vitamin D and vitamin D binding protein levels,” Ann Hum Genet, 2015, 79(6): 394-401.
  • José-Noel Ibrahim, Rania Jounblat, Adriana Delwail, Joelle Abou-Ghoch, Nabiha Salem, Eliane Chouery, André Megarbane, Myrna Medlej-Hashim, Jean-Claude Lecron. “Ex vivo PBMC cytokine profile in FMF patients: involvement of IL-1β, IL-1α and Th17-associated cytokines and decrease of Th1 and Th2 cytokines,” Cytokine, 2014, 69 (2): 248-254.

Academic Degrees

  • Joint PhD in Biology, Medicine, and Health, Lebanese University, Lebanon, and University of Poitiers, France (2014).
  • MS in Genomics and Health, Doctoral School of Sciences and Technologies, Lebanese University, Lebanon (2010).
  • BS in Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Public Health II, Lebanese University, Lebanon (2009).