Dara K. Mohammad

دارا خورشید محمد

Assistant professor

Department of Fish Resources and Aquatic Animals, College of Agriculture Engineering Sciences

Specialization: Economics of Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy

College of Agriculture Engineering Sciences :: Department of Fish Resources and Aquatic Animals

General Specialization:

Economics

Specific Specialization:

Economics of Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy

[email protected]

Biography

Dr. Dara K. Mohammad is an Associate Professor in Cell and Molecular Biology at Salahaddin University-Erbil, located in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. His expertise spans diverse areas within molecular biology, biotechnology, and cancer cell signaling. Throughout his career, Dr. Mohammad has contributed significantly to academic and applied research fields, with a keen focus on immunotherapy and cancer therapeutics.

Dr. Mohammad was born and raised in Erbil, Kurdistan. His academic journey began with a focus on biology, which later evolved into a deep interest in molecular and cellular mechanisms, particularly those associated with cancer. Driven by a passion for scientific discovery, he pursued his PhD at the prestigious Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. There, he conducted groundbreaking research under the supervision of Professor C.I.E. Edvard Smith, earning his doctoral degree in May 2015. His doctoral thesis delved into cancer immuno-cell signaling pathways, providing insights into the molecular underpinnings of cancer progression.

Following his doctoral studies, Dr. Mohammad joined Evren Alici’s team at the Karolinska Institute as a postdoctoral research scientist in June 2018 and advanced to the researcher position in September 2020. His research interests encompass immuno-cell signaling, cancer development, and the signal transduction of engineered Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) for therapeutic applications in cancer immunotherapy.

In his role at Salahaddin University-Erbil, Dr. Mohammad combines his research expertise with a commitment to education and mentorship. He has supervised numerous student projects and guided the next generation of scientists in exploring cutting-edge topics in molecular biology and biotechnology. His teaching philosophy emphasizes critical thinking, hands-on research, and bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical applications.

Dr. Mohammad is committed to furthering scientific research in Kurdistan and beyond. He aims to establish advanced research facilities and foster collaborations that bridge global scientific communities with regional talent. Through his work, he continues to inspire young scientists and contribute meaningfully to the fight against cancer.

Dr. Mohammad is an accomplished author, with numerous peer-reviewed publications that have gained recognition in academic and clinical research communities. His work is frequently cited for its originality and applicability to contemporary challenges in cancer treatment.

Dr. Mohammad holds dual citizenship, proudly embracing his roots in Kurdistan while also being a citizen of Sweden. This duality enriches his perspective, allowing him to integrate global scientific advancements with local development initiatives. As the holder of a Swedish passport, Dr. Mohammad embodies the spirit of international collaboration, leveraging his cross-cultural experiences to bridge research and education between Sweden, Kurdistan, and the broader scientific community.

Dr. Mohammad is married to Dr. Treska S. Hassan, a fellow academic and professional. Together, they have three sons: Aland, Sahand, and Lawand. Despite his busy professional schedule, Dr. Mohammad cherishes time with his family and enjoys various hobbies, including reading, running, playing tennis, and traveling to discover new places.

Research Interest:

Cancer Cell Signaling, Cancer Immunotherapy, Cell & Gene Therapy, Biotechnology

Publications

· Hamasy A, Hussain A, Dara K. Mohammad, Wang Q, Sfetcovici MG, Nore BF, Mohamed AJ, Zain R, Smith CIE. Differential regulatory effects of the N-terminal region in SYK-fusion kinases reveal unique activation-inducible nuclear translocation of ITK-SYK. Sci Rep. 2025 Jan 4;15(1):814. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-83962-8. PMID: 39755731; PMCID: PMC11700165.

· Wiklander OPB, Mamand DR, Dara K. Mohammad, Zheng W, Jawad Wiklander R, Sych T, Zickler AM, Liang X, Sharma H, Lavado A, Bost J, Roudi S, Corso G, Lennaárd AJ, Abedi-Valugerdi M, Mäger I, Alici E, Sezgin E, Nordin JZ, Gupta D, Görgens A, El Andaloussi S. Antibody-displaying extracellular vesicles for targeted cancer therapy. Nat Biomed Eng. 2024 Nov;8(11):1453-1468. doi: 10.1038/s41551-024-01214-6. Epub 2024 May 20. PMID: 38769158; PMCID: PMC11584392.

· Mamand DR, Bazaz S, Dara K. Mohammad, Liang X, Pavlova S, Mim C, Gabrielsson S, Nordin JZ, Wiklander OPB, Abedi-Valugerdi M, El-Andaloussi S. Extracellular vesicles originating from melanoma cells promote dysregulation in haematopoiesis as a component of cancer immunoediting. J Extracell Vesicles. 2024 Jul;13(7):e12471. doi: 10.1002/jev2.12471. PMID: 38944672; PMCID: PMC11214607.

· Saeed RH, Faqe Ahmed Abdulrahman Z, Dara K. Mohammad. Exploring the interplay between microRNA expression and DNA mutation analysis in AML patients. Saudi J Biol Sci. 2024 Jul;31(7):104027. doi: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2024.104027. Epub 2024 May 21. PMID: 38831894; PMCID: PMC11145380.

· Saeed RH, Abdulrahman ZFA, Dara K. Mohammad. The impact of COVID-19 on microRNA and CD marker expression in AML patients. Sci Rep. 2024 Jun 20;14(1):14251. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-64775-1. PMID: 38902412; PMCID: PMC11190249.

· Doste R. Mamand#, Safa Bazaz#, Dara K. Mohammad#, Osama Saher, Oscar PB Wiklander, Behnam Sadeghi, Moustapha Hassan, Samir El-Andaloussi, Manuchehr Abedi-Valugerdi. Tumor cell derived osteopontin and prostaglandin E2 synergistically promote the expansion of myeloid derived suppressor cells during the tumor immune escape phase. International Immunopharmacol. 2024 Mar 10:129:111584. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.111584. Epub 2024 Feb 15.

· Prevalence, years lived with disability, and trends in anaemia burden by severity and cause, 1990–2021: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. GBD 2021 Anaemia Collaborators. Lancet Haematol. 2023 Sep;10(9):e713-e734. doi: 10.1016/S2352-3026(23)00160-6. Epub 2023 Jul 31.

· Schmied L, Luu TT, Søndergaard JN, Hald SH, Meinke S, Dara K. Mohammad, Singh SB, Mayer C, Perinetti Casoni G, Chrobok M, Schlums H, Rota G, Truong HM, Westerberg LS, Guarda G, Alici E, Wagner AK, Kadri N, Bryceson YT, Saeed MB, Höglund P. SHP-1 localization to the activating immune synapse promotes NK cell tolerance in MHC class I deficiency. Sci Signal. 2023 Apr 11;16(780):eabq0752. doi:10.1126/scisignal.abq0752. Epub 2023 Apr 11. PMID: 37040441.

· Rasul KH, Hussain A, Reilly H, Karvouni M, Dahlberg CIM, Al-Attar MS, Wagner AK, Alici E, Dara K. Mohammad. Assessment of T Cell Receptor Complex Expression Kinetics in Natural Killer Cells. Curr Issues Mol Biol. 2022 Aug 25;44(9):3859-3871. doi: 10.3390/cimb44090265. PMID: 36135177; PMCID: PMC9497757.

· Ishaq S, Rasheed T, Dara K. Mohammad. Impact of persistent antigenic challenges and splenectomy on immune cells in β-Thalassemic patients. ZANCO Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences. 2022, 34(4): 116-122. ISSN (print):2218-0230, ISSN (online): 2412-3986. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.21271/zjpas

· Görgens A, Corso G, Hagey DW, Jawad Wiklander R, Gustafsson MO, Felldin U, Lee Y, Bostancioglu RB, Sork H, Liang X, Zheng W, Dara K. Mohammad, van de Wakker SI, Vader P, Zickler AM, Mamand DR, Ma L, Holme MN, Stevens MM, Wiklander OPB, El Andaloussi S. Identification of storage conditions stabilizing extracellular vesicles preparations. J Extracell Vesicles. 2022 Jun;11(6):e12238. doi:10.1002/jev2.12238. PMID: 35716060; PMCID: PMC9206228.

· Global, regional, and national burden of diseases and injuries for adults 70 years and older: systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease 2019 Study. GBD 2019 Ageing Collaborators. BMJ. 2022 Mar 10;376:e068208. doi:10.1136/bmj-2021-068208. PMID: 35273014; PMCID: PMC9316948.

· M-Amen K, Abdullah OS, Amin AMS, Mohamed ZA, Hasan B, Shekha M, Najmuldeen HH, Rahman FM, Housein Z, Salih AM, Mohammed AS, Sulaiman LR, Barzingi BT, Mahmood D, Othman HE, Dara K. Mohammad, Salih FM, Ali SAK, Mohamad TS, Mahmood K, Othman GO, Aali MH, Qader G, Hussen BM, Awla FA, Kareem SW, Qadir FA, Taher DM, Salihi A. Cancer Incidence in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: Results of a Seven-Year Cancer Registration in Erbil and Duhok Governorates. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2022 Feb 1;23(2):601-615. doi: 10.31557/APJCP.2022.23.2.601. PMID:35225473; PMCID: PMC9272643.

· Global, regional, and national mortality among young people aged 10-24 years, 1950-2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. GBD 2019 Adolescent Mortality Collaborators. Lancet. 2021 Oct 30;398(10311):1593-1618. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01546-4. Epub 2021 Oct 28. Erratum in: Lancet. 2022 Feb 26;399(10327):802. PMID: 34755628; PMCID:PMC8576274.

· Anemia prevalence in women of reproductive age in low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2018. Local Burden of Disease Anaemia Collaborators. Nat Med. 2021 Oct;27(10):1761-1782. doi: 10.1038/s41591-021-01498-0. Epub 2021 Oct 12. PMID: 34642490; PMCID: PMC8516651.

· Gupta D, Wiklander OPB, Görgens A, Conceição M, Corso G, Liang X, Seow Y, Balusu S, Feldin U, Bostancioglu B, Jawad R, Mamand DR, Lee YXF, Hean J, Mäger I, Roberts TC, Gustafsson M, Dara K. Mohammad, Sork H, Backlund A, Lundin P, de Fougerolles A, Smith CIE, Wood MJA, Vandenbroucke RE, Nordin JZ, El-Andaloussi S. Amelioration of systemic inflammation via the display of two different decoy protein receptors on extracellular vesicles. Nat Biomed Eng. 2021 Sep;5(9):1084-1098. doi: 10.1038/s41551-021-00792-z. Epub 2021 Oct 6. PMID:34616047.

· Luu TT, Schmied L, Nguyen NA, Wiel C, Meinke S, Dara K. Mohammad, Bergö M, Alici E, Kadri N, Ganesan S, Höglund P. Short-term IL-15 priming leaves a long-lasting signalling imprint in mouse NK cells independently of a metabolic switch. Life Sci Alliance. 2021 Feb 16;4(4):e202000723. doi: 10.26508/lsa.202000723. PMID: 33593878; PMCID: PMC7918643.

· Estupiñán HY, Wang Q, Berglöf A, Schaafsma GCP, Shi Y, Zhou L, Dara K. Mohammad, Yu L, Vihinen M, Zain R, Smith CIE. BTK gatekeeper residue variation combined with cysteine 481 substitution causes super-resistance to irreversible inhibitors acalabrutinib, ibrutinib and zanubrutinib. Leukemia. 2021 May;35(5):1317-1329. doi: 10.1038/s41375-021-01123-6. Epub 2021 Feb 1. PMID: 33526860.

· Qader G, Aali M, Smail SW, Mahmood K, Hasan B, M-Amen K, Rahman DB, Qadir FA, Dara K. Mohammad, Najmuldeen HH, Rahman FM, Ahmad SI, Salih NS, Khdhr ZM, Mohammed BA, Majeed AM, Hasan XM, Khidhir BH, Muhammad ES, Muhamadsalih BA, Hasan SK, Hamad AJ, Esmail ZK, Ismael CM, Husaen SM, Abdulla CA, Hussen BM, Housein Z, Shekha M, Salihi A. Cardiac, Hepatic and Renal Dysfunction and IL-18 Polymorphism in Breast, Colorectal, and Prostate Cancer Patients. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2021 Jan 1;22(1):131-137. doi: 10.31557/APJCP.2021.22.1.131. PMID: 33507690.

· Global Burden of Cardiovascular Diseases and Risk Factors, 1990-2019: Update From the GBD 2019 Study. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2020 Dec 22;76(25):2982-3021. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2020.11.010. PMID: 33309175; PMCID: PMC7755038.

· Mapping routine measles vaccination in low- and middle-income countries. Nature. 2020 Dec 16:1–10. doi: 10.1038/s41586-020-03043-4. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33328634; PMCID: PMC7739806.

· Global burden of 87 risk factors in 204 countries and territories, 1990-2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Lancet. 2020 Oct 17;396(10258):1223-1249. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30752-2. PMID: 33069327; PMCID: PMC7566194.

· Govand Qader, Mukhlis Aali, Karwan M Amen, Kazhan Mahmood, Bestoon Hasan, Mudhir Shekha, Dara K. Mohammad, Hastyar H Najmuldeen, Dler Mahmood, Farhang A Awla, Karzan A Mohammed, Abbas Salihi. The status of cancer publications in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Journal of Cancer Policy 24, 2020, 100221.

· Global burden of 369 diseases and injuries in 204 countries and territories, 1990-2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Lancet. 2020 Oct 17;396(10258):1204-1222. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30925-9. Erratum in: Lancet. 2020 Nov 14;396(10262):1562. PMID: 33069326; PMCID: PMC7567026.

· Global age-sex-specific fertility, mortality, healthy life expectancy (HALE), and population estimates in 204 countries and territories, 1950-2019: a comprehensive demographic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Lancet. 2020 Oct 17;396(10258):1160-1203. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30977-6. PMID: 33069325; PMCID: PMC7566045.

· Five insights from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Lancet. 2020 Oct 17;396(10258):1135-1159. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31404-5. PMID: 33069324; PMCID: PMC7116361.

· Measuring universal health coverage based on an index of effective coverage of health services in 204 countries and territories, 1990-2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Lancet. 2020 Oct 17;396(10258):1250-1284. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30750-9. Epub 2020 Aug 27. PMID: 32861314; PMCID: PMC7562819.

· Mapping local patterns of childhood overweight and wasting in low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2017. Nat Med. 2020 May;26(5):750-759. doi: 10.1038/s41591-020-0807-6. Epub 2020 Apr 20. Erratum in: Nat Med. 2020 Jul 2;: PMID: 32313249; PMCID: PMC7220891.

· Global, regional, and national burden of chronic kidney disease, 1990-2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Lancet. 2020 Feb 29;395(10225):709-733. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30045-3. Epub 2020 Feb 13. PMID: 32061315; PMCID: PMC7049905.

· Amin R, He R, Gupta D, Zheng W, Burmakin M, Dara K. Mohammad, DePierre JW, Sadeghi B, Olauson H, Wernerson A, El-Andaloussi S, Hassan M, Abedi-Valugerdi M. The kidney injury caused by the onset of acute graft-versus-host disease is associated with down-regulation of αKlotho. Int Immunopharmacol. 2020 Jan; 78:106042. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2019.106042. PubMed PMID: 31812067.

· Mapping 123 million neonatal, infant and child deaths between 2000 and 2017. Nature. 2019 Oct;574(7778):353-358. doi: 10.1038/s41586-019-1545-0. PubMed PMID: 31619795.

· Global, Regional, and National Cancer Incidence, Mortality, Years of Life Lost, Years Lived with Disability, and Disability-Adjusted Life-Years for 29 Cancer Groups, 1990 to 2017: A Systematic Analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study. JAMA Oncol. 2019 Sep 27. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2019.2996. PubMed PMID: 31560378.

· The global burden of childhood and adolescent cancer in 2017: an analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Lancet Oncol. 2019 Sep;20(9):1211-1225. doi:10.1016/S1470-2045(19)30339-0. Epub 2019 Jul 29. Erratum in: Lancet Oncol. 2019 Aug 6;: PMID: 31371206; PMCID: PMC6722045.

· Narmeen N. Fathi, Dara K. Mohammad, Andre Görgens, Samir El-Andaloussi, Rula Zain, Beston F. Nore and C. I. Edvard Smith. Translocation-generated ITK-FER and ITK-SYK fusions induce STAT3 phosphorylation and CD69 expression. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2018 Oct 12;504(4):749-752.

· Oscar P. B. Wiklander,R. Beklem Bostancioglu, Giulia Corso, Ulrika Felldin, Manuela O. Gustafsson, Dara K. Mohammad, Constanze Wiek, Helmut Hanenberg, Michel Bremer, Dhanu Gupta, Mikael Björnstedt, Bernd Giebel, Joel Z. Nordin, Jennifer C. Jones, Samir EL Andaloussi and André Görgens. Systematic Methodological Evaluation of a Multiplex Bead-Based Flow Cytometry Assay for Detection of Extracellular Vesicle Surface Signatures. Frontiers in Immunology. 2018 June13. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01326.

· Dara K. Mohammad, Beston F. Nore, C. I. Edvard Smith. Terminating B cell receptor signaling. Oncotarget. 2017 Dec 6;8(66):109857-109858.

· Dara K. Mohammad. PRIMA-1 Induces Apoptosis of Leukemic Cells via Inhibiting Bruton\'s Tyrosine Kinase. Cukurova Med J, 2017; 42 (1):1-12.

· Manuela O. Gustafsson, Dara K. Mohammad, Erkko Ylösmäki, Hyunseok Choi, Subhash Shrestha, Qing Wang, Beston F. Nore, Kalle Saksela, C. I. Edvard Smith. ANKRD54 preferentially selects Bruton\'s Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) from a Human Src-Homology 3 (SH3) Domain Library. PLoS One, 2017. Apr 3;12(4): e0174909.

· Abdulrahman Hamasy, Qing Wang, Dara K. Mohammad, Emelie Blomberg, Liang Yu, Mauno Vihinen, Anna Berglöf, and C. I. Edvard Smith. Substitution scanning identifies a novel, catalytically active ibrutinib-resistant BTK cysteine 481 to threonine (C481T) variant. Leukemia, 2017.31: p. 177-185.

· Dara K. Mohammad, Beston F. Nore, Manuela O. Gustafsson, Abdalla J.Mohamed and C. I. Edvard Smith. Protein kinase B (AKT) regulates SYK activity and shuttling through 14-3-3 and importin 7. Int J Biochem Cell Biol, 2016, 78: p. 63-74.

· Dara K. Mohammad, Raja H. Ali, Janne J. Turunen, Beston F. Nore and C. I. Edvard Smith. B Cell Receptor Activation Predominantly Regulates AKT-mTORC1/2 Substrates Functionally Related to RNA Processing. PLoS One, 2016. 11 (8): p. e0160255.

· Dina Ali, Dara K. Mohammad, Huthayfa Mujahed, Kerstin Jonson-Videsäter, Beston F. Nore, Christer Paul and Sören Lehmann. Anti-leukaemic effects induced by APR-246 are dependent on induction of oxidative stress and the NFE2L2/HMOX1 axis that can be targeted by PI3K and mTOR inhibitors in acute myeloid leukaemia cells. Br J Haematol, 2016, 174 (1): p. 117-26.

· Burcu Bestas, Pedro Moreno, Emelie M. Blomberg, Dara K. Mohammad, Amer F. Saleh, Tolga Sutlu, Joel Z. Nordin, Peter Guterstam, Manuela O. Gustafsson, Shabnam Kharazi, Barbara Piatosa, Thoma C. Roberts, Mark A. Behlke, Mathew J. A. Wood, MichEL J. Gait, Karin E. Lundin, Samir El Andaloussi, Robert Månsson, Anna Berglöf, Jesper Wengel and C. I. Edvard Smith. Splice-correcting oligonucleotides restore BTK function in X-linked agammaglobulinemia model. The Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2014, 124, p. 4067-4081.

· Dara K. Mohammad, Beston F. Nore, Alamdar Hussain, Manuela O. Gustafsson, Abdalla J.Mohamed and C. I. Edvard Smith. Dual phosphorylation of BTK by AKT/PKB Provides Docking For 14-3-3ζ, Regulates Shuttling and Attenuates both Tonic and Induced Signaling in B Cells. Molecular and Cellular Biology, 2013.33, p. 3214-3226.

· Alamdar Hussain, Dara K. Mohammad, Manuela. O. Gustafsson, Merve Uslu, Abdulrahman Hamasy, Beston F. Nore,Abdalla J. Mohamed and C. I. Edvard Smith. Signaling of the ITK-SYK fusion kinase is dependent on adapter SLP-76 and on the adapter function of the kinases SYK and ZAP70. The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2013,288, p. 7338-7350.

· Manuela O. Gustafsson, Alamdar Hussain, Dara K. Mohammad, Abdalla J.Mohamed, Vivian Nguyen, Metalnikov, P., Colwill, K., Tony Pawson, C. I. Edvard Smith and Beston F. Nore. Regulation of nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of Bruton\'s tyrosine kinase (BTK) through a novel SH3-dependent interaction with ankyrin repeat domain 54 (ANKRD54). Molecular and Cellular Biology, 2012,32, p. 2440-2453.

· Alamdar Hussain, Liang Yu, Rany Faryal, Dara K. Mohammad, Abdalla J. Mohamed and C. I., Edvard Smith. TEC family kinases in health and disease loss-of-function of BTK and ITK and the gain-of-function fusions ITK-SYK and BTK-SYK. The FEBS Journal, 2011, 278, p.2001-2010.

· Dara K. Mohammad. Effect of Hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis on some hematological and biochemical parameters in renal failure. 2009, Zanco Journal of Medical Sciences (Zanco J Med Sci) 13 (2), 79-85.

· Dara K. Mohammad and Jamal M Aziz. Effects of erythropoietin and growth hormone on hematological and biochemical parameters in 5/6 nephrectomized male abino rats. Journal of Duhok University, 2009, 12; 1, 146-160.

# Equally contributed.

Teaching:

Immunology, Cell Biology, Biotechnology