I am a pharmacist from Tunisia. I got my PharmD from the faculty of Pharmacy of Monastir in 2017.
Then, I obtained my master’s degree in biotechnology in the University of Paris Sud, France in 2018, and I completed to specialize in Pharmaceutical Technology Drug Delivery and Formulation at the Faculty of Pharmacy Grenoble Alpes, France. After my master’s degree, I worked as Junior pharmaceutical Development Scientist in AAA Novartis Company.
During my academic career, I did my internship in pharmaceutical industries, such as Pierre Fabre, Gattefossé, BMS UPSA. I interned in Research Units, such as INSERM Paris, department of medical oncology and department of ophthalmology in Military Hospital.
My thesis project was on the comparison between 2 nanobodies, Ranibizumab and Bevacizumab, for the treatment of Age-related Macular degeneration in the department of Ophthalmology.
My main research activity in Gattefossé Lyon, as an intern, was focused on the formulation of drugs and the optimisation of manufacturing processes. I investigated the performance of lipid excipients in granulation and tableting. I participated in application laboratory program in oral and topic dosage forms which covers solubility, bio-availability enhancement and modified release.
Azza joins ORBITAL
I have gained information and experience from working in the field of Research and Development; now I am happy to start my PhD as part of Orbital Project and to focus more on innovative technologies.
Actually, I am the ESR student for the Project 14. I am based in Madrid, and I am doing my doctorate in Ocupharm in collaboration with University of Complutense Madrid. The topic of the project is about Development of a novel biomarker cocktail for the diagnosis-screening of drug delivery and treatment efficacy in age-related ocular diseases.
Using a variety of present-day data, Ocupharm investigates the hypothesis of developing a cocktail of Biomarkers regrouping the most common age-related diseases such as Glaucoma, dry eyes and age– related macular degeneration. The first step in identifying suitable biomarkers is to understand the pathophysiology of the disease and to identify the factors associated with it. The next step is to identify potential biomarkers based on the mechanism.
Training Programme and Teaching
In addition to the individual doctoral project, I benefit from an exciting training programme consisting training activities related to the development of scientific knowledge and enhancement of transferable skills. Indeed, I started teaching Biochemistry and Analytical Chemistry to 3 group of students in the faculty.
Finally, as I live in Madrid, and to be more comfortable in my environment, I started learning Spanish last month. I hope to become quadrilingual by the end of the project.
The beginning was not easy, but I am sure the best is coming!