Following my BSc in Microbiology from Iraq, I moved to the UK. I completed my MSc in Microbiology from the University of Bristol and worked in Medical Microbiology Departments in several hospitals in the UK and abroad. I got my PhD from the University of London and then moved to the University of Bedfordshire in 2008 to teach and supervise undergraduate and postgraduate students. In 2010, I joined the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Essex as a lecturer in Medical Microbiology. I am working enthusiastically to pursue research together in collaboration with several national and international groups.

I have strong collaboration with several hospitals in the region and beyond to find placements for the Biomedical Science course students.

I maintain a broad interest in all aspects of infectious diseases and hospital-related infections. I am an active verifier and assessor of more than 15 registration and specialist portfolios representing the University and the Institute of Biomedical Science. I am a reviewer of scientific journals and participate in national and international conferences.

Hospital-related Infections Microorganisms (Bacteria, Fungi and Parasites) Cytotoxic effects on Cell Lines MRSA, the leading cause of nosocomial infections Respiratory Tract Infections including Cystic Fibrosis and Pneumonia Blood Brain Barrier Pathogenic Mechanisms Free-living amoeba (Acanthamoeba), the causative agent of keratitis and encephalitis Urinary Tract Infections Gastrointestinal Tract Infections and Food Poisoning Wound Infections Ageing-associated Infections Trojan Horse Novel Therapeutic Techniques Antimicrobial resistance Medicinal Plants

My broad research interests are in all aspects of hospital-related infections. My research has been focused on interaction of microorganisms with the blood brain barrier and pathogenic mechanisms of free living amoeba.

Macromolecular iron-chelators via RAFT-polymerization for the inhibition of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus growth. / Li, Junpei; Olaleye, Eniola; Kong, Xiaole; Zhou, Tao; Ma, Yongmin; Jurach, Jagoda; Al Rugaie, Osamah; Hider, Robert Charles; Zhang, Guoqing; Alsam, Selwa; Abbate, Vincenzo.In: POLYMER, Vol. 87, 22.03.2016, p. 64-72. Ying-Jun Zhou, Mu-Song Liu, Al Rugaie Osamah, Xiao-Le Kong, Selwa Alsam, Sinan Battah, Yuan-Yuan Xie, Robert C. Hider, Tao Zhou Hexadentate 3-hydroxypyridin-4-ones with high iron(III) affinity: Design, synthesis and inhibition on methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas strains. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 94, 2015 8-21. Cardas, M., Khan, NA. and Alsam, S. Staphylococcus aureus exhibit similarities in their interactionswith Acanthamoeba and ThP1 macrophage-like cells. Experimental Parasitology 132:513-518.