Two UAE scientists recognised in programme to support female researchers

Two female scientists from the United Arab Emirates have been honoured by the L’Oreal-Unesco For Women in Science Middle East Programme for 2026. Dr Marieh Al Handawi, affiliated with New York University Abu Dhabi, and Jawaher Al Hammadi of Khalifa University are among six Arab women in this round of the scheme, which recognises researchers working in various fields such as pandemic preparedness, water security, and personalised medicine.

Al Hammadi, an Emirati PhD student from Sharjah, focuses on developing lab-based models of cell membranes. She explained that her research aims to create customisable cell membrane models that could lead to personalised medical treatments. Conventional models are often made from synthetic materials, failing to fully replicate real cell membranes, but Al Hammadi’s approach combines synthetic components with extracellular vesicles, particles originating from cells, and integrates them with electronic sensors.

This method allows researchers to detect and monitor changes in the membrane through electrical signals, potentially enabling the recreation of cell membranes representing specific cell types, diseases, or individual patients.

Dr Al Handawi, born and raised in the UAE to Syrian parents, is investigating how plants adapt to salty and dry conditions. By studying plants like the native Tamarix aphylla, she hopes to identify natural water harvesting techniques that could be applied to the UAE’s arid environment. Al Handawi’s goal is to establish an independent research programme focusing on bioinspiration, translating natural systems into practical solutions to support communities.