Dlawer Ala'Aldeen
Encyclopedia
Dlawer Ala'Aldeen دلاوهر عبدالعزيز علاءالدين, MD, PhD, FRCPath
, is the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Kurdistan Regional Government
, Iraq. He is also Professor of Clinical Microbiology
and Head of the Molecular Bacteriology and Immunology
Group (Division of Microbiology & Infectious Diseases) at University of Nottingham
(Nottingham
, UK
).
, he grew up in the city of Arbil
, and
studied medicine in Baghdad. Moved to London in 1984 to study tropical medicine
(at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
) and train in molecular microbiology
research at the MRC
Clinical Research Centre (Harrow, UK). He founded the Molecular Bacteriology and Immunology Group in Nottingham University in 1999. He has worked on pathogenesis
, molecular epidemiology
and vaccine development of various bacterial pathogens, particularly Neisseria meningitidis (causes meningitis
and septicemia) and Campylobacter jejuni (most common cause of food poisoning). He was the Founding Director of the MSc course in Clinical Microbiology in Nottingham University. He was seconded to the Health Protection Agency
as Deputy Director of the Centre for Infection, Colindale
(2007–2008). Was appointed in 2009 as the Director of Research at the Royal College of Pathologists
, London, UK. On 28 October 2009, he was sworn in as the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Kurdistan Regional Government
, Iraq.
, Journal of Infection
, BMC Microbiolog.
's human rights and campaigned for a global ban of chemical and biological weapons. His own parents and siblings were among the survivors of the chemical weapons used in Iraq.
He persuaded the British Government to establish a "Safe Haven" for the Iraqi Kurds after the 1991 Gulf war. He has published a book on Lobbying for a Stateless Nation; and investigated the use of chemical weapons in Kurdistan, and the poisoning of Kurdish refugees in Turkey (published in the Lancet, 1990 Feb 3;335,p287-8).
as Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research,. He has initiated a major reform process in Kurdistan's system of Higher Education. The aim is to raise standards and help Universities gain total independence.
As a Kurdish writer, Ala'Aldeen has published numerous articles, mainly in the Hawlati
newspaper, on the impact of global politics on Kurdistan and on strategic issues relating to Kurdish human rights.
Royal College of Pathologists
The Royal College of Pathologists, founded in 1962, was established to co-ordinate this development and maintain the internationally renowned standards and reputation of British pathology. Today the College advises on a vast range of issues relating to pathology...
, is the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Kurdistan Regional Government
Kurdistan Regional Government
The Kurdistan Regional Government , , is the official ruling body of the predominantly Kurds-populated Kurdistan Region in Northern Iraq...
, Iraq. He is also Professor of Clinical Microbiology
Microbiology
Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, which are defined as any microscopic organism that comprises either a single cell , cell clusters or no cell at all . This includes eukaryotes, such as fungi and protists, and prokaryotes...
and Head of the Molecular Bacteriology and Immunology
Immunology
Immunology is a broad branch of biomedical science that covers the study of all aspects of the immune system in all organisms. It deals with the physiological functioning of the immune system in states of both health and diseases; malfunctions of the immune system in immunological disorders ; the...
Group (Division of Microbiology & Infectious Diseases) at University of Nottingham
University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is a public research university based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, with further campuses in Ningbo, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
(Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
).
Professional career
Born in the town of Koya in Iraqi KurdistanIraqi Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan or Kurdistan Region is an autonomous region of Iraq. It borders Iran to the east, Turkey to the north, Syria to the west and the rest of Iraq to the south. The regional capital is Arbil, known in Kurdish as Hewlêr...
, he grew up in the city of Arbil
Arbil
Arbil / Hewlêr is the fourth largest city in Iraq after Baghdad, Basra and Mosul...
, and
studied medicine in Baghdad. Moved to London in 1984 to study tropical medicine
Tropical medicine
Tropical medicine is the branch of medicine that deals with health problems that occur uniquely, are more widespread, or prove more difficult to control in tropical and subtropical regions....
(at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine is a constituent college of the federal University of London, specialising in public health and tropical medicine...
) and train in molecular microbiology
Molecular microbiology
Molecular microbiology is the branch of microbiology devoted to the study of the molecular principles of the physiological processes involved in the life cycle of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, unicellular algae, fungi, and protozoa...
research at the MRC
Medical Research Council (UK)
The Medical Research Council is a publicly-funded agency responsible for co-ordinating and funding medical research in the United Kingdom. It is one of seven Research Councils in the UK and is answerable to, although politically independent from, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills...
Clinical Research Centre (Harrow, UK). He founded the Molecular Bacteriology and Immunology Group in Nottingham University in 1999. He has worked on pathogenesis
Pathogenesis
The pathogenesis of a disease is the mechanism by which the disease is caused. The term can also be used to describe the origin and development of the disease and whether it is acute, chronic or recurrent...
, molecular epidemiology
Molecular epidemiology
Molecular epidemiology is a branch of medical science that focuses on the contribution of potential genetic and environmental risk factors, identified at the molecular level, to the etiology, distribution and prevention of disease within families and across populations. This field has emerged from...
and vaccine development of various bacterial pathogens, particularly Neisseria meningitidis (causes meningitis
Meningitis
Meningitis is inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, known collectively as the meninges. The inflammation may be caused by infection with viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms, and less commonly by certain drugs...
and septicemia) and Campylobacter jejuni (most common cause of food poisoning). He was the Founding Director of the MSc course in Clinical Microbiology in Nottingham University. He was seconded to the Health Protection Agency
Health Protection Agency
The Health Protection Agency, or, in Welsh, Yr Asiantaeth Diogelu Iechyd is a statutory corporation. It is an independent UK organisation that was set up by the government in 2003 to protect the public from threats to their health from infectious diseases and environmental hazards...
as Deputy Director of the Centre for Infection, Colindale
Colindale
-Transport:*Colindale tube station, on the Northern Line Edgware branch, is situated on the north side of the east-west Colindale Lane.-Development:...
(2007–2008). Was appointed in 2009 as the Director of Research at the Royal College of Pathologists
Royal College of Pathologists
The Royal College of Pathologists, founded in 1962, was established to co-ordinate this development and maintain the internationally renowned standards and reputation of British pathology. Today the College advises on a vast range of issues relating to pathology...
, London, UK. On 28 October 2009, he was sworn in as the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Kurdistan Regional Government
Kurdistan Regional Government
The Kurdistan Regional Government , , is the official ruling body of the predominantly Kurds-populated Kurdistan Region in Northern Iraq...
, Iraq.
Board membership
He has been chairman or member of a number of National learned societies and committees (see below) and the editorial board of three international microbiology/infection journals, including Journal of Medical MicrobiologyJournal of Medical Microbiology
The Journal of Medical Microbiology is a peer-reviewed academic journal that covers microbiological research relevant to human and animal disease. Topics covered include pathogenicity, virulence, host response, epidemiology, microbial ecology, diagnostics, typing, models for infection and...
, Journal of Infection
Journal of Infection
The Journal of Infection is a peer-reviewed scientific and medical journal in the field of infectious disease, covering microbiology, epidemiology and clinical practice. Established in 1979, the journal is currently published monthly by Elsevier under the Saunders imprint...
, BMC Microbiolog.
- Director of Research, Royal College of PathologistsRoyal College of PathologistsThe Royal College of Pathologists, founded in 1962, was established to co-ordinate this development and maintain the internationally renowned standards and reputation of British pathology. Today the College advises on a vast range of issues relating to pathology...
(2009-) - Chairman, RCP/RCPath Infection Research Subcommittee (2007-).
- Chairman, Clinical Microbiology Group of the Society for General MicrobiologySociety for General MicrobiologyThe Society for General Microbiology is a learned society based in the United Kingdom but with members in more than 60 countries. With approximately 5000 members, it is the largest microbiological society in Europe...
(2005–2009) - Chairman, Federation of Infection Societies Scientific Committee (2007)
- Examination Board of the Royal College of Pathologists (2006-)
- Medical Research Council's Infection and Immunity Board (2007–2011)
- Specialty Advisory Committee of the Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) (2006-)
- Health Protection Agency's Meningococcus Forum (1998-)
Lobbying for Human Rights
Ala'Aldeen has long lobbied for Kurdish peopleKurdish people
The Kurdish people, or Kurds , are an Iranian people native to the Middle East, mostly inhabiting a region known as Kurdistan, which includes adjacent parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey...
's human rights and campaigned for a global ban of chemical and biological weapons. His own parents and siblings were among the survivors of the chemical weapons used in Iraq.
He persuaded the British Government to establish a "Safe Haven" for the Iraqi Kurds after the 1991 Gulf war. He has published a book on Lobbying for a Stateless Nation; and investigated the use of chemical weapons in Kurdistan, and the poisoning of Kurdish refugees in Turkey (published in the Lancet, 1990 Feb 3;335,p287-8).
Minister
Ala'Aldeen has long been involved in capacity building for Iraqi and Kurdish Universities and establishing academic links with British universities. On 28 October 2009, he joined Dr Barham Salih's Cabinet of Kurdistan Regional GovernmentKurdistan Regional Government
The Kurdistan Regional Government , , is the official ruling body of the predominantly Kurds-populated Kurdistan Region in Northern Iraq...
as Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research,. He has initiated a major reform process in Kurdistan's system of Higher Education. The aim is to raise standards and help Universities gain total independence.
Writer
Ala'Aldeen has published extensively in international journals and co-authored three books in microbiology, Staphylococcus Aureus: molecular and clinical aspects, Medical Microbiology, Molecular and Clinical Aspects of Bacterial Vaccine Development and Medical Microbiology. He holds patents for meningococcal vaccine candidates.As a Kurdish writer, Ala'Aldeen has published numerous articles, mainly in the Hawlati
Hawlati
Hawlati is an independent Kurdish newspaper, published in Sulaymaniyah, Iraqi Kurdistan and London. Tariq Fatih is the owner of the paper.Hawlati is a biweekly newspaper issued by Ranj Publishing House, published on Sundays and Wednesdays....
newspaper, on the impact of global politics on Kurdistan and on strategic issues relating to Kurdish human rights.