Imed Gallouzi is a Professor of Bioscience and founding Chair of the KAUST Center of Excellence for Smart Health. He is a leading expert in RNA biology, known for uncovering key molecular mechanisms driving muscle wasting, aging, and cellular stress responses. His pioneering work on RNA-binding proteins, such as HuR and G3BP1, has opened new avenues for RNA-based therapeutics targeting cancer-induced cachexia, neurodegeneration, and regenerative medicine. A recognized authority in post-transcriptional regulation, Professor Gallouzi has helped position RNA metabolism at the forefront of precision medicine.  Prior to KAUST, he was a Canada Research Chair and senior faculty member at McGill University in Canada, and played a central role in launching graduate biomedical programs and advancing health and life science research at HBKU in Qatar. 

Professor Gallouzi’s research explores how posttranscriptional regulatory mechanisms, particularly those involving RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), stress granules, and microRNAs, govern muscle regeneration, aging, and disease progression. His lab has made seminal contributions to understanding the roles of RBPs like HuR and G3BP1 in cancer-induced cachexia, cellular senescence, and apoptosis, establishing RNA metabolism as a powerful therapeutic target. His team is pioneering strategies to harness iPSCs, mRNA decay pathways, and RNA-based technologies to address muscle wasting, aging-associated disorders, and the impact of gravity on RBP-mediated muscle and brain functions. Through interdisciplinary approaches, Professor Gallouzi aims to bridge fundamental RNA biology with translational innovations that improve human health.