FASEB Fellows for the Future

Samar Sayedyahossein, MD, PhD

Samar Sayedyahossein is a research scientist at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute. Her work focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying skin-related cancers, with a specific emphasis on cellular signaling pathways involved in tumorigenesis. Sayedyahossein’s research has significantly advanced the understanding of key interactions within the Ca2+ signaling and Hippo pathways, particularly the role of IQGAP1 in modulating YAP transcriptional activity. 

Her findings have been published in high-impact journals, including Protein Science and Cellular Signaling. Sayedyahossein began her academic journey at Western University, Canada, where she earned her doctorate in molecular biology. Her doctoral research on Integrin-linked Kinase in epidermal barrier function laid the foundation for her subsequent contributions to the field of cancer biology. 

Following her doctorate, she joined the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of David B. Sacks, PhD, where she made notable strides in cancer research. In 2018, Sayedyahossein took on a postdoctoral associate role at Western University in the laboratory of Silvia Penuela, PhD. During this period, she focused on the role of Pannexin 1 channels in melanoma, uncovering critical insights into how inhibiting these channels can reduce tumor growth and inflammation. This work deepened the scientific community’s understanding of melanoma and opened new avenues for therapeutic development. 

Sayedyahossein’s excellence in research has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Coolen Postdoctoral Scholar Publication Award in 2021 for the best paper in the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology at Western University. She has consistently been recognized for her outstanding presentations, securing first-place awards in poster and oral presentations at various national and international academic conferences. Beyond her research, Sayedyahossein is deeply committed to mentoring and education. She has served as a part-time faculty member at Fanshawe College, guiding students at various academic levels in designing and analyzing experiments and providing critical feedback on their theses and manuscripts. Her expertise is also sought after in the academic community, leading to invitations to speak at conferences on scaffold proteins in signal transduction and cancer progression. 

Sayedyahossein continued her groundbreaking research at NIH as a research scientist. Her work aims to advance the understanding of molecular signaling pathways in cancer, with the potential to drive the development of novel treatments that could significantly impact patient outcomes. Sayedyahossein earned her doctorate in molecular biology from Western University, Canada, following her medical doctorate at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Her career is marked by a strong dedication to pushing the boundaries of scientific knowledge, and she remains committed to making a lasting impact on the scientific community and patient care.

FASEB Member Society: American Association of Immunologists