Contact information
Zakia Alhareth
Calleva Senior Postdoctoral Associate
- AI ambassador at the University of Oxford
Background
Dr Zakia Alhareth completed her PhD in Microbiology in 2022 at De Montfort University, Leicester, United Kingdom. She has since developed 4 years postdoctoral experience in vaccine development, antigen design, molecular vaccinology, and mRNA vaccine technologies at the University of Oxford. Motivated by a strong belief in women’s leadership and management potential; she is currently enrolled in the Oxford Women’s Leadership Development Programme at Saïd Business School, with the aim of enhancing her skills in scientific management roles and as well as to contributing as a role model for the next generation of women in science.
Her research experience includes:
mRNA-based vaccine development for parasitic and virial pathogens (Jenner Institute, University of Oxford 2024-Present)
Adenoviral-vectored vaccine research aimed at accelerating vector production (Prof Dame Sarah Gilbert’s Lab, Pandemic Science Institute, University of Oxford 2022-2024).
Antimicrobial resistance studies (UK 2017-2022)
Microbiology laboratory supervision and infection control (Syria 2006-2017)
Current Projects and Collaborations
Dr Alhareth is a Calleva Senior Postdoctoral Associate at the Jenner Institute, working under the supervision of Prof. Sir Adrian Hill. Her research focuses on the development and optimisation of mRNA vaccine platforms with primary emphasis on pre-erythrocytic malaria. This mRNA malaria-focused programme complements the success of the R21/Matrix-M™ vaccine developed at the Jenner Institute under the leadership of Professor Sir Adrian Hill. R21 is currently manufactured by the Serum Institute of India and deployed across more than 20 African countries. Her work centres on the design and optimisation of mRNA constructs to improve antigenic display, immunogenicity, and efficacy in the preclinical setting, and she holds a Personal Licence (PIL) granted by the UK Home Office under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act.
In parallel, Dr Alhareth leads mRNA vaccine development efforts targeting arthropod-borne diseases, with a particular focus on dengue virus under a collaboration effort with Dr. Cesar Lopez-Camacho, who is a Jenner Investigator leading both the mRNA technology and arthropod-borne virus programme. This work involves the rational design of multi-serotype mRNA vaccine components intended to induce broad, cross-reactive immunity across all four DENV serotypes while minimising the risk of antibody-dependent enhancement.
Beyond infectious diseases, Dr Alhareth is also involved in collaborative projects developing mRNA-based cancer vaccines. These activities are conducted through research collaborations established with the mRNA technology programme and across a broad network of cancer researchers and clinicians across the University of Oxford.
Artificial Intelligence and Leadership
In line with the University of Oxford’s strategic commitment to advancing research through the responsible use of emerging technologies, Dr Alhareth is actively engaged in the application of artificial intelligence to biomedical research. She serves as an AI Ambassador at the University of Oxford, supporting colleagues in the effective and ethical adoption of AI to enhance research, teaching, and innovation.
PUBLICATIONS
Festa, J., Hussain, A., Al-Hareth, Z., Bailey, S.J., Singh, H. and Da Boit, M., 2024. Phenolic Metabolites Protocatechuic Acid and Vanillic Acid Improve Nitric Oxide Bioavailability via the Akt-eNOS Pathway in Response to TNF-α Induced Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Endothelial Cells. Metabolites, 14, 613. https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/14/11/613
Festa, J.; Hussain, A.; Alhareth, Z.; Singh, H.; Da Boit, M. Anthocyanins and Vascular Health: A Matter of Metabolites. Foods 2023, 12, 1796. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12091796
Alhareth, Z., Owen, L., Smith, L.J. and Laird, K., 2022. The role of transport channels in the mechanism of action of the synergistic combination of vancomycin with carvacrol and cuminaldehyde against vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium. Phytomedicine Plus, 100370. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phyplu.2022.100370
Alhareth, Z., Monem, F. and Abdel Megiud, N. 2009. Is low birth weight a risk indicator for congenital cytomegalovirus infection? Journal of Infection in Developing Countries. 4 (1) 44-47. https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.539