The paper presents the first Arab Pangenome Reference using long-read and Hi-C data, revealing novel sequences and variants specific to Arab populations.

Nature Communications · Jul 24, 2025Peer-reviewedGenomics

Genetic determinants of severe COVID-19 in young Asian and Middle Eastern patients

Beshr Abdulaziz Badla, Mohamed Samer Hanifa, Ruchi Jain, Maha El Naofal, Nour Halabi, Sawsan Yaslam, Sathishkumar Ramaswamy, Alan Taylor, Roudha Alfalasi, Shruti Shenbagam, Hamda Hassan Khansaheb, Hanan Sulaiman Al Suwaidi, Norbert R. Nowotny, Rizwana Popatia, Abdulla Al Khayat, , Ahmad N. Abou Tayoun

This study identifies rare genetic variants associated with severe COVID-19 in young Asian and Middle Eastern patients using whole exome sequencing.

medRxiv · Jan 11, 2023 · PreprintGenetic & Genomic Medicine

Genomic and phenotypic characterization of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C): a prospective multicenter study from the Middle East

Walid Abuhammour, Lemis Yavuz, Ruchi Jain, Khawla Abu Hammour, Ghalia F. Al-Hammouri, Maha El Naofal, Nour Halabi, Sawsan Yaslam, Sathishkumar Ramaswamy, Alan Taylor, Deena Wafadari, Ali Alsarhan, Hamda Hassan Khansaheb, Zulfa Deesi, Rupa Murthy Varghese, , Ahmad N. Abou Tayoun

This study identifies rare genetic variants in MIS-C patients from the Middle East, linking them to disease onset and treatment resistance.

JAMA Network Open · May 31, 2022Peer-reviewedGenetic & Genomic Medicine

Host transcriptomic profiling of COVID-19 patients with mild, moderate, and severe clinical outcomes

Ruchi Jain, Sathishkumar Ramaswamy, Divinlal Harilal, Mohammed J. Uddin, Tom Loney, Norbert R. Nowotny, Hanan Sulaiman Al Suwaidi, Rupa Murthy Varghese, Zulfa Deesi, Abdulmajeed S. AlKhajeh, Hamda Hassan Khansaheb, Alawi A.A. Alsheikh-Ali, Ahmad N. Abou Tayoun

The paper identifies molecular signatures and dysregulated pathways in COVID-19 patients with varying disease severity using transcriptome sequencing of nasopharyngeal swabs.

Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal · Dec 18, 2020Peer-reviewedGenomics

Multiple early introductions of SARS-CoV-2 into a global travel hub in the Middle East

Ahmad N. Abou Tayoun, Tom Loney, Hamda Hassan Khansaheb, Sathishkumar Ramaswamy, Divinlal Harilal, Zulfa Deesi, Rupa Murthy Varghese, Hanan Sulaiman Al Suwaidi, Abdulmajeed S. AlKhajeh, Laila Mohamed Jasim Ali AlDabal, Mohammed J. Uddin, Rifat Hamoudi, Rabih Halwani, Abiola Catherine Senok, Qutayba A. Hamid, , Alawi A.A. Alsheikh-Ali

The paper analyzes SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences from Dubai to show multiple introductions from Asia, Europe, and the Middle East during the early pandemic and identifies new mutations.

Scientific Reports · Oct 20, 2020Peer-reviewedGenomics

SARS-CoV-2 Whole Genome Amplification and Sequencing for Effective Population-Based Surveillance and Control of Viral Transmission

Divinlal Harilal, Sathishkumar Ramaswamy, Tom Loney, Hanan Sulaiman Al Suwaidi, Hamda Hassan Khansaheb, Abdulmajeed Alkhaja, Rupa Murthy Varghese, Zulfa Deesi, Norbert R. Nowotny, Alawi A.A. Alsheikh-Ali, Ahmad N. Abou Tayoun

This study compares whole genome sequencing methods for SARS-CoV-2, showing improved detection and cost-effectiveness with target enrichment.

Clinical Chemistry · Jul 24, 2020Peer-reviewedGenomics