Faculty

College / Department

Department of Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences

Teaching areas

Cell and Molecular Biology, Physiology, Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Genetics.

Research areas

My areas of research lie in investigating changes in the structure and function of ion channels in diseased states by using novel electrophysiological and mutagenesis techniques.

Education

PhD, Cell Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Leicester, UK, 2008

BSc (Hons), Biochemistry, University of Ulster, UK, 2004

Professional experience

Oxford University, Department of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics, UK, 2008-2010

Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Research and Development, Kent, UK, 2002-2003

Memberships

British Physiological Society;Research Associate Member of Corpus Christi College, Oxford (2008-2009)

Contact

[email protected]

+971 6 515 4421

Dr. Sarah Dalibalta

Assistant Professor

PhD in Cell Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Leicester, UK

Sarah Dalibalta pursued her post-doctoral training at the University of Oxford, UK. Her research areas of interest lie in investigating the structure and function of ion channels by using novel electrophysiological and mutagenesis techniques. She has expertise in a broad spectrum of electrophysiological recordings that she has used to study cardiovascular disorders such as Long QT syndrome as well blood diseases such as sickle cell anemia. Her teaching interests are in the areas of physiology, pharmacology, genetics, molecular biology and biochemistry.

Publications

Hannemann,A.; Dalibalta,S.; et al. "The properties of red blood cells from sickle cell patients heterozygous for HbS and HbC (HbSC genotype)". Anemia; Volume 2011; Review Article 248527.

Dalibalta, S. et al. "Novel permeability characteristics of red blood cells from sickle cell patients heterozygous for HbS and HbC". Blood Cells, Molecules, and Diseases 2010; 45(1):46-52.

Hardman, R.; Dalibalta, S.; et al."Activation gating of hERG potassium channels: S6 glycines are required for helix packing and not as gating hinges". Journal of Biological Chemistry 2007; 282(44):31972-81.

Conference Presentations

Dalibalta, S.; Ellory, C.; et al. "New directions for sickle cell diagnosis and potential therapy". Pan Arab Human Genetics Conference, Dubai, UAE, March 2010.

Ellory, C.; Dalibalta, S.; et al. "Transport properties of HbSC red cells". Annual Red Cell Meeting, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, October 2009.

Dalibalta, S.; Ellory, C.; et al. "Is Psickle an existing channel, a new channel, or simply a pore?". Physiological society Young Physiologists’ Symposium, Leicester, UK, September 2009.

Dalibalta, S.; Ellory, C.; et al. "Evidence for a streptomycin-sensitive transport pathway in human sickle erythrocytes". Physiological society annual meeting, Dublin, Ireland, July 2009.

Dalibalta, S.; Mitcheson, J. "Role of S6 residues in hERG gating and pharmacology". Biophysical society annual meeting, Long Beach, California, February 2008.

Dalibalta, S. "An investigation of drug interactions with the aromatic residue Tyr652 in the inner cavity of hERG potassium channels." Ion channel symposium, Leeds, UK, July 2007.

Awards and Honors

Pfizer Collaborative Award in Science and Engineering, University of Leicester, UK, 2004-2007

British Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council Award, University of Leicester, 2004-2007

Prize for best academic performance, Ulster University UK, 2004

Other creative/research

Dalibalta, S. and Mitcheson, J."Antitargets in drug discovery – Prediction and Prevention of Side Effects". Published under the series “Methods and Principles in Medicinal Chemistry”, January 2008.