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Dr Hassan Choucair

Dr Hassan Choucair

Lecturer

BSc (Hons), PhD (Medicine)

Science
School of Biotech & Biomolecular Science

Hassan has a strong background in pharmacology and extensive experience in tertiary teaching. In 2016, he was awarded a highly competitive Australian Government Research Training Program scholarship to study the mechanism of action of a new class of drugs that selectively kill cancer cells, at the University of Sydney. He received his PhD in Medicine in 2020; during this period, he taught across five subjects and multiple scientific departments at the University of Sydney, in the faculties of Science, Medicine and Health, and Engineering, respectively. He educated students on biomedicine, including biochemistry and molecular biology, and reproduction, development and disease.

In 2021, Hassan moved to the Gold Coast to support clinical teaching. As an Academic Lecturer and Education Manager, he taught science and humanities subjects to university students and graduates seeking entry into Australian medical schools. He also worked closely with international medical graduates, rural practices, domestic doctors, and registrars pursuing entry into surgical training programs.

In 2023, Hassan joined The University of Notre Dame Australia, playing a pivotal role in establishing the School of Health Sciences in Sydney as an inaugural member. As a Lecturer, he directed the Year 1 Biomedical Science curriculum as Coordinator, providing academic support for the pathway programs into Medicine.

Currently, as a Lecturer (Education Focused) at UNSW, Hassan is involved in a range of scholarly activities aimed at establishing strong collaborative teaching and maintaining cancer research networks.
Phone
+61 2 9348 2297
E-mail
h.choucair@unsw.edu.au
Location
Rm 220B, Biological Sciences Building (D26) UNSW, Kensington Campus
  • Journal articles | 2024
    Rahman MK; Umashankar B; Choucair H; Bourget K; Rawling T; Murray M, 2024, 'The inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1) endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway promotes MDA-MB-231 cell survival and renewal in response to the aryl-ureido fatty acid CTU', International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, 171,
    Journal articles | 2024
    Tam S; Umashankar B; Rahman MK; Choucair H; Rawling T; Murray M, 2024, 'The Novel Anticancer Aryl-Ureido Fatty Acid CTU Increases Reactive Oxygen Species Production That Impairs Mitochondrial Fusion Mechanisms and Promotes MDA-MB-231 Cell Death', International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25,
    Journal articles | 2023
    Rahman MK; Umashankar B; Choucair H; Pazderka C; Bourget K; Chen Y; Dunstan CR; Rawling T; Murray M, 2023, 'Inclusion of the in-chain sulfur in 3-thiaCTU increases the efficiency of mitochondrial targeting and cell killing by anticancer aryl-urea fatty acids', European Journal of Pharmacology, 939,
    Journal articles | 2022
    Choucair H; Rahman MK; Umashankar B; Al-Zubaidi Y; Bourget K; Chen Y; Dunstan C; Rawling T; Murray M, 2022, 'The aryl-ureido fatty acid CTU activates endoplasmic reticulum stress and PERK/NOXA-mediated apoptosis in tumor cells by a dual mitochondrial-targeting mechanism', Cancer Letters, 526, pp. 131 - 141,
    Journal articles | 2021
    al-Zubaidi Y; Chen Y; Khalilur Rahman M; Umashankar B; Choucair H; Bourget K; Chung L; Qi Y; Witting PK; Anderson RL; O'Neill GM; Dunstan CR; Rawling T; Murray M, 2021, 'PTU, a novel ureido-fatty acid, inhibits MDA-MB-231 cell invasion and dissemination by modulating Wnt5a secretion and cytoskeletal signaling', Biochemical Pharmacology, 192,
    Journal articles | 2019
    Al-Zubaidi Y; Pazderka C; Koolaji N; Rahman MK; Choucair H; Umashankar B; Bourget K; Chen Y; Rawling T; Murray M, 2019, 'Aryl-urea fatty acids that activate the p38 MAP kinase and down-regulate multiple cyclins decrease the viability of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells', European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 129, pp. 87 - 98,
    Journal articles | 2017
    Rawling T; Choucair H; Koolaji N; Bourget K; Allison SE; Chen YJ; Dunstan CR; Murray M, 2017, 'A Novel Arylurea Fatty Acid That Targets the Mitochondrion and Depletes Cardiolipin to Promote Killing of Breast Cancer Cells', Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 60, pp. 8661 - 8666,
  • Conference Papers | 2019
    Rahman MK; Rawling T; Al-Zubaidi Y; Choucair H; Umashankar B; Chen Y; Bourget K; Tam S; Smith C; Murray M, 2019, 'Inhibition of IRE1-mediated pro-tumorigenic responses enhances the sensitivity of MDA-MB-231 cells to the novel arylurea-fatty acid CTU', in MOLECULAR CANCER THERAPEUTICS, AMER ASSOC CANCER RESEARCH,
    Conference Papers | 2017
    Murray M; Choucair H; Allison S; Bourget K; Chen Y; Dunstan C; Rawling T, 2017, 'A novel synthetic omega-3 fatty acid epoxide analogue activates breast cancer cell killing in vitro and in vivo', in BIOCHEMICAL PHARMACOLOGY, PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD, SCOTLAND, Aberdeen, pp. 117 - 117, presented at Joint Conference of the 5th International Conference on the Mechanism of Action of Nutraceuticals (ICMAN) / Meeting of the Natural-Products-Section of the International-Union-of-Basic-and-Clinical-Pharmacology (IUPHAR), SCOTLAND, Aberdeen, 27 September 2017 - 29 September 2017,

2024, Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Seed Grant for ‘Transforming Health Science Learning with AI Chatbot Technology.’ The University of Notre Dame Australia, AUD $5,000.

2024, Early Career Researcher Award for ‘Enhancing Anticancer Drug Development by Targeting Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.’ The University of Notre Dame Australia, AUD $10,000.

2019, Sydney Catalyst Professor Rob Sutherland Travel and Education Award. To attend and deliver a poster presentation at the 33rd Genes and Cancer Annual Meeting 2019 in Cambridge, UK, April 8–11, 2019. The University of Sydney, AUD $2,000.

2016, Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship. A highly competitive Department of Education award recognising exceptional research potential to undertake a PhD at the University of Sydney, from 2016–2019. The University of Sydney, AUD $26,682 p.a.
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Hassan's research spans drug discovery, oncology, and cancer biology. He has supervised multiple Honours students and mentored PhD candidates from various cancer research groups across Sydney. At The University of Notre Dame Australia, he led a project on the implementation and benefits of generative artificial intelligence in teaching. Currently, at UNSW, Hassan is involved in teaching research within the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion space and is investigating the use of AI agents to enhance student experience.

Community Engagement

2023, NSW Cancer Research Education Review Focus Group Participant.
2023–2022, Pre-Employment Structured Clinical Interview (PESCI) Panel Member.
2023, NSW Cancer Conference 2023 Scientific Advisory Committee.
2023, University of Sydney Cancer Research Network Postgraduate Student Mentor.
2023, Sydney Cancer Partners Conference Funding Support Panel Member.
2023, NSW Cancer Research Education Review Focus Group Participant.
2022–2020, Australian Research Council BIOTech Futures Challenge Mentor.
2021, Sydney Cancer Conference 2021 Scientific Advisory Committee.

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Memberships

2021–present, Sydney Cancer Partners.
2021–present, Australasian Cell Death Society.
2021–2019, Sydney Catalyst.
2016–present, University of Sydney Cancer Research Network.
2016, Australasian Society of Clinical & Experimental Pharmacologists & Toxicologists (ASCEPT).

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My Teaching

Hassan is well-experienced in university teaching across all levels, with a particular focus on supporting first-year students as they transition from high school to university. His teaching expertise includes biochemistry, cellular biology and genetics, molecular biology, pharmacology, physiology of body systems, and the pathological basis of disease. Hassan is also actively involved in working to create an inclusive and supportive learning environment. He is dedicated to fostering student growth and helping them build a strong foundation in these critical subjects.