Currently working as a Research Assistant in the Narbad Group, I conduct molecular, microbiological, and metabolomics analyses on human samples in collaboration with the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. My research interests lie in the One Health initiative, with a focus on integrating insights from human and animal microbiomes.

I completed my postgraduate studies as an iCASE NRPDTP student in the Narbad Group at the Quadram Institute, where my research centred on poultry gut health, in collaboration with industry partner Aviagen. Prior to this, I contributed to research at Cancer Research UK Therapeutic Discovery Laboratories and the Wellcome Sanger Institute, where I designed and implemented immune-oncology assays to assess target validation and explore the disease relevance of metastasis-associated genes.

In addition to my research activities, I am actively involved in science communication and outreach, participating in events such as the Norwich Science Festival, Kids and Country Farming, the British Science Association, and visiting local schools to engage with and inspire the next generation of scientists.

Key Publications

Reviriego, C.B., Clare, S., Arends, M.J., Cambridge, E.L., Swiatkowska, A., Caetano, S., Abu-Helil, B., Kane, L., Harcourt, K., Goulding, D.A. and Gleeson, D., 2019. FBXO7 sensitivity of phenotypic traits elucidated by a hypomorphic allele. PloS one, 14(3), p.e0212481. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0212481

Abu-Helil, B. and van der Weyden, L., 2019. Metastasis in the wild: investigating metastasis in non-laboratory animals. Clinical & experimental metastasis, 36(1), pp.15-28. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10585-019-09956-3

van der Weyden, L., Starkey, M., Abu-Helil, B., Mutsaers, A.J. and Wood, G.A., 2019. Companion canines: an under-utilised model to aid in translating anti-metastatics to the clinic. Clinical & experimental metastasis, pp.1-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10585-019-10002-5