Dr Ayoub recently joined the School of Health and Bioscience as a lecturer in pharmacology. He graduated with a BSc in pharmacology from UEL 2000, after which he joined the William Harvey Research Institute (WHRI), as a PhD student to investigate the role of novel cyclooxygenase variant enzymes during inflammation, pain and thermoregulation (2000-2004). As a post-doctorate scientist Dr Ayoub, at WHRI, was awarded an Early Career Fellowship by the Leverhulme Trust (2006-2008), to further his work on novel cyclooxygenase enzymes (COX-3) in thermoregulation. As part of this fellowship Dr Ayoub worked in the laboratory of Professor Daniel Simmons, Brigham Young University, Utah, USA in 2008. During his time at the WHRI, Dr Ayoub worked on other projects, which included identification of the mechanism of the regulatory function of annexin-A1 protein in acute pain and also in the development of allergic reactions. In 2010, Dr Ayoub moved to Imperial College London, where he investigated the mechanism of pro-angiogenic action of mesenchymal stem cells. With his research interest on the pharmacology and biochemistry of cyclooxygenase variants, Dr Ayoub has been able to publish many research papers, book chapters and is editor of “Cyclooxygenases: Methods and Protocols”   

• Module leader for Research Skills for Pharmacology and Physiology
• Member of the Medicines Research Group
• Research Co-ordinator for the School of Health, Sport and Bioscience

• Research interests include inflammation science, pain and thermoregulation.
• Experienced in pre-clinical research, particularly in drug target identification.
• Elucidation of the mechanism of action of existing drugs.

• BSc (Hons) Pharmacology
• MSc Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology

• Introductory Pharmacology (BS2041)
• Neuropharmacology (BS2042)
• Systems Pharmacology (3041)
• Behavioural and Chemical Pharmacology (BS3042)
• Biochemical and Cellular Toxicology (BS3033)
• Advanced Cellular Pharmacology and Physiology (BSM018)
• Research Skills for Pharmacology and Physiology (BSM019)
• Psychopharmacology and Integrative Systems (BSM020)
• Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Development (BSM024) 

Dr Ayoub is interested in the development of novel drug targets for the treatment of inflammatory, immune-mediated and painful conditions of the periphery and central nervous system including multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Dr Ayoub continues to lead research on the mechanism of action of paracetamol and has recently been focussing on the use of paracetamol for new therapeutic purposes. Dr Ayoub is currently investigating the mechanisms of anti-inflammatory actions of certain medicinal herbs.

Journal publications:

•  Samir S Ayoub, Sabih-ul Hassan, Elisabeth G Wood, Christopher Bolton (2011). The regulation of central nervous system prostaglandin levels in a chronic relapsing model of multiple sclerosis. Inflam. Res. 2011 June 12 [Epub ahead of print].
• Samir S Ayoub, Gareth Pryce, Michael P Seed, Christopher Bolton, Roderick J Flower and David Baker (2011). Paracetamol-induced hypothermia is independent of cannabinoids and transient receptor potential vanilloid-1 and is not mediated by AM404. Drug Metab Dispos. 39-1689-95
• Samir S Ayoub, Amrish Joshi, Mary Chol, Michael P Seed (2011). Inhibition of the diclofenac-induced cyclooxygenase-2 activity by paracetamol in cultured macrophages is not related to the intracellular lipid hydroperoxide tone. Fund. Clin. Pharmacol. 25:186-90
• Melanie J. Stables, Justine Newson, Samir S. Ayoub, Catherine Hyams, Derek W. Gilroy (2010). Cyclooxygenase inhibition primes the innate immune response in mouse and man and overcomes antibiotic resistance. Blood 116:2950-9
• Samia Yazid, Samir S Ayoub, Egle Solito, Simon McArthur, Phuong Vo, Neil Dufton and Roderick Flower (2010). Anti allergic Drugs and the Annexin-A1 system. Pharmacol Reports 62:511-7
• Samir S Ayoub, John C Hunter, Daniel L Simmons (2009). Answering the Burning Question of How TRPV1 Antagonists Cause Unwanted Hyperthermia. Pharmacol. Rev. 61:225-7
• Samir S Ayoub, Regina M Botting, Amrish N Joshi, Michael P. Seed and Paul R Colville-Nash (2009). Activation of macrophage peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-g by diclofenac results in the induction of cyclooxygenase-2 protein and the synthesis of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Molecul Cellul. Biochem. 327:101-110

Book chapters:

• Ayoub SS (2010). In vitro cyclooxygenase activity assay in tissue homogenates, in Cyclooxygenases: Methods and Protocols, Methods in Molecular Biology (Ed Ayoub SS, Flower RJ and Seed MP) pp117-120, Springer, New York.
• Ayoub SS and Polenzani L (2010). Prostanoid Extraction and Measurement, in Cyclooxygenases: Methods and Protocols, Methods in Molecular Biology (Ed Ayoub SS, Flower RJ and Seed MP) pp153-164, Springer, New York.
• Moore AR, Ayoub SS, Seed MP (2010). Cyclooxygenase enzymes and their products in the carragenaan-induced          pleurisy in rats, in Cyclooxygenases: Methods and Protocols, Methods in Molecular Biology (Ed Ayoub SS, Flower RJ and Seed MP) pp201-205, Springer, New York.
• Ayoub SS and Regina RM (2010). Iloprost-induced nociception: Determination of the site of anti-nociceptive action of cyclooxygenase inhibitors and the involvement of cyclooxygenase products in central mechanisms of nociception, in Cyclooxygenases: Methods and Protocols, Methods in Molecular Biology (Ed Ayoub SS, Flower RJ and Seed MP) pp207-215, Springer, New York.
• Ayoub SS and Flower RJ (2010). Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, in Fundamentals of Inflammation (Ed Serhan C, Ward P and Gilroy DW), pp 234-243, Cambridge Press

Books

Ayoub SS, Flower RJ and Seed MP (2010). Cyclooxygenases: Methods and Protocols, Methods in Molecular Biology Series, Springer. ISBN: 978-1-58829-953-6 ww.springer.com/biomed/pharmaceutical+science/book/978-1-58829-953-6).

Journal publications:

• Samir S. Ayoub, Samia Yazid and Roderick J. Flower (2008). Increased susceptibility of annexin-A1 null mice to nociceptive pain is indicative of a spinal antinociceptive role of annexin-A1. Br. J. Pharmacol. 154:1135-42
• Stefan Laufer, Greim, C., Luik, S., Ayoub, S.S. and Dehner, F (2008). Human whole blood assay for rapid and routine testing of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on cyclooxygenase-2 activity. Inflammopharmacol. 16(4):155-161
• Samir S. Ayoub, Wood, E.G., Bolton, C. (2007). The regulation of central nervous system prostaglandin levels in a chronic relapsing model of multiple sclerosis. Inflam Res Suppl.3 S358.
• Samir S. Ayoub, Paul R. Colville-Nash, Derek A. Willoughby and Renia M. Botting (2006). The involvement of a cyclooxygenase-1 gene derived protein in the antinociceptive action of paracetamol in mice. Eur. J. Pharmacol. 538, 57-65
• Renia Botting, Samir S. Ayoub (2005). COX-3 and the mechanism of action of paracetamol/acetaminophen. Prostagl. Leukot. And Essent. Fatty Acids 72, 85-87
• Samir S. Ayoub, Regina M. Botting, Sarita Goorha, Paul Colville-Nash, Derek Willoughby and Leslie R. Ballou (2004). Acetaminophen-induced hypothermia in mice is mediated by a prostaglandin endoperoxidesynthase-1 gene-derived protein. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 101, 11165-11169

• Editor for Inflammopharmacology
• Member of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP)
• Member of the British Pharmacological Society

Meeting abstracts

• Ayoub SS, Gowers KH, Jones CP, Rankin SM. Mesenchymal stem cells induce angiogenesis through a paracrine mechanism. 29^th London Vascular Biology Forum, 8^th December 2010, King’s College London 
• Ayoub SS, Yazid S, Flower RJ. Increased susceptibility of annexin-A1 null mice to nociceptive pain is indicative of a spinal anti-nociceptive pain of annexin-A1. IASP 12^th World Congress on Pain, 17-22 August 2008 Glasgow, UK
• Luik S, Greim C, Dehner F, Ayoub SS and Laufer S. Human whole blood assay for eapid and routine testing of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on cyclooxygenase-2 activity. 9^th Inflammopharmacology International Conference, 8-10 September 2008, Cambridge, UK
• Melanie J Stables, Newson JS, Bystrom J, Ayoub SS, Gilroy DW. COX-1 modulates the inflammatory macrophage phenotype and the host’s ability to fight infection. EPHAR meeting, 13-17 July 2008, Manchester, UK
• Ayoub SS, Hassan S, Wood EG, Bolton, C. The regulation of central nervous system prostaglandin levels in a chronic relapsing model of multiple sclerosis. European Charcot Foundation Symposium 2007, 29, 30 November, Fiuggi, Italy and 8^th World Congress on Inflammation 2007, 16-20 June, Copenhagen, Denmark.
• Samir S Ayoub, Regina M Botting, Derek A Willoughby and Paul R Colville-Nash. The analgesic action of paracetamol is dependent on a cyclooxygenase-1 gene-derived protein. Is cyclooxygenase-3 the target for paracetamol? IASP 11^th World Congress on Pain, August 21-26, 2005, Sydney, Australia.
• Samir S Ayoub, Regina M Botting, Paul R Colville-Nash and Derek A Willoughby. The analgesic effect of paracetamol in mice is explained by the inhibition of cyclooxygenase activity in the central nervous system. British Pharmacological Winter meeting, 8-10 January 2003, Brighton, UK
• Samir S Ayoub, Regina M Botting, Paul R Colville-Nash and Derek A Willoughby. Inhibition of cyclooxygenase enzymes in the central nervous system could explain the anti-nociceptive effect of acetaminophen. IASP 10^th World Congress on Pain, August 17-22, 2002, San Diego, California, USA