Showcasing the commitment of the student body to healthcare research and the vibrant research culture fostered by the University, the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) – the Medical University of Bahrain recently awarded 14 students for their valuable contribution to medical research.

This year, a record number of over 200 students pursued the various avenues available for research at the University, with the award-winning publications rigorously evaluated based on criteria such as journal impact factor, journal quartile rank and the degree of student authorship. Additionally, 42 publications emerged from research projects conducted in the past year, reinforcing the impact of student-led research.

Over 20 faculty members of the University, along with eight alumni dedicated their expertise to supporting student research endeavours, highlighting the strong mentorship and collaborative environment fostered at RCSI Medical University of Bahrain. 

Professor Stephen Atkin, Head of the School of Postgraduate Studies and Research, stated, “I extend my congratulations to all winners and my sincere thanks to all students who submitted their research. The quality of research demonstrated by our students this year has been truly exceptional and reflects their hard work, intellectual curiosity and dedication to becoming future healthcare leaders and researchers. I also extend my thanks to Dr Nitya Kumar, Academic Director of Undergraduate Research (Interim) and Senior Lecturer in Public Health and Epidemiology,  the academics, researchers, Alumni and external collaborators, who contribute to fostering a supportive environment that enables undergraduate students to undertake impactful research and advance their research skills.”

The winners for the 2025 Student Publication Awards included Medicine Year 3 student Ms Renad Alansari, was awarded for her work on the research publication titled, “Anticancer and antibacterial potential of green synthesized BSA conjugated silver nanoparticles”, under the mentorship of Dr Roshan Deen, Lecturer in Chemistry.
Senior Cycle 1 student Ms Sara Anjum Niinuma, was awarded for her work on the research publication titled, “Real world effectiveness of sotrovimab in preventing COVID-19-related hospitalisation or death in patients infected with Omicron BA.2”, under the mentorship of Professor Manaf AlQahtani, Part-time Clinical Professor. 

Senior Cycle 2 student Ms Jenan Jameel Sh. Nasser, was awarded for her work on the research publication titled, “The Role of MicroRNA, Long Non-Coding RNA and Circular RNA in the Pathogenesis of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Literature Review”, under the mentorship of Professor Alexandra Butler, Professor in Pathology.
During the year, the University’s summer research projects, including the Research Review Competition and international summer research collaborations enabled undergraduate students to contribute to over 70 research studies and supported 15 students with participating in research projects at Keele University (UK), Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi (UAE) and St. Michael’s Teaching Hospital (Canada), among others. Demonstrating further support, the University awarded its first Open Access Publication Grant, with the aim to facilitate wider dissemination of research led by undergraduate students.

RCSI Medical University of Bahrain is dedicated to nurturing the research capabilities of its students, encouraging them to engage in projects that have the potential to make a meaningful impact on patient care and healthcare practices.