A phase 1 trial of a retinoic acid receptor beta agonist for the treatment of spinal cord injury

Biography

Prof. Dr. med. Hana Hassanin is an internationally recognised clinical academic and physician-scientist with extensive leadership experience in early- and late-phase clinical research across a wide range of therapeutic areas. She holds a joint appointment as Professor of Experimental and Translational Medicine at the University of Surrey and Honorary Consultant Physician at the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust.

Prof. Hassanin is the Medical Director of the Surrey Clinical Research Facility and Founding Director of the NIHR Royal Surrey Clinical Research Facility, where she provides strategic leadership for complex, innovative, and multinational clinical trials. Under her leadership, the facility has developed a strong international reputation for high-quality delivery of early-phase, translational, and experimental medicine studies.

With formal training in internal medicine at the University Hospital of Giessen, Germany, and subsequent clinical and academic experience at Heidelberg University Hospital, Prof. Hassanin was awarded her MD from the German National Centre for Tumour Diseases, in oncology and immunotherapy with a focus on pancreatic adenocarcinoma. She also holds a Certificate in Human Pharmacology (CHP) and has been awarded Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians (FRCP) in recognition of her significant medical and research contributions. Alongside a Postgraduate Diploma in Diabetes from Cardiff University, these credentials underpin her extensive expertise in clinical pharmacology and therapeutics, dose optimisation, first-in-human studies, and complex early and late-phase studies across multiple therapeutic areas.

Prof. Hassanin has served as Principal Investigator/Chief Investigator on more than 65 early- and late-phase clinical trials, including large global, multicentre studies. Her therapeutic expertise spans vaccines, oncology, immunology, cardiovascular medicine, musculoskeletal disease, metabolic disorders, and clinical pharmacology, making her a trusted partner for sponsors seeking to expand into new or complex clinical trial areas.

Prof. Hassanin has received the recognition award for broadening the understanding of clinical trials in the international educational event (Aware For All) organised by CISCRP (Centre for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation). 

In addition to her trial leadership, Prof. Hassanin plays a key role in national and international research governance. She chairs the University of Surrey Research Ethics Committee and serves as an expert member of the Health Research Authority Research Ethics Committee, contributing to the ethical oversight of advanced and first-in-human studies. She also sits on multiple national and international advisory boards, including the Health Protection Research Unit Network Funding Committee.

Prof. Hassanin is a Clinical Consultant to the Dementia Research Institute at the Surrey Sleep Research Centre and is widely recognised for her commitment to mentoring, education, and advancing public understanding of clinical research. Her contributions have been acknowledged through multiple awards for leadership, teaching excellence, and research engagement.

Through her academic insight, clinical expertise, and operational leadership, Prof. Hassanin is recognised as a Key Opinion Leader in experimental and translational clinical research, supporting global pharmaceutical partners in the successful design and delivery of innovative clinical trials with meaningful patient impact.

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