Egyptian heart surgeon Magdi Yacoub gained fame for saving patients on the brink of death, earning the title "Prince of Hearts." Following in his footsteps, a new Egyptian name shines in a different field—cancer research. Years ago, at around fifteen, Sara Mahmoud Haji suffered a tremendous shock when one of her relatives died from pancreatic cancer. The tragic event deeply affected the girl, who was in her final year of high school, leading her to resolutely decide to help those suffering from the same disease that claimed her relative’s life, and to contribute to cancer research.
Time passed, and Sara enrolled in the Faculty of Pharmacy and Biotechnology at the German University in Cairo, where she excelled in her classes and produced a unique study that recently won the "Richtzenhain" award from the German Cancer Research Center as the best cancer research in Germany. Sara, who obtained her master's and doctorate from Heidelberg University and the German Cancer Research Center, describes the award as a dream that transforms the lives of millions of patients, adding: "Thank you to the God of the universe who supported me, to the thousands of people who backed me, and to my mentors and family who helped build the dreamer within me capable of making the impossible a reality."
This was the beginning, and Sara mentioned in her conversation with "Sky News Arabia" that her late relative Hanan, who passed away shortly before her wedding due to cancer, was a significant motivation for her to question the essence of cancer and to think about being one of the influencers in the world, contributing to helping the affected. She noted: "I told myself that her death would not just be a fleeting memory; I would transform my pain and sorrow into material that drives me toward my goal and always keep her memory alive by striving to achieve a higher purpose and conduct beneficial research for humanity."
Sara sought to demonstrate a relative relationship between female sex hormones like estrogen and their impact on non-sexual organs such as the intestines and pancreas. She was able to obtain a substantial grant of $2.7 million from the National Institutes of Health in America to further expand her research results after achieving remarkable outcomes and to explore the development of a treatment that limits the disease.
In her research, the young Egyptian proved that when these hormones are secreted from the ovaries, they target stem cells present in the intestines, which are the raw materials in the body from which all other specialized function cells are generated. They divide to form more progeny cells. She confirmed in her research that when there is a dysfunction in how those cells operate, complications arise, as their increased division beyond normal limits leads to the enlargement of the intestines to absorb more nutrients, which results in inflammation, stomach aging, and the development of tumors.
The German embassy in Cairo congratulated the Egyptian researcher through its official Facebook page for winning the "Richtzenhain" award for the best cancer research in Germany. With tones of challenge and strength, Sara affirmed that over 97 percent of the experiments she conducted over the years were on her own path until she was rewarded with the substantial grant to complete her research and reach the desired outcomes to remove the disease from the bodies of millions.
Sara also expressed her desire to serve humanity through leadership training, aiming to provide opportunities and space for many young people who want to succeed but face crises and obstacles they cannot overcome. Currently, her goal is to open avenues for them to achieve their dreams.
The impact of the discovery and work of the Egyptian researcher is significant, marking the first time it has been revealed that there is a relationship between those hormones and the enlargement of cancerous tumors in that area of the body, shedding light on a phenomenon that has puzzled many scientists. In this regard, she emphasized the importance of focusing on nutrition, mental health, and avoiding preservatives and chemicals that heavily affect health.
Sara went on to say that she competed against approximately 400 scientists from around the world for the award: "As individuals, we walk through life racing towards the finish line, but what happens is a competition with the customs and traditions we have grown up with, leading us to drop out of the race over time due to emerging obstacles and challenges. Therefore, we must build a generation skilled in leadership, focused on the goal without straying from the right path."
Regarding family support, Sara affirmed: "God blessed me with a wonderful mother who instilled in me the love of benefiting humanity, and a father who works hard to achieve excellence and provide a decent life. They understand everything in life and deserve all respect and appreciation. Their prayers have always been that God bless me with useful knowledge." She added: "My father never imagined that I would travel one day, and the idea of leaving Egypt was nonexistent due to customs and traditions in our conservative family. But my passion inspired him and made him agree to my travel and continue this phase of excellence."
The Egyptian researcher, who garnered the award for best scientific research in Germany, offered a message to all young people, saying: "Invest in yourselves, strive diligently for leadership training, and break all the obstacles you see. Anything that stands before you as a barrier can be erased and its negative effects removed, no matter what."
