Passion & Science: Wadah Malaeb’s Trailblazing Biomedical Ventures

Wadah Malaeb shares his transformative journey from being a Mechanical Engineering student to revolutionizing biomedical research with SOS12’s support.

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Discovering a New Path: My Journey with Stars of Science

Being a Mechanical Engineering student at the American University of Beirut (AUB), my pursuit of knowledge led me to the promising realm of biomedical research. It was through a course on tissue engineering that I realized the immense potential this field holds, and the Stars of Science show played a pivotal role in helping me explore it.

?Crafting a Solution: The Ductal Organoid-on-a-Chip

Developing a medical drug is laden with challenges, requiring extensive time and financial trials. My innovation, the Ductal Organoid-on-a-Chip, stands as a testament to overcoming these challenges. This technology simulates human conditions, enabling cells to grow and reorganize into tissues resembling those in our bodies. This massively facilitates efficient and affordable drug testing.

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Soaring Beyond Stars: Building, Learning, Expanding

Post-Stars-of-Science, the journey wasn’t a bed of roses. Realizing the conditions surrounding me, I first filed the patents and established my company in multiple countries, setting up our manufacturing and engineering facility in Lebanon and our biology lab in the United Kingdom. I then expanded my team to twenty people and received more than $1.2 million in grants and investments. I also collaborated with labs at esteemed institutions such as the American University of Beirut and the University of Bradford, who are supporting us in developing the biological organ models.

Fostering Innovation: Creating a Living Body Functional Model

My relentless pursuit didn’t stop there; I developed the “Human-on-chip operating system,” connecting different micro-organs to create a comprehensive living body functional model, aiming to make drug testing more precise and reliable. The incorporation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in controlling and optimizing the tissues and organ models makes the experiments resemble human body tissues more, paving the way for groundbreaking advancements in biomedical research.

?A Pursuit of Passion and Growth

For me, discovering one’s ultimate purpose in life is enabled by finding one’s passion, and continuously learning and adapting. Surrounding oneself with people who encourage growth, critical thinking, and open-mindedness is vital. Questioning and self-critique are crucial elements to identify gaps and avoid building on voids.

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My journey, fueled by passion and supported by Stars of Science, has been about continuous learning and innovation. I hope my story inspires budding scientists and researchers to pursue their passion relentlessly and contribute to making the world a better place.

Wadah Malaeb is a biotech entrepreneur and founder of DLOC Biosystems, revolutionizing drug industry through innovative organ-on-chip technology. He received a BE & ME in Mechanical Engineering from the American University of Beirut (AUB), where he spent five years in biomedical engineering research before launching DLOC. Wadah won prestigious contests including?Stars of Science?and secured over $1.3M in grants and investments. Leading a 20-member team in Lebanon and the UK, he established labs, collaborated with top institutions, and filed 11 patents globally. At 28, Wadah earned a spot in Forbes' 2022 "30 under 30" list. DLOC gears up to launch drug testing services in Q4 2024, promising a transformative impact on pharmaceutical research.