Visiting Instructor of Biological Sciences & SUNY PRODiG+ Fellow
Understanding how environmental exposures reshape cancer biology - from DNA damage to tumor progression.
1. General Information
Department: Department of Biological Sciences
Institution: SUNY Old Westbury
Campus Location: Woodlands 5, Room 144
Email: adamm@oldwestbury.edu
Phone: 516-876-2737
2. Research Interests
The Adam Lab investigates how environmental exposures influence cancer biology, with particular interest in the molecular and cellular mechanisms that connect environmental toxicants to tumor development and progression. Our research examines processes including DNA damage and genomic stress, epigenetic and histone remodeling, alterations in cancer-cell behavior, migration and metastasis, and interactions within the tumor microenvironment. We are also beginning to explore broader systemic and behavioral consequences of environmental exposure using complementary experimental models. Current projects examine environmentally relevant agents, including mycotoxins, persistent environmental contaminants, and emerging pollutants. A central feature of the laboratory is undergraduate-driven research, with students participating in experimental design, molecular and cellular assays, data interpretation, and scientific communication. Our long-term goal is to better understand how environmental exposures contribute to cancer risk and progression while creating meaningful research opportunities for developing scientists.
Research Philosophy & Student Mentoring
Research in the Adam Lab is intentionally student-centered. Undergraduate researchers are encouraged to move beyond performing experiments and develop ownership of the scientific process - from asking questions and evaluating literature to designing experiments, interpreting data, presenting findings, and developing independent research ideas.
3. Adam Lab Research Team
Current Undergraduate Researchers
- Shamia Khan
- Anjela Ladhar
- Darwin J. Munoz
- Zeynep Gulkan
- Danisha Hafeez
- Christophe Whyte
- Aicha Gueye
- Arhum A. Syed
- Ericka A. Esther
- Jamal Kamran
- Jayquan Wilson
- Muteeh Rehman
- Peace Bolaji
- Samantha Diaz
- Sonia Reyes Palacios
- Sarim Asim
- Iman Abid
- Sara Tate
- Anna Kozhevatova
- Alexa Santiago Munoz
- Mya Perk
- Enyi Bran
- Bianca Tummings
Lab Alumni
- Amy G. Sanchez
- Emily S. Parshotam
- Lauren I. Stroud
- Ozgur Demir
- Ofeck Mazor
- Melanie Bonilla
- Damaris Flores Jimenez
- Nicole Palacios
- Dylon S. Gabriel
- Angelica Amankwah
4. Opportunities for Undergraduate Researchers
The Adam Lab welcomes motivated undergraduate students interested in cancer biology, environmental toxicology, molecular biology, and related biomedical research. Students participate in collaborative research while progressively developing independence in experimental design, laboratory techniques, data analysis, scientific writing, and presentation.
Interested students: Contact Dr. Adam by email with a brief introduction and a description of your scientific interests.
Email: adamm@oldwestbury.edu
5. Selected Publications
Full author information is retained to support accurate review and publication on the ICaRE website.
- Wangzheqi Zhang, Haoling Zhang, Yan Liao, Shuya Jiang, Haolong Zhang, Chenwei Huang, Zhijing Song, Rui Zhao, Ping Lu, Xiaohong Kang, Eryan Kong, Yalin Zhu, Wei Wang, Xuesong Liu, Yisheng Chen, Zhiwen Luo, Zhaoyu Li, Di Wang, Na Xing, Yadong Guo, Jingjing Zhang, Xiaojing Wang, Wenyi Wang, Mowaffaq Adam, Bakiah Shaharuddin, Muhamad Yusri Musa, Doblin Sandai, Chenglong Zhu, Aimin Jiang, Peng Luo, Zhijie Zhao, Zui Zou (2026). Microbial metabolites in tumor epigenetic regulation. iMeta. DOI: 10.1002/imt2.70115
- Hao-Ling Zhang, Sandai Doblin, Zhong-Wen Zhang, Zhi-Jing Song, Babu Dinesh, Yasser Tabana, Dahham Sabbar Saad, Mowaffaq Adam Ahmed Adam, Yong Wang, Wei Wang, Hao-Long Zhang, Sen Wu, Rui Zhao, Barakat Khaled (2024). Elucidating the molecular basis of ATP-induced cell death in breast cancer: Construction of a robust prognostic model. World Journal of Clinical Oncology. DOI: 10.5306/wjco.v15.i2.208
- Hao-Ling Zhang, Doblin Sandai, Zhong-Wen Zhang, Zhi-Jing Song, Dinesh Babu, Yasser Tabana, Sabbar Saad Dahham, Mowaffaq Adam Ahmed Adam, Yong Wang, Wei Wang, Hao-Long Zhang, Rui Zhao, Khaled Barakat, Mohammad Syamsul Reza Harun, Siti Nurfatimah Mohd Shapudin, Bronwyn Lok (2023). Adenosine triphosphate induced cell death: Mechanisms and implications in cancer biology and therapy. World Journal of Clinical Oncology. DOI: 10.5306/wjco.v14.i12.549
- Bronwyn Lok, Dinesh Babu, Yasser Tabana, Saad Sabbar Dahham, Mowaffaq Adam Ahmed Adam, Khaled Barakat, Doblin Sandai (2023). The Anticancer Potential of Psidium guajava (Guava) Extracts. Life 13. DOI: 10.3390/life13020346
- Mowaffaq Adam Ahmed Adam, Laina Zarisa Muhd Kamal, Mahibub Kanakal, Dinesh Babu, Saad Sabbar Dahham, Yasser Tabana, Bronwyn Lok, Brittany M. Bermoy, Muhammad Amir Yunus, Leslie Thian Lung Than, Khaled Barakat, Doblin Sandai (2022). The Effect of Aflatoxin B1 on Tumor-Related Genes and Phenotypic Characters of MCF7 and MCF10A Cells. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 23. DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911856
- Ismail Abiola Adebayo, Haladu Ali Gagman, Wasiu Gbolahan Balogun, Mowaffaq Adam Ahmed Adam, Rafedah Abas, Khalid Rehman Hakeem, Nik Ahmad Irwan Izzauddin Bin Nik Him, Muhammad Razip Bin Samian, Hasni Arsad (2019). Detarium microcarpum, Guiera senegalensis, and Cassia siamea induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest and inhibit metastasis on MCF7 breast cancer cells. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. DOI: 10.1155/2019/6104574
- Mowaffaq Adam Ahmed Adam, Yasser M. Tabana, Khirun Binti Musa, Doblin Anak Sandai (2017). Effects of different mycotoxins on humans, cell genome, and their involvement in cancer. Oncology Reports 37.
- Muhammad Khairi Ahmad, Yasser M. Tabana, Mowaffaq Adam Ahmed, Doblin Anak Sandai, Rafeezul Mohamed, Ida Shazrina Ismail, Nurulisa Zulkiflie, Muhammad Amir Yunus (2017). Construction and cloning of reporter tagged replicon cDNA for an in vitro replication study of murine norovirus. Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences 24. DOI: 10.21315/mjms2017.24.6.4
- Saad Sabbar Dahham, Yasser M. Tabana, Doblin Sandai, Mowaffaq Adam Ahmed, Amin M. Shah Abdul Majid (2016). In vitro anti-cancer and anti-angiogenic activity of essential oils extracts from agarwood. Medicinal & Aromatic Plants 4. DOI: 10.4172/2167-0412.1000256