Interview of Zaineb AbdelKafi from the Pasteur Institute in Tunis

Can you introduce yourself in 2 minutes?

My name is Zaineb AbdelKafi, I am a Tunisian national.

In 2016, I obtained my PhD in biological sciences (Biochemical and molecular characterisation and pharmacological effects of a l-amino acid oxidase from the venom of Cerastes cerastes)

In 2009, I obtained my Master's degree in genetics and molecular biology.

And in 2007, I graduated as a biotech engineer.

Currently I am a member and post-doctoral researcher in the Biomolecules, Venoms and Theranostics Applications Laboratory at the Pasteur Institute in Tunis.

In which field do you do research?

My academic and research background has allowed me to gain experience in different disciplines such as biochemistry, protein engineering and cell culture. As a result, I became interested in studying the pharmacological activities of active molecules purified from animal venom against different cancer pathologies. To achieve this objective, I was a member of several national and international research projects, such as the ACIP project, which is part of the programme to strengthen collaboration between pasteur institutes worldwide. This ACIP project allowed me to carry out a one-month research internship in 2019 at the IPK in order to acquire new technologies for 3D cell cultures and high throughput screening (HTS).

Currently, I have had the honour of collaborating with Dr Ines Bini in her EXAF-JFD research project funded jointly with EPFL and Mohamed 6 University in Morocco.

What is your research question in connection with Mrs El Bini's laboratory in the framework of the EXAF project (popularisation necessary because the target is the general public)?

Dr. ELBini's research project consists of the search for a therapy for Parkinson's disease in animal venoms. Animal venoms have been extensively studied in our laboratory since 1987 in order to identify and explore the therapeutic potential of certain active compounds in the treatment of various cancerous, cardiovascular and haematological diseases. In this sense, Dr Elbini thought of exploring this potential against Parkinson's disease.

Since my recruitment last February, I have been in charge of purifying and characterising the different molecules isolated from the venom, which is composed of toxic molecules, which lead to the paralysis of the victim, but also of non-toxic molecules, which are of interest to us in this project.

What is the scientific challenge of your research topic?

It is especially to work on a new theme which is neuroscience which has just been developed at the IPT with the recruitment of Dr ELBini. At the same time, this stay at EPFL allows me to acquire new technologies.

How does working with EPFL add value to your career?

Of course, this collaboration has added value to my career for three reasons:

First of all, Dr ELBini offered me this opportunity to be in his team, through this EXAF-JFD project, in order to strengthen my research and valorisation activities

Secondly, the EPFL is a university of great international renown. And finally, Pr Lashuel is a very well known researcher who has worked for a long time on neurodegenerative diseases and essentially on Parkinson's disease.

What does excellence mean to you?

Excellence is a wonderful word that is paramount in scientific research. In fact, it's not so much about being perfect at it, but about doing things as well as possible every time.

Excellence requires daily work because it is based on our own values; those that challenge us every day, those that we perceive in everything we do and in everything that happens.

In a word, excellence for me is "The pleasure of doing things well".

What roles do you think women have to play in research today in general and in Africa in particular?

The struggle of women to enter the world of knowledge has been long and difficult.

Today, women and girls play an essential role in overcoming the greatest challenges in scientific research that we face every day.

In Africa, inequalities concerning women in science are still very present. Women are still struggling to find their place in science.

In Tunisia the situation is improving. Women are widely represented with more than 60% of the workforce in scientific training at the university and in research laboratories.

My advice to young women researchers is to be confident, to preserve, to be curious, not to be afraid, to stop putting up barriers and follow the example of an inspiring woman.