Amman, January 21 — Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation signed today agreements to support 14 research projects submitted by various universities and research centers across Jordan, as part of the 2025 cycle of its Scientific Research Support Fund.
The agreements reflect the Foundation’s commitment to advancing science and supporting researchers and fall under its Thought Leadership Pillar.
The selected projects were chosen from among 173 submissions, the highest number in the Fund’s history. Support was awarded across the following fields: five in medical and health sciences, three in water, energy, and environmental sciences, three in social, human, and economic sciences, and three in engineering sciences.
The Foundation signed funding agreements with several researchers for new projects covering diverse scientific, humanistic, and applied fields. These include:
Water, Energy, and Environmental Sciences
Dr. Sanaa Al-Zyoud (Al al-Bayt University) for the project: “Exploring Geothermal Energy in Wadi Al-Hidan and Assessing Its Potential for Sustainable Energy Use in Jordan.”
Dr. Mohammad Al-Rifai (National Agricultural Research Center) for the project: “Developing Gundelia Plants Using Chemical Mutagenesis: Selecting Marketable Large Flower Heads and Spineless Leaves.”
Dr. Mundhir Al-Sadr (University of Jordan) for the project: “Reading the Heritage of Sallicornia Adapted to Saline and Arid Soils.”
Social Sciences and Humanities
Dr. Mohammad Al-Tarawneh (Al-Hussein Bin Talal University) for the project: “The Southeastern Badia Project: The 13th Season of Survey and Archaeological Excavation in Eastern Jafr, Southern Jordan.”
Dr. Bisan Al-Masri (Applied Science Private University) for the project: “Applying Machine Learning Algorithms Using Anomaly Detection Technology to Predict Earnings Fraud Patterns: A Case Study from Jordan.”
Dr. Sahar Al-Khasawneh (Yarmouk University) for the project: “Stones of Memory: 3D Documentation and Virtual Preservation of the Jfein Dolmen Field, Jordan.”
Medical and Health Sciences
Dr. Rod Rihani (King Hussein Cancer Center) for the project: “Advanced Pediatric Care: Integrating Patient Self-Assessment Tools into the Childhood Cancer and Stem Cell Transplant Care Pathway.”
Dr. Ghina Abu Diab (Yarmouk University) for the project: “Preparation and Molecular Analysis of New Acyl-Derived Dithiocarbamate Compounds as HDAC2 Enzyme Inhibitors.”
Dr. Hamzeh Hanieh (Aqaba University of Medical Sciences) for the project: “Harnessing Dual Modulation of AHR and ERED5A: An Innovative Breakthrough in Sepsis Treatment.”
Dr. Sufian Al-Shboul (Hashemite University) for the project: “Investigating the Clinical Role of Therapy-Induced Senescent Cells Characterized by Elevated DPP4 in Breast Cancer.”
Dr. Walhan Al-Sha’ar (University of Jordan) for the project: “Aptamer-Guided, Stem-Cell–Derived Exosomes as a Targeted Therapeutic Option for Glioblastoma.”
Engineering Sciences
Dr. Alia Al-Ghosoun (Philadelphia University) for the project: “An Integrated Digital Agriculture System: From Sensing to Intelligent Decision-Making.”
Dr. Ruba Khanouf (Jordan University of Science and Technology) for the project: “Modeling and Optimizing the Nanoliposome Manufacturing Process via Microfluidics Using Artificial Intelligence.”
Dr. Sinan Al-Faouri (Applied Science Private University) for the project: “An AI-Based Sign Language Translation Assistant for Healthcare Applications in Jordan.”
Valentina Kassisieh, CEO of the Foundation, affirmed that these agreements embody the Foundation’s deep commitment to supporting high-quality scientific research and its belief in research as a driving force for progress. She emphasized the Foundation’s conviction that science is a cornerstone and a national necessity for building resilient societies capable of facing challenges and shaping a sustainable future.
She added that the Foundation’s Thought Leadership Pillar serves as a nurturing space for bold research ideas that go beyond diagnosing realities and work toward practical, evidence-based solutions with tangible impact on society, the economy, and policymaking.
Kassisieh noted that the diversity of the supported fields reflects the Foundation’s holistic vision of scientific research as an integrated ecosystem, where true progress cannot be achieved without interaction between applied sciences and the social sciences, and without linking technical knowledge to social and economic dimensions.
She concluded by reaffirming that the Foundation will continue investing in Jordanian talent and supporting scientists and researchers, guided by its belief that knowledge is the most valuable resource and that empowering scientific research is the most reliable path to building a strong knowledge economy and positioning Jordan as a regional hub for creativity, research, and innovation.
Established in 1999, the Abdul Hameed Shoman Scientific Research Support Fund provides grants of up to 20,000 Jordanian dinars for two years to support research proposals from Jordanian universities and research centers, focusing on applied projects that contribute to solving local and global challenges across various fields.