Maged Gomaa Hemida, BVSc, MVSc, PhD

Professor of Virology

Academic Background and Professional Experience:

Dr. Hemida earned his Ph.D. in 2009 from the Pathobiology Department at the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC), University of Guelph, Canada, where he conducted molecular and biological characterization studies on turkey coronavirus. Following his Ph.D., he pursued postdoctoral training at the Centre for Heart Lung Innovation, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, University of British Columbia (UBC), Canada. During his postdoctoral work, Dr. Hemida explored the roles of small RNA molecules, particularly microRNAs, and host transcription factors in the molecular pathogenesis of Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3). His research identified key microRNAs involved in regulating CVB3 infection and pathogenesis both in vitro and in murine models.

Dr. Hemida obtained his BVSc (DVM equivalent) and MVSc degrees from the University of Kafrelsheikh, Egypt. Before joining LIU College of Veterinary Medicine as a full professor, he held multiple academic positions across North America and the Middle East, progressing from an instructor/demonstrator position in virology to senior academic ranks.

Research Interests:

Dr. Hemida’s research focuses on understanding virus-host interactions and developing innovative solutions for preventing and controlling viral diseases across species. His primary areas of interest include:

1- Bovine Coronavirus (BCoV) Host Interaction: Investigating the roles of small RNA molecules (such as microRNAs), cellular receptors, and host enzymes that fine-tune BCoV replication and tissue tropism.

2- AI-Driven Vaccine Development: Integrating artificial intelligence tools to design and develop novel vaccines against major viral diseases affecting humans, livestock, and poultry.

3- Molecular Characterization of Feline Viruses: Conducting molecular and serological surveillance of common feline viruses in feral cat populations, including Feline Infectious Peritonitis Virus (FIPV), Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), and Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV).

Awards and Recognitions:

Dr. Hemida has received numerous prestigious awards throughout his career, including:

-Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)/IMPAT Fellowship

-Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (HSFC) Award

-Dr. Wilson Henderson Memorial Scholarship (OVC)

-Soren Rosendal Memorial Research Prize

Scientific Contributions and Supervision:

Dr. Hemida has published over 100 manuscripts in top-tier peer-reviewed journals, including Lancet Respiratory Medicine, PNAS, Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID), and Emerging Microbes & Infections (EMI). He has supervised numerous trainees, including master’s, Ph.D. students, postdoctoral fellows, and research assistants. He has also secured competitive grants from renowned funding agencies worldwide.

Mentorship and Graduate Student Opportunities:

Dr. Hemida is currently accepting applications from highly motivated graduate students, particularly M.Sc. and Ph.D. candidates, interested in contributing to cutting-edge research in molecular virology, vaccine development, and virus-host interactions

List of some selected publications:

1. Shah AU, Gauger P, Hemida MG. Isolation and molecular characterization of an enteric isolate of the genotype-Ia bovine coronavirus with notable mutations in the receptor binding domain of the spike glycoprotein. Virology. 2025;603:110313.

2. Khan MY, Shah AU, Duraisamy N, ElAlaoui RN, Cherkaoui M, Hemida MG. Leveraging Artificial Intelligence and Gene Expression Analysis to Identify Some Potential Bovine Coronavirus (BCoV) Receptors and Host Cell Enzymes Potentially Involved in the Viral Replication and Tissue Tropism. Int J Mol Sci. 2025;26(3).

3. Shah AU, Hemida MG. The dual actions of miRNA16a in restricting Bovine Coronavirus replication through downregulation of Furin and enhancing the host immune response. Sci Rep. 2024;14(1):29308.

4. Shah AU, Hemida MG. The ex vivo infection model of the peripheral bovine mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the bovine spleen cells with the bovine coronavirus (BCoV) induced a differential expression of the host cytokine genes profiles and modulates the virus replication. Virology. 2024;600:110259.

5. Shah AU, Hemida MG. The Potential Roles of Host Cell miRNAs in Fine-Tuning Bovine Coronavirus (BCoV) Molecular Pathogenesis, Tissue Tropism, and Immune Regulation. Microorganisms. 2024;12(5).

6. Duraisamy N, Khan MY, Shah AU, Elalaoui RN, Cherkaoui M, Hemida MG. Machine learning tools used for mapping some immunogenic epitopes within the major structural proteins of the bovine coronavirus (BCoV) and for the in silico design of the multiepitope-based vaccines. Front Vet Sci. 2024;11:1468890.

7. Al-Mubarak AIA, Al-Kubati AAG, Sheikh A, Abdelaziz AM, Hussen J, Kandeel M, Hemida MG. Detection of Avian Orthoavulavirus-1 genotypes VI.2.1 and VII.1.1 with neuro-viscerotropic tropism in some backyard pigeons (Columbidae) in Eastern Saudi Arabia. Front Vet Sci. 2024;11:1352636.

8. Hemida MG, Egamberdieva D, Malik YS. Editorial: Coronaviruses from the One Health perspective. Front Microbiol. 2023;14:1338529.

9. van Doremalen N, Letko M, Fischer RJ, Bushmaker T, Schulz J, Yinda CK, Hemida MG, et al. Surface‒Aerosol Stability and Pathogenicity of Diverse Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Strains, 2012‒2018. Emerg Infect Dis. 2021;27(12):3052-62.

10. Hemida MG, Al-Hammadi M, Gonzalves C, Ismail MM. The experimental infection with a field isolate of the infectious bronchitis virus from eastern Saudi Arabia resulted in seroconversion of the challenged birds with no apparent clinical diseases. Virusdisease. 2021;32(2):354-60.

11. Hemida MG. The next-generation coronavirus diagnostic techniques with particular emphasis on the SARS-CoV-2. J Med Virol. 2021;93(7):4219-41.

12. Ba Abduallah MM, Hemida MG. Comparative analysis of the genome structure and organization of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) 2012 to 2019 revealing evidence for virus strain barcoding, zoonotic transmission, and selection pressure. Rev Med Virol. 2021;31(1):1-12.

13. Hemida MG, Perera R, Chu DKW, Ko RLW, Alnaeem AA, Peiris M. West Nile virus infection in horses in Saudi Arabia (in 2013-2015). Zoonoses Public Health. 2019;66(2):248-53.

14. Hemida MG, Perera R, Chu DKW, Alnaeem AA, Peiris M. Evidence of equine influenza A (H3N8) activity in horses from Eastern and Central Saudi Arabia: 2013-2015. Equine Vet J. 2019;51(2):218-21.

15. Alsultan MA, Alhammadi MA, Hemida MG. Infectious bronchitis virus from chickens in Al-Hasa, Saudi Arabia 2015-2016. Vet World. 2019;12(3):424-33.

16. Hemida MG, Rizk El-Ghareeb W, Al-Hizab F, Ibrahim A. Foot-and-mouth disease virus O/ME-SA/Ind 2001 lineage outbreak in vaccinated Holstein Friesian cattle in Saudi Arabia in 2016. Vet Q. 2018;38(1):88-98.

17. Hanson PJ, Ye X, Qiu Y, Zhang HM, Hemida MG, Wang F, et al. Cleavage of DAP5 by coxsackievirus B3 2A protease facilitates viral replication and enhances apoptosis by altering translation of IRES-containing genes. Cell Death Differ. 2016;23(5):828-40.

18. Ye X, Zhang HM, Qiu Y, Hanson PJ, Hemida MG, Wei W, Hoodless PA, Chu F, Yang D. Coxsackievirus-induced miR-21 disrupts cardiomyocyte interactions via the downregulation of intercalated disk components. PLoS Pathog. 2014 Apr 10;10(4):e1004070. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004070. PMID: 24722419; PMCID: PMC3983067.

19. Crameri G, Durr PA, Klein R, Foord A, Yu M, Riddell S, Hemida MG, et al. Experimental Infection and Response to Rechallenge of Alpacas with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus. Emerg Infect Dis. 2016;22(6):1071-4.

20. Hemida MG, Ye X, Zhang HM, Hanson PJ, Liu Z, McManus BM, et al. MicroRNA-203 enhances coxsackievirus B3 replication through targeting zinc finger protein-148. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2013;70(2):277-91.

21. Hemida MG, Ye X, Thair S, Yang D. Exploiting the therapeutic potential of microRNAs in viral diseases: expectations and limitations. Mol Diagn Ther. 2010;14(5):271-82.

22. Hemida MG, Yoo D, Ojkic D, Barta JR. Infection with a pathogenic turkey coronavirus isolate negatively affects growth performance and intestinal morphology of young turkey poults in Canada. Avian Pathol. 2009;38(4):279-86.

23. Hemida MG, Yoo D, Ojkic D, Barta JR. Virus shedding and serum antibody responses during experimental turkey coronavirus infections in young turkey poults. Avian Pathol. 2009;38(2):181-6.

24. Hemida MG, Yoo D, Ojkic D, Barta JR. Seroprevalence of turkey coronavirus in North American turkeys determined by a newly developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay based on recombinant antigen. Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2008;15(12):1839-44.

25. Hemida MG, Barta JR, Ojkic D, Yoo D. Complete genomic sequence of turkey coronavirus. Virus Res. 2008;135(2):237-46.

Link for the complete list of publications at NCBI

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/maged.hemida.1/bibliography/public/