Sanaz Momben
School
School of Arts and Sciences
Department
School of Arts and Sciences
About
Dr. Sanaz Momben is an educator with a multidisciplinary background spanning industry, academia, and regulatory science. Her expertise includes medicinal products regulation, general biology, microbiology, cell biology, and biochemistry. She completed postdoctoral training at the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
At MCPHS, Dr. Momben teaches undergraduate, graduate, and professional courses in drug regulation, good practices, biology, and advanced biochemistry. Her teaching emphasizes critical thinking, professional communication, and the application of scientific concepts through real-world case studies. She has received multiple awards recognizing excellence in research and scientific presentations at national and international conferences.
Education
- PhD, Microbial and Cellular Biology – The Catholic University of America
- MS, Medical Microbiology – Shahid Beheshti University
- BS, Microbiology – Azad University
Research Interests
- Bacterial Infection and Parthenogenesis
- Rational Drug Design to inhibit Bacterial Channel Formation
- Medicinal Products Regulation
- Science Education
Programs
- Biotechnology (BS)
- Chemistry (BS)
- Health Sciences (BS)
- Health Sciences (BS)—Degree Completion
- Health Sciences (DHSc)
- Health Sciences (MHS)
- Health Sciences Pathway: Acupuncture (BS/MAC)
- Health Sciences Pathway: Occupational Therapy (BS/MSOT)
- Medical and Molecular Biology (BS)
- Premedical Health Studies (BS)
- Premedical Health Studies Pathway: Medicine (BS/MD with SGU)
- Premedical Health Studies Pathway: Dental Medicine (BS/DMD)
- Premedical Health Studies Pathway: Optometry (BS/OD)
- Premedical Health Studies Pathway: Osteopathic Medicine (BS/DO with LECOM)
- Premedical Health Studies Pathway: Osteopathic Medicine (BS/DO with ATSU)
- Premedical Health Studies Pathway: Physician Assistant Studies (BS/MPAS)
- Premedical Health Studies Pathway: Veterinary Medicine (BS/DVM with SGU)
- Public Health (BS)
- Public Health (MPH)
- Public Health Graduate Certificate
Education
- PhD, Microbial and Cellular Biology – The Catholic University of America
- MS, Medical Microbiology – Shahid Beheshti University
- BS, Microbiology – Azad University
Research Interests
- Bacterial Infection and Parthenogenesis
- Rational Drug Design to inhibit Bacterial Channel Formation
- Medicinal Products Regulation
- Science Education
Programs
- Biotechnology (BS)
- Chemistry (BS)
- Health Sciences (BS)
- Health Sciences (BS)—Degree Completion
- Health Sciences (DHSc)
- Health Sciences (MHS)
- Health Sciences Pathway: Acupuncture (BS/MAC)
- Health Sciences Pathway: Occupational Therapy (BS/MSOT)
- Medical and Molecular Biology (BS)
- Premedical Health Studies (BS)
- Premedical Health Studies Pathway: Medicine (BS/MD with SGU)
- Premedical Health Studies Pathway: Dental Medicine (BS/DMD)
- Premedical Health Studies Pathway: Optometry (BS/OD)
- Premedical Health Studies Pathway: Osteopathic Medicine (BS/DO with LECOM)
- Premedical Health Studies Pathway: Osteopathic Medicine (BS/DO with ATSU)
- Premedical Health Studies Pathway: Physician Assistant Studies (BS/MPAS)
- Premedical Health Studies Pathway: Veterinary Medicine (BS/DVM with SGU)
- Public Health (BS)
- Public Health (MPH)
- Public Health Graduate Certificate
Publications
- Xu, Y; He, Y; Momben-Abolfath, S; Vertrees, D; Li, X; Norton, M; Struble, EB. “Zika Virus Infection Downregulates FcRn in Placenta Trophoblast Cell Line - Potential Implications in Antibody Mediated Protection During Pregnancy”. In Press. Nov 2022.
- Sanaz Momben Abolfath, Lotte McNamara. “A Guide to Drug Master Files”. Oct 2022. https://www.bdo.com/insights/industries/life-sciences/a-guide-to-drug-master-files
- Sanaz Momben Abolfath, Lotte McNamara. “Procedural Requirements for Initiating Clinical Trials in the European Union”. Sep 2022. https://www.bdo.com/insights/industries/life-sciences/procedural-requirements-for-initiating-clinical-tr
- Yanqun Xu, Yong He, Sanaz Momben Abolfath, Nancy Eller, Malgorzata Norton, Pei Zhang, Dorotty Scott, Evi Budo Struble. “Entry and disposition of Zika virus immune complexes in a tissue culture model of the maternal-fetal interface”. Vaccines, 2021 Feb 11;9(2):145.
- Goli Yamini , Subbarao Kanchi , Nnanya Kalu , Sanaz Momben Abolfath, Stephen H Leppla , K Ganapathy Ayappa, Prabal K Maiti, Ekaterina M Nestorovich. “Hydrophobic Gating and 1/ f Noise of the Anthrax Toxin Channel”. J Phys Chem B. 2021 Jun 3;125(21):5466-5478.
- Xu, Y; He, Y; Momben Abolfath, S; Eller, N; Norton, MG; Zhang, P; Scott, D; Struble, EB. “Entry and Disposition of Zika virus immune complexes in a tissue culture model of the maternal-fetal interface”. Vaccines 2021,9,145.
- Momben Abolfath, S., Kolberg, M., Karginov, V., Leppla, S., Nestorovich, EM. “Exploring the Nature of Cationic Blocker Recognition by the Anthrax Toxin Protective Antigen Channel”. Biophys J. 2019 Nov5;117(9): 1751-1763.doi: 10.1016/j.bpj.2019.08.041
- Kalu, N., Atsmon-Raz, Y., Momben Abolfath, S., Lucas L, Kenny C, Leppla S.H, Tielman D.P, Nestorovich EM. “Effect of late endosomal DOBMP lipid and traditional model lipids of electrophysiology on the anthrax toxin channel activity, BBA-Biomembranes, 2018, Aug 19.
- Kalu N, Alcaraz, A., Yamini, G., Momben Abolfath, S., Lucas, L., Kenny, C., Aguilella, VM, Nestorovich, EM. “Effect of the Endosomal Acidification on small Ion Transport through the Anthrax Toxin PA63 Channel, FEBS letter, 2017, Sep 21.
- Wang, H., Yan, M., Sun, J., Jain, S., Yoshima, R., Momben Abolfath, S., Ozato, K., Coleman WG, Ng AP., Metcalf, D., DiRago, L., Nutt, SL., Morse, HC. “A reporter mouse reveals lineage- specific and heterogeneous expression of IRF8 during lymphoid and myeloid cell differentiation, J. Immunol, 2014, Aug 15, 2014; 193(4): 1766-77.
Honors and Awards
- 2021: Winner of the Society for Birth Defects Research and Prevention 2021 Annual Meeting, U.S.
- 2019: Winner of the 2019 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Student E-Poster Competition, Honorable Mention, recognized in the April issue of Science, 185th Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Washington, DC, U.S.
- 2017: Student Research Achievement Award, International Biophysical Society 61st Annual Meeting LA, U.S.
- 1997: Highest GPA (3.93) among Graduate students (Master of Science in Microbiology) on the dean-list, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
- 1997: Young Investigator's Award, The Second Biennial International Congress for Microbiology, Burban, Pakistan
- 1993: Outstanding undergraduate student, Azad University, Tehran, Iran