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Sandra KOBAITER MAARRAWI

Enseignant Cadré - Professeur associé - PhD

Faculty of Medicine (FM)
Laboratory of Neuroscience Research (LNS)

(+961) 1 421 000 ext 6677 sandra.kobaitermaarrawi@usj.edu.lb

Dr. Sandra Kobaiter Maarrawi is an Associate Professor of Neuroscience in the Faculty of Medicine (FM) at Saint Joseph University (USJ) of Beirut, Lebanon. She received her undergraduate degree (Bachelor of Science in Biology – Physiology, 2006) graduate degree (Master of Research in Neuroscience, 2009) from Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL1), France, under the tutelage of Professors Luis Garcia Larrea Sylvia Wirth, where she developed her research skills at INSERM EMI342 & U897 and Institute of Cognitive Science UMR5012. Kobaïter also holds an Inter-University Diploma in Animal Experimentation – Level 1 – from the École Normale Supérieure of Lyon and the UCBL1 (2011). She obtained her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the UCBL1 in 2013 (at INSERM U1028 of Lyon Neuroscience Research Center) under the supervision of Professors Michel Magnin and Nayef Saadé. Kobaïter completed a postdoctoral fellow at the USJ and the American University of Beirut (2014, Professor Joseph Maarrawi and Professor Nayef Saade and late Professor Suhayl Jabbur, Supervisors) while holding roles as a visiting Assistant Professor at the Lebanese University in Lebanon (2013-2016) and lecturer-researcher at USJ (2014-2017). She was appointed to the FM-USJ in 2017 as an Assistant Professor and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2024. In her teaching, she has lectured over 490 ECTS courses, amounting to 12,225+ teaching hours, primarily in neuroscience and research methodology. She also holds a University Diploma in Health Sciences Education (2024, FM-USJ) and continues to engage in ongoing academic training in advanced pedagogy and contemporary educational and research methods. Dr. Kobaïter Maarrawi has authored over 105 scholarly contributions, including 35+ peer-reviewed research papers and 70+ conference presentations (h-index 7 i10-index 6 Citations = 151; as of November 2024), and serves as a moderator and reviewer for scientific articles. She co-founded the Laboratory of Research in Neuroscience - LAREN at the FM-USJ (2009) which she developed with Pr Joseph Maarrawi, establishing a research platform dedicated to the study of neuromodulation mechanisms and applications. In collaboration with 10+ laboratories, she co-directed 3 PhD thesis, directed 24 Master’s theses in research and 8 Medical doctorate theses across nearly 30 research projects, spanning basic and clinical neuroscience. Her research primarily focuses on the neuromodulation of pain and its psychological and motor comorbidities, employing of electrophysiological, behavioral, surgical, pharmacological and clinical methodologies. In addition to being co-investigator on numerous major research initiatives through the years, the varied research where she has been Principal Investigator (PI) revolves around: 1) elucidating electrophysiological and behavioral effects of motor cortex or insular cortex stimulation in rats and cats in the context of pain, 2) studying the therapeutic potential of mental imagery, mindfulness, cardiofeedback and neurofeedback on pain and stress in human subjects. This research has been mainly supported by the USJ Research Council, CNRS-Lebanon mainly, as well as HITS and Leading House MENA (HES-SO, Switzerland). Dr. Sandra Kobaiter is an active member of several prominent Neuroscience and Pain societies: IASP (and its Lebanese chapter LSSP), FENS, EFIC, INS and SfN. Her contribution to the field have been recognized with multiple awards for Best Presentation, an article selected as “Editor’s choice”, and an article honored as “Top Paper of the Year” in Neurosurgery.

• University Diplome in Health Sciences Education
• Doctorate in Neurophysiology
• PhD in Neuroscience
• DIU (InterUniversity Diploma) Training in animal experimentation-Level 1
• Master II Research in Neuroscience
• Master's Degree in Physiology and Neuroscience
• Bachelor's Degree in Biology, Physiology concentration

« Neurosciences » (5 crédits ECTS code 002NEURM2). « Stage de Laboratoire », (30 crédits ECTS ; code 002STLBM4). « Système nerveux de l’Être Humain Sain », (7 séances ; code BX01. « Neurostimulation pour le traitement des pathologies du système nerveux », (2 crédits ECTS ; code 002TPSNM4). « Électrophysiologie du système nerveux », (1 crédit ECTS ; code 002EDSNM4). « Douleur, neurobiologie normale et pathologique », (2 crédits ECTS ; code 002DNNPM4). « Prise en charge de la douleur », (2 crédits ECTS ; code 002PECDM4). « Levée du mystère du lobe de l’insula », (1 crédit ECTS; code 002LMLIM4). « Neurosciences cognitives », (2 crédits ECTS ; code 002NECOM4).

Medecine and Health

Her research primarily focuses on the neuromodulation of pain its psychological motor comorbidities, employing of electrophysiological, behavioral, surgical, pharmacological and clinical methodologies. The research where she has been Principal Investigator (PI) revolves around: 1) elucidating electrophysiological and behavioral effects of motor cortex or insular cortex stimulation in rats and cats in the context of pain, 2) studying the therapeutic potential of mental imagery, mindfulness, cardiofeedback and neurofeedback on pain and stress in human subjects. Skills and expertise • Animal Models • Pain • Neuropathic Pain • Stereotaxy • Brain Stimulation • In Vivo Electrophysiology • Behavioral Neuroscience • Neurophysiology • Cognitive Neuroscience • Functional Neuroscience • Neuroanatomy • Neural Plasticity • insula • Behavioral Testing • Neuromodulation • Electrophysiology • Thalamus • Functional Brain Mapping • Neurofeedback • Cardiofeedback • Neurostimulation

Hanna M, Kobaïter Maarrawi S, Abdel Malak R, Bou Merhi RM, Maarrawi J. Mu down-regulation Neurofeedback training combined to Motor Imagery facilitates early consolidation in a sequential finger tapping task. Journal of Neural Engineering. Accepted in Journal of Neural Engineering [IF 4] Medawar N, Abdallah R, Kobaïter Maarrawi S, Maarrawi J. Intrathecal Baclofen therapy for refractory spasticity: a case series. World Neurosurgery, 2024, ISSN 1878-8750, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wneu.2024.05.009 Mehsein Z*, Kobaïter-Maarrawi S* (*equal contribution, co-first author), Samaha H, El Shami M, Albeaini S, Maarrawi J. Right posterior insular epidural stimulation in rats with neuropathic pain induces a frequency-dependent opioid system-mediated reduction of pain its comorbid anxiety and depression, Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry, Volume 128, 2024, 110845, ISSN 0278-5846, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2023.110845. [IF 5.6] Daher M, El Sawalhi MA, Kobaïter-Maarrawi S, Maarrawi J. Surgical Risks During COVID-19 Pandemic. Accepted in Lebanese Medical Journal 2021 sept Tarabay B, Komboz F, Kobaïter-Maarrawi S, Fayad F, Abou Zeid H, Maarrawi J. Pentoxifylline significantly reduces radicular pain secondary to lumbar disc hernia: A prospective, randomized crossover, single-blind controlled pilot study, Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery, 2022, 107309,ISSN 0303-8467, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clineuro.2022.107309. [IF = 1.9] Komboz F*, Mehsein Z*(equal contribution), Kobaïter-Maarrawi S (corresponding author), Chehade HD, Maarrawi J. Epidural Posterior Insular Stimulation Alleviates Neuropathic Pain Manifestations in Rats With Spared Nerve Injury Through Endogenous Opioid System. Neuromodulation: Technology at the Neural Interface. 2022, ISSN 1094-7159. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurom.2022.01.002. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1094715922000228) [IF=4.722] Chehade HD, Kobaïter-Maarrawi S, Komboz F, Farhat JP, MagninM, Garcia-Larrea L and Maarrawi J. Somatosensory thalamic activity modulation by posterior insular stimulation : cues to clinical application based on comparison of frequencies in a cat model. Neuromodulation : Technology at the Neural Interface. 2020 Feb 24 24(2) :229-239. doi: 10.1111/ner.13343. PMID: 33340196. (Editor’s choice). [IF=4.722] Tarabay B, Abdallah Y, Kobaïter-Maarrawi S, Yammine P, Maarrawi J. Outcome and prognosis of microsurgical decompression in idiopathic severe common fibular nerve entrapment: a prospective clinical study. World Neurosurg 2019 Feb 26. pii: S1878-8750(19)30453-X. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2019.02.042. [IF=1.829 in 2019 IF=2.21 in 2023] Maarrawi J, Abdel Hay J, Kobaïter-Maarrawi S, Tabet P, Peyron R and Garcia-Larrea L. Randomized double-blind controlled study of bedtime low dose amitriptyline in chronic neck pain. European Journal of Pain. 2018 (Jul); 22:1180-1187. doi: 10.1002/ejp.1206. [IF=3.188 in 2018; IF=3.651 in 2022] Abdel Hay J, Kobaïter-Maarrawi S, Tabet P, Moussa R, Rizk T, Nohra G, Okais N, Samaha E and Maarrawi J. Bupivacaine field block with clonidine for post-operative pain control in posterior spine approaches: A Randomized double blind trial. Neurosurgery 2018 (Jun); 82(6):790-798. doi:10.1093/neuros/nyx313. – Selected as « Top Paper of the Year). [IF=4.6 in 2018; IF=5.315 in 2023] Nicolas N, Kobaïter-Maarrawi S, Georges S, Abadjian G, Maarrawi J. Motor cortex stimulation regenerative effects in peripheral nerve injury: an experimental rat model. World Neurosurgery 2018 (Jun) ; Jun;114:e800-e808 doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2018.03.090. [IF=1.723 in 2018; IF=2.21 in 2023] Kobaïter-Maarrawi S, Maarrawi J, Saadé N, Garcia-Larrea L, Magnin M. Differential effect of motor cortex stimulation on unit activities in the ventral posterior lateral thalamus in cats. Pain 2018 (Jan) ;159(1) :157-167. doi:10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001080 [IF= 6.029 in 2018; IF = 7.926 in 2021] Maarrawi J, Tabet PP, Faddoul J, Kobaïter-Maarrawi S, Weinberg S and Samaha E. Percutaneous radiofrequency thermocoagulation for trigeminal neuralgia: A retrospective case series study of 232 patients. Journal of the Lebanese Dental Association. 2017 (Dec); 52(2) :27-30. Faddoul J, Faddoul Y, Kobaïter-Maarrawi S, Moussa R, Rizk T, Nohra G, Okais N, Samaha E and Maarrawi J. Radiofrequency ablation of spinal osteoid osteoma: a prospective study. Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine. 2017 (Mar); 26(3):313-318. doi:10.3171/2016.8.SPINE16462 Faddoul J, Kobaïter-Maarrawi S, Abdel Hay J, Samaha E, Maarrawi J. Glossopharyngeal neuralgia secondary to ipsilateral compressive cerebellar mega-tonsil: a case report. Journal of the Lebanese Dental Association. 2013(Dec);48(2):85-87. Faddoul J, Kobaïter-Maarrawi S, Weinberg S, Tabet P, Samaha E, Maarrawi J. Trigeminal neuralgia: diagnosis and management challenges. Journal of the Lebanese Dental Association. 2013(Dec);48(2):20-27. Maarrawi J, Kobaïter-Maarrawi S, Ghanem I, Ali Y, Aftimos G, Okais N, Samaha E. Pathological effects and motor response threshold changes following radiofrequency application at various distances from the L-5 nerve root: an experimental study. Journal of Neurosurgery - Spine 2011(Sep);15(3):285-91. doi:10.3171/2011.4.SPINE10686 Kobaïter-Maarrawi S, Maarrawi J, Abou Zeid H, Samaha E, Okais N, Garcia-Larrea L, Magnin M. Stereotactic functional mapping of the cat motor cortex. Behavioural Brain Research 2011(Aug);225(2):646-50. doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2011.08.023

• Prix du meilleur poster