About me
Soulafa is a molecular biologist focused on leveraging evolutionary principles to disrupt and halt cancer progression. Moving beyond traditional tissue samples that offer only historical insights, she now develops innovative tumor platform systems that allow her team to apply selective pressures and assess real-time fitness costs of cancer treatments. By actively observing these evolutionary dynamics, her team, CanEvo, is investigating new approaches to personalize and improve cancer treatment strategies in the clinic.
Academic Qualifications
2007 – 2012
Ph.D. in Molecular Biology; DIGS-BB International PhD program, University of Dresden, Germany
2005 – 2007
M.Sc. in Molecular Biotechnology; Center of Molecular Biotechnology, University of Bonn, Germany
Professional Experience
Since 03.2025
Group leader, Dept. for Pediatric Surgery. Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
02.2023 – 03.2025
Group leader, Dept. for Pediatric Oncology and Hematology. Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
08.2020 – 08.2023
Researcher DFG project Eigene Stelle (DFG-funded independent position).
09.2022 – 02.2023
Research visit, Centre of Evolution and Cancer, Institute of Cancer Research, London, U.K.
12.2012 – 07.2022
Postdoctoral researcher, German Cancer Consortium / Heidelberg (DKTK) Berlin partner-site, Charité Institute of Pathology
Research Funding
2024 – 2026
3R Tandem Charité. Tracking 3D Neuroblastoma Co-Culture Evolution with Light Sheet Imaging and Single-Cell Sequencing. Co-PI
2020 – 2023
DFG: Tracking the evolution of therapy resistance in colorectal cancer. Funds own position, technical assistant and project. PI. Project # MA 8222/2-1
2022 – 2025
DKTK Berlin: Patient–derived organoids and drug resistance. PI.
2019 – 2021
DKTK Berlin: CRC liver metastases and evolution. Co-PI.
2019 -2020
DKTK Young Investigator Call. The progression of adenoma to carcinoma.
Prizes and Awards
2024
Rahel Hirsch Stipend for Habilitation 2024. Female scientific independence Charité, Berlin, Germany (ink doesn’t work find a better one)
2022
EMBO Scientific Exchange Grant 2022. Research visit to Bruna Lab, ICR, London, U.K.
2021
BSIO Female Independence Award 2021. Berlin School of Integrative Oncology BSIO, Berlin, Germany
2019
EMBO short-term fellowship 2019. Three-month research visit & training Posada Lab, Spain. https://dposada.webs.uvigo.es/
2017
Curt Meyer Memorial Prize 2017. Scientific achievement, awarded by the Berlinerkrebsgesellschaft.
2007 – 2011
DIGS-BB PhD fellowship 2007 – 2011. Dresden International Graduate School
2006
KAAD study scholarship 2006. One year. Katholischer Akademischer Ausländer-Dienst.
Teaching
2023,2024
Charité medical program; POL and Studierendenkongress
2021
Cancer evolution tutorial. Charité/BIH CompCancer PhD Program
2021,2022
Cancer evolution lecture. Charité Medical program, Wahlpflichtmodul M24
2018,2022
Cancer evolution introduction lectures. Charité M.Sc. Mol. Medicine Program