Roles

Dr Mohamed Besheesh is one of the staff members in the Forensic Medicine and Toxicology department in the Faculty of Medicine. He is a full professor and has been in the department since May 2015. He is currently teaching various subjects in his speciality to undergraduate students, including chemical warfare agents, alcohol poisoning, poison gases and many others. He has many publications and several patents. Dr Besheesh has been the organiser of higher study and training in the department since 2015 and continues to be so to date. Also, Dr Besheesh was appointed as manager of higher studies and training in the faculty of medicine for several years. Currently, he is the head of the department of forensic medicine and toxicology in the faculty of medicine.

Careers

Dr Mohamed Besheesh graduated in 1985/86 with an Honours Degree in Chemistry. He joined Petroleum Research Centre in Tripoli, Libya in 1986 and worked in the chemistry department undertaking routine analysis work, as well as research and problem-solving relating to the oil industry in Libya. He was awarded a scholarship in 1988 and completed his research master’s degree in 1990 after which he engaged in a PhD program resulting in the award of his PhD degree. After graduation, Dr Besheesh worked as a research fellow at the University of Manchester, Institute of Science and Technology for many years and published many publications and granted several patents. Dr Besheesh started a chemical company, namely Manchester Organics Limited, in the United Kingdom in partnership with others and continued to work for several years until his resignation in the late 2000s. In 2011, Dr Besheesh was appointed as General Manager of the Health Office of the Libyan Embassy until 2013. He then returned to Libya as a senior research fellow at the Libyan petroleum centre. In early 2015, Dr Besheesh joined the department of forensic medicine and toxicology at the Medical School as Professor of Toxicology and continues to date to be a member of staff in this institution.

Research Interests

Dr Besheesh’ research interests include:

-          The development of new and novel electrophilic fluorinating agent which facilitates the introduction of fluorine in medicinal and pharmaceutical agents and their therapeutic advantages as anti-cancer drugs.

-          Environmental toxicology and the effect of petroleum waste chemical pollution generally and specifically in the adjacent human communities to oil fields and installations.

-          Studies of carbon monoxide poisoning in various geographical areas in Libya.

-          The effect of alcohol poisoning on human populations in Libya.

-          Identification and classifications of animal poisons in Libya, including on-shore and off-shore poisoning.

-          Air pollution and its impact on the human populations in Libya.

External Activities

Dr Mohamed Khalifa Besheesh is closely involved in cooperation with Petroleum Research Centre in Tripoli, Libya, in dealing with hydrocarbons poisoning issues relating to the Libyan population in general, and in particular, the resulted contamination with heavy metals on the workforce in the oil industry. Also, he is undertaking the translation of several scientific books, writing of several reviews and articles relating to his specialities in internationally recognised and credited journals.