Roles

Dr. Mansur Ennuri Shmela is a faculty member in the Department of Preventive Medicine, specializing in Genetics and Animal Breeding, at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tripoli. He currently serves as Head of the Research Consultation and Training Office at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

Careers

Dr. Mansur Ennuri Shmela began his academic career at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tripoli, shortly after obtaining his bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Medicine in 1999. In 2001, he was appointed as a Teaching Assistant (Demonstrator) in the Department of Preventive Medicine.

In 2006, he was granted a scholarship for postgraduate studies in Australia. He earned his Master’s degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences (Genetics) in 2009 from the School of Medical Sciences at RMIT University. He subsequently pursued his doctoral studies at Monash University, within the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, where he was awarded his PhD in Genetics in 2014. His doctoral research specialized in Epigenetics and Genomic Imprinting.

Upon returning to the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in 2014, Dr. Shmela was appointed as a Lecturer in Genetics and Breeding. Following his academic and research contributions, he was promoted to the rank of Assistant Professor in 2018. In recognition of his continued scientific contributions and research output in his field of specialization, he was promoted to his current rank of Associate Professor in 2022.

In addition to his academic roles, Dr. Shmela has held several administrative positions within the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. He served as Preventive Medicine Departmental Quality Coordinator (2016–2017) and later as Director of the Quality Assurance and Performance Evaluation Office at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (2018–2020). He also served as Postgraduate Coordinator of the Department of Preventive Medicine (2024–2026). Currently, he serves as Head of the Research Consultation and Training Office at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.

Dr. Shmela currently supervises postgraduate students and has contributed to the successful graduation of several students in his areas of scientific specialization.

Research Interests

Dr. Shmela’s research focuses on several key areas within Genetics and Molecular Genetics, primarily including:

• Mechanisms of Epigenetic Markers: Investigating the roles of DNA methylation, histone modification, non-coding RNA, and chromatin looping in the process of Genomic Imprinting.
• Developmental Disorders: Analyzing defects in DNA methylation and their association with fetal growth disorders.
• Population Genetics: Investigating the potential correlation between Short Tandem Repeats (STRs) and various diseases, as well as analyzing mutation rates within the Libyan population.
• Molecular Genetics & Pathology: Investigating Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms and their association with various pathological conditions, with a primary focus on cancer susceptibility, such as breast cancer.
• Genetic Basis of Sensory Loss: Investigating genetic mutations associated with non-syndromic hearing loss in Libyan families.
• Veterinary Genetics and Hematology: Studying the hematological and genetic profiles of indigenous Libyan livestock (Arabian camels, horses, and goats), with a focus on how age and breed influence biological and hematological characteristics.

External Activities

·       Dr. Mansur Ennuri Shmela has held several positions at the National Authority for DNA Research and Analysis, including General Consultant, Director of Laboratories and Technical Affairs, and Director of the Quality Assurance and Performance Evaluation Office.

·       He currently serves as a Scientific Editor for the Open Veterinary Journal.

·       He actively participates in local and international scientific conferences, symposia, and academic events.

·       He supervises postgraduate students at the Master’s and PhD levels across various faculties, contributing to scientific research and academic training.