The College of Pharmacy at Alfaisal University is proud to highlight the participation and achievements of its researchers at the 14th Congress of the International Society for Autonomic Neuroscience (ISAN 2026), held in Bologna, Italy, from 2–5 September 2026.
ISAN is one of the most specialized international scientific forums devoted specifically to the autonomic nervous system and its role in cardiovascular, neurological, and physiological regulation. The congress brings together researchers working at the forefront of neural control of organ function, autonomic physiology, cardiovascular neuroscience, and related translational applications.
Dr. Ibrahim Salman presented his team’s research entitled “Sex-dependent lateralization of cardiovascular responses to aortic baroreceptor afferent stimulation in spontaneously hypertensive rats.” The study explored sex-related differences in cardiovascular responses to selective stimulation of aortic baroreceptor afferents, contributing to a better understanding of autonomic cardiovascular regulation and its potential implications for neuromodulation. The collaborative research was conducted by Dr. Ibrahim Salman, Dr. Omar Ameer, Dr. Yee-Hsee Hsieh, and Professor Stephen Lewis, representing the College of Pharmacy at Alfaisal University and Case Western Reserve University, United States. The project reflects the College’s continued commitment to developing international research collaborations in cardiovascular physiology and autonomic neuroscience.
The College was also represented by Dr. Hussam Alhamad, PharmD, who presented the collaborative project “Comparison of AI-Based and Manual Computational Approaches for Baroreflex Analysis Using the Modified Oxford Method in Normotensive Lewis Rats.” Conducted under the primary supervision of Dr. Ibrahim Salman, with Dr. Omar Ameer, and in collaboration with Dr. Cara Hildreth and Professor Jacqueline Phillips from Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia, the study examined the integration of the free and professional tiers of ChatGPT into complex physiological analysis. This project represents an emerging intersection between artificial intelligence and experimental cardiovascular physiology, examining how contemporary AI tools may support complex physiological data analysis while being benchmarked against established manual analytical approaches.
Adding to the delegation’s success, Dr. Alhamad won an ISAN 2026 Travel Award. Competing against a pool of PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, his application successfully demonstrated the high caliber of undergraduate research training at Alfaisal.
The College congratulates Dr. Ibrahim Salman, Dr. Hussam Alhamad, and all collaborating investigators on their successful participation and achievements at ISAN 2026. Their contributions reflect Alfaisal University’s commitment to research excellence, international collaboration, scientific innovation, mentorship, and the development of the next generation of researchers.
