The PhD thesis defense of Hala Hadi Saleh was held in the Biomedical Engineering Department on Thursday, March 13, 2025, for her dissertation titled:

"Fabrication of an In Vitro Electrospun Biodegradable Ureteral Stent Based on PLGA and Investigation of Renal Stone Biometrics in the Human Body"

Thesis Committee:

The dissertation was examined by a distinguished committee, chaired by:

• Prof. Dr. Alaa Abdulhassan Atiyah – College of Mechanical Engineering, University of Technology

Committee members:

• Prof. Dr. Iyad Murad Takhakh – College of Engineering, Al-Nahrain University

• Prof. Dr. Abdulrahman Najm Abdul – College of Engineering, Al-Nahrain University

• Asst. Prof. Dr. Sadiq Jaafar Abbas – College of Engineering, Al-Nahrain University

• Asst. Prof. Dr. Hassanain Farhan Hassan – College of Medicine, University of Baghdad

The dissertation was supervised by:

• Prof. Dr. Nabil Kazem Abdul Sahib – College of Engineering, Al-Nahrain University

• Prof. Dr. Haider Ismail Jawad – Director of the Educational Center at Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital

The scientific evaluation of the dissertation was conducted by:

• Asst. Prof. Dr. Malik Mustafa Mohammed – University of Al-Mustaqbal / College of Engineering

• Asst. Prof. Dr. Yasser Mohammed Hussein – Al-Nahrain University / College of Medicine

The linguistic review was carried out by:

• Dr. Alaa Ayed Jabr – College of Engineering, Al-Nahrain University

Research Objective & Findings:

This study aimed to develop a biocompatible and biodegradable ureteral stent by combining advanced polymeric materials and electrospinning technology. The newly developed stent reduces the need for a second surgical procedure, minimizes anesthesia-related risks, lowers healthcare costs, and enhances patient comfort by accelerating recovery periods. Additionally, the stent is adaptable to the unique challenges posed by urinary obstructions, including the presence of kidney stones.

The dissertation was accepted as it met the requirements for obtaining a PhD degree.