Dr. Ahmed Idouraine is a research scientist known for his work on dietary fiber, food chemistry, and food composition. He also contributed to several studies on cartilage repair using autologous transplantation techniques (autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI)/matrix autologous chondrocytes (MACI). He coauthored numerous journal articles and abstracts and coinvented several patents on cartilage repair registered and used worldwide.
Background
Ahmed Idouraine was born on January 22, 1948, in Aith Hamadouche (called Ihasnawen by the local population), a remote area with no school, electricity or running water. It's located in the heights of Souk El-Had, a French farmer settlers’ village in the Isser Valley, near Boumerdes, Algeria. He was born to Mohamed Idourane and Fatma Kennoud, a peasant family of eight children living on agriculture and small animal farm complemented by the father's salary when work was available in French farms. The surname came from the Idourane' hills of Aith Hamadouche on the north slope facing directly the Isser Valley and Zemouri. It was picked up by his 4th great grandfather Omar Idourane during the family registration and identification census carried out by French recorders in 1892. The surname spelled also Idourane, idourène or idouraÏne (pron eedoorayin) means "written" in berber. In Kabylia, it often refers to wooded slop of land covered by vegetation. Currently, this village or douar is completely deserted by its population since May 1957 after it was wiped out by the French army during the Algerian war.
In Spring 1957, while a severe repression was already going on due to struggle for Algerian independence, the French army ordered the local population to leave and declared the area a war zone. In 72 hours, all the families had to abandon home, lands and crops still not harvested and leave with only belongings they could carry. In less than a century the local inhabitants were ousted twice of their land by French soldiers; The first time in 1872, when their ancestors were dispossessed of their lands and properties, owned in the Isser Valley to be donated to French settlers; the second time, in 1957 for struggling for Algerian independence. The family lost everything and was dispersed all around. The four youngest children and grandma took refuge a couple miles from our village at our aunt's house; mom with the one year old baby and the goat we had joined her family residing at a nearby village that was not forced to evacuate. The father and two teenage boys fled to a much further town to avoid arbitrary arrest and abuses or even be killed just because of their birthplace. About three months later, the family reunited again in a new place far away from the place and sceneries used to. In summer 1958, the family finally settled for good in Ben Aknoun, a suburb of Algiers where dad found a more secure place. Ironically, it was a French Administrator, owner of the farm where his father just started working, that initiated and enrolled him for the first time in school just before his eleventh birthday. It took exactly 128 years to French colonization to enroll the first kid of the family in French school! Without the Algerian war for independence, he would have joined his older siblings, parents and other millions of Algerians with no education and hope. He would have been just another victim of illiteracy working for French farmer settlers or other cheap labors. Prior his eleventh birthday, he was completely illiterate although he could speak fluently two languages, Kabyle (native language) and Arabic (spoken in cities and other Arabic speaking areas). The Berber language (Kabyle), considered as dialect, was not taught at all and ignored by everyone; the Arabic language he spoke was learned in the street mostly after moving to cities. The Arabic language had a better status, because viewed as the language of the Quran revealed to prophet Mohamed. It was taught in some mosques and private schools and after 1963 introduced in all public schools. French spoken by settlers and only few indigenous people, was seen by many native people as the best way to assure a brilliant future.
He learned French very quickly and graduated from elementary school in less than five years. After 132 years of colonization and one year after the Algerian independence, he became the first of his family to obtain the Elementary Primary School Certificate (CEP) from an elementary French school; a degree generally provided to indigenous school student of 13-14 years old with a slim chance to attend secondary school. Without Algerian independence obtained in July 1962, the school would have ended in the fourth grade when he reached his fourteenth birthday, rule imposed by French legislator to limit education to indigenous kids. Three years later, he successfully graduated from junior high. He spent one year in a technical high school, then for economic needs, attended the Administrative Center of Algiers where he got an associate degree in legal assisting. He worked as court clerk for about two years but never give up on his education. During these years of training and work, he took night classes in math, chemistry and physics and studied very hard on his own to get a high school degree and make it to college. He graduated with an engineer degree in nutrition and food technology from the National Institute of Agronomy (currently ENSA) with honor. His research project was on the storage of vegetable oil in plastic containers. His first job after graduation was with a national company named SNERI. He was in charge of gathering information on potential use of carob pods and seeds in food industry. He then oversaw the feasibility studies of SONATRACH PROTAN project whose purpose was to create agricultural farms near the main SONATRACH centers to sustain the nutritional needs of its employees. Once the project ended, he transferred to the Research and Development Department of the same company where he focused on single cell protein production. During a short time, he taught a cereal chemistry lab to technician students at National Institute of Food Industries school (INIL). After six years of work in several areas where he got a lot of experiences, he decided to move on to finish his graduate school.
In October 1983 at almost 36 years, he came to the US for a MS degree. He spent nine months learn English (ESL) in Austin, Texas then moved to the University of Arizona from where he graduated with a MS degree in food science then a Ph.D. in nutritional sciences. During these years of graduate school, he took advantage of research opportunities to publish several research papers and abstracts in food science and nutrition. After graduation, Dr. Ahmed Idouraine was offered a post doc position at Harrington Arthritis Research Center to do research on cell culturing and direct the research lab where he published a couple of papers and abstracts on cartilage regeneration and on tissue culture engineering. His research work helped him to a obtain green card as outstanding researcher which allowed to stay in the US and continue his path. He then moved to Verigen Inc., a biotherapy company that specializes in cartilage regeneration where he coinvented several patents, and coauthored many abstracts and research papers. In addition of his research activities in Phoenix, Arizona, he helped train lab technicians in Copenhagen, Denmark. When this company decided to transfer its US research activities to Leverkusen Germany, he joined Sun Health Research Institute in Sun City (Arizona), a brain bank focusing on degenerative diseases such Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases where he contributed for about two years to Alzheimer's disease research.
After years of research and for economic reasons due to recession, he decided to make a carrier change from research to a more administrative and social work. He was a WIC clinic manager and nutrition counselor at Maricopa County Public Health for over 12 years. He took advantage of his knowledge in nutrition and research tools namely food science, nutrition and statistics to manage WIC clinics he supervised with art. He taught many undeserved families basic nutrition and provide answers to their questions and concerns. He trained staff and analyzed all clinic data to improve productivity. He was highly appreciated by his staff and clients. Dr. Ahmed Idouraine has published numerous peer reviewed journal articles, abstract and patents and helped many poor families achieve their nutritional needs. He is married and father of a daughter and two sons. Against all the odds, he managed to successfully finish his education, move swiftly on his career, and overcome many obstacles encountered during his challenging life. He retired at the age of seventy and currently lives in Arizona where he is enjoying the open-air activities and traveling while planning a new challenge which is writing his memories.
Education
Because of the absence of school where he grew up and the precarious life the family was going through at that time, he never got any formal education during his first decade of childhood life. Although, he could speak fluently Berber (parents spoken language) and later on, Arabic (learned in the city streets), he was completely illiterate prior beginning school.
On October 1st, 1958, three months before his eleventh birthday and with no previous preschool experience, he began for the first-time elementary school. He was enrolled in the literacy class (cours d'initiation), a class assigned specifically to older indigenous kids that didn’t know how to read, write or speak French in other words that never went to any school (a first grade for older kids with no preschool experience). After one year, he moved up to the second grade and so on. In the fourth grade (French CM1), although a brilliant and a model student mastering perfectly French, Arabic and Berber, he was kicked out of primary school due to the age limit set to fourteen by the French schooling system. Fortunately, Algeria got its independence on July 5th, 1962, and in November of the same year and with the help of two French teachers, he was given a chance to finish primary school in another facility and get ready for the primary school certificate (CEP) which might open the door for vocational training. After 132 years of colonization and one year after Algerian independence, he became the first of his family to obtain the Primary School Certificate (CEP); a degree with a slim chance to attend secondary school. Without the independence of Algeria, his education would have ended in the fourth grade just after reaching his fourteenth birthday. Due to a limited number of seats available for his group age, he had to compete fiercely to get into 7th grade. Three years later, he successfully graduated from junior high (9th grade). He spent one year in a technical high school (10th grade), then for economic needs, he attended the Administrative Center of Algiers where he got an associate degree in legal assisting (court clerk). His goal was to get into law school but quickly changed his mind realizing that it was not what he wanted to do in the future. It was then, he decided to go for biology major. He worked as a court clerk for about two years but never gave up on his education. During these years of training and work, he took adult remedial classes in mathematics, chemistry and physics at night that were provided free by the government. For other classes such as science, literature etc..., he studied very hard on his own to get a high school degree and make it to college. Of the 12 years of expected schooling, he was able to take only 8. Despite his shaky primary and secondary school education, he graduated with an engineer degree in Agriculture with a minor in nutrition and food technology from the National Institute of Agronomy (currently ENSA) with honor
In October 1983 at almost 36 years, he came to the US for a MS degree. He spent nine months learning English (ESL) in Austin, Texas then moved to the University of Arizona from where he graduated with a MS degree in food science. He was able to publish a research paper in a well known journal and presented his results at a national meeting. This contributed, in addition to his outstanding education skill, to get a research/teaching assistantship at the University of Arizona to pursue Ph.D. in nutritional sciences. During these years of graduate school, he took advantage of research opportunities to publish several research papers and abstracts in food science and nutrition. After graduation, He was offered a post doctoral position at Harrington Arthritis Research Center where he was trained in tissue culture engineering. He learned how to grow cells form various tissues and looked also at various way of treating arthritis using nutritional aspect. He contributed to a couple research papers.
Career
He worked as court clerk for about two years in civil and criminal justice then quickly shifted to biology education and research work. After graduation from the National Institute of Agronomy, he worked with SNERI where he oversaw the feasibility study of a project on potential use of carob pods in food industry. One year later, he was in SONATRACH, a huge oil company, where he was coordinated the feasibility studies of PROTAN project whose purpose was to create agricultural farms near the main SONATRACH centers to sustain the nutritional needs of its employees. Once the project ended, he transferred to the Research and Development Department of the same company where he focused on single cell protein production and agrochemistry studies. During a short time, he taught a cereal chemistry lab to undergraduate and technician students at National Institute of Food Industries school (INIL). After six years of hard and diligent work in several areas where he got a lot of experiences, he decided to move on to finish his graduate school
During his graduate studies he was employed as a research/teaching assistant in the department of nutrition and food science. He assisted in teaching food chemistry and food quality control courses and labs to graduate and undergraduate students. He participated in chemical analyses of various Mexican foods for the USDA. He used various chemical methods and analytical instruments (GC, HPLC, UV-VIS, atomic absorption) to determine chemical components of foods and drinks. He took also advantage of the research opportunities, to lead several research project in food composition and nutrition. He wrote several journal articles and abstracts and mentored graduate and undergraduate students. He attend many national meetings and proceedings where he presented his research work to his peers and other attendees. In parallel, he worked per-time as library clerk in the university library. As post-doc, he focused on cell optimal growth conditions. Designed and performed therapeutic dietary regimen experiments to halt tissue degeneration progression in osteoarthritic patients. He assisted in the research training of Orthopedic Residents on cell/tissue culture techniques. He participated in writing of grants and presented research results at National Meetings. He supervised and managed the biochemistry laboratory.
In Gateway community college, He taught lab class to students enrolled in fundamental chemistry and biology concepts classes. At Verigen Inc., (later called Verigen transplantation service Inc., or VTSI), he directed the research lab on cartilage and bone repair. He developed successfully new technics in cartilage regeneration and contributed for a large part to the procedure currently used in cartilage repair. He published a couple of abstracts and papers but was mainly focused on patent writing and finding new procedures for improving chondrocytes growth. He trained also many lab technicians in Copenhagen (Denmark) laboratory facility. At Sun City Research Health Institute, he focused mainly on Alzheimer's research. He used staining methods and immunochemistry staining in brain tissue to identify factors that may be responsible for Alzheimer’s disease. He designed and experimented special diets on animal research. He collected and analyzed data from research that led to their presentation at national meetings (benefit of atorvastatin in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease). In Maricopa County Public Health Department, he managed and supervised community worker nutritionist. He participated in planning, developing and implementing community nutrition programs and services. He provided nutrition counseling to high risks individual and groups and coordinated operations of clinic sites and personnel. He participated in the training of staff.
Achievements
Dr. Ahmed Idouraine has published over 20 peer reviewed journals articles, 30 abstracts & presentations at various National Meetings & Proceedings and co-authored over 20 patents registered worldwide. He has been highly cited by many authors in several influential journals. His patents have been used in cartilage repair procedures for over 20 years
Views
Considered himself as Humanist;
Strong advocate of secularism
Membership
Institute of Food Technologists (IFT); American Association of Cereal Chemists (AACC); Arizona Society of Food Technologists; Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society; Gamma Sigma Delta, The Honor Society of Agriculture.
Personality
Descripted as a fair man with a very strong personality; reported as a family oriented and responsible person; strong advocate of education.
fan of Kabylian and Algerian music; country music; ....
Connections
He married twice. After 7 months in the US, his ex-wife Mona Boudiaf, went back to Algeria for a family visit and never came back. She decided to stay to pursue her career as gynecologist. From this very short marriage, was born his daughter Melissa Sarah. She grew up in Ouargla and graduated with MS degree in aeronautic from the Department of Aeronautic Saad Dahlab University, Blida. Due to her mom opposition and despite of lot of efforts to connect with her, he saw her only three times since she was born (at 6 months, 5 and 13 years old, respectively). This dramatic situation has affected him deeply.
With his second wife, Ranya Benkhelouf, a BS graduate in sociology from the University of Algiers, he had two boys. The first one graduated with a BS degree in biomedical informatics from Arizona State University, Phoenix and is currently a medical student at the college of medicine in the Ohio State University. The second child Ameen is a senior biology student a ASU and aspiring to be dentist.
In addition, he has two niece living in the US, The first one is a pharmacist in Tucson; the second graduated as MD from the University of Algiers and as nurse from California State University, Long Beach. She is working as a nurse case manager in Palmdale, California. He is also the uncle of Drs. Abderrahmane and Hassiba Idouraine, Ophthalmologist in Birtouta, Algiers and Periodontist Professor at the college of dentistry, University of Algiers, respectively.
His best and longtime friend has been Rabah Laissaoui, an airline retiree pilot, from Ben Aknoun, Algiers.
Father:
Mohamed Idourane
BOB: 04/24/1918-Present; currently living in Algeria.
Although illiterate, he has an excellent memory. He was very helpful when going through family tree
Mother:
Fatma Kennoud
DOB: 01/07/1917; Deceased: 09/06/2017; a wonderful mother. May God have her soul.
Spouse:
Ranya Benkherouf
BS in sociology
child:
Melissa-Sarah Idouraine
Currently living in Ouargla (Algeria)
child:
Nassim C. Idouraine
Medical student at The Ohio State University College of Medicine
