On Tuesday, August 20, 2024, Master's student Basma Farouk Ali from the Department of Pharmacology successfully defended her thesis titled "Effects of Topical Vildagliptin and Cinnarizine on Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasis in a Mouse Model."
**Study Aim**: The study aimed to evaluate the potential protective effects of 3% Vildagliptin ointment and 3% Cinnarizine ointment compared to 0.05% Clobetasol ointment against Imiquimod-induced psoriasis in a mouse model. **Findings**: - Psoriasis was successfully induced by Imiquimod, and the untreated induced group showed significantly higher serum levels of tissue biomarkers (IL-17 and TNF-alpha), oxidative stress marker (MDA), and proliferation marker (Ki-67) along with higher scores in both Psoriasis Severity Index and histopathological changes compared to a healthy control group (P < 0.001). - Significant histopathological changes included the development of Munro microabscesses, hyperkeratosis, abnormally thickened epidermis, papillary thinning, presence of rete ridges, and absence of the granular layer. - Topically treated mice with 3% Vildagliptin ointment showed much better results regarding tissue biomarkers (IL-17), oxidative stress marker (MDA), Psoriasis Severity Index, and histopathological changes compared to other groups (P < 0.001), with highly significant improvement (P < 0.001) in histopathological changes. - Mice treated with 3% Cinnarizine ointment showed much better results in terms of TNF-alpha and Ki-67 compared to other groups (P < 0.001), with a very significant reduction (P < 0.001) in histopathological changes compared to the induction group. **Conclusion**: Both 3% Vildagliptin and 3% Cinnarizine topical ointments demonstrated anti-psoriatic activity in the Imiquimod-induced psoriasis model in mice compared to 0.05% Clobetasol ointment. **Examination Committee**: - Dr. Fouad Kadhim Kati' (Chair) - Dr. Huda Ibrahim Qasim (Member) - Dr. Nora Mustafa Kareem (Member) - Dr. Ahmed Rahmah Ali (Supervisor and Member) The thesis was accepted successfully, and Basma Farouk Ali was awarded a distinction. 
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