Research projects in Fouad's lab cover both applied and basic aspects of plant-pathogen interactions and plant disease management. Basic research is set to investigate molecular and biochemical mechanisms of plant-pathogen interactions, including those involved in plant defense and pathogen counter-defense. Fouad is particularly interested in the role of secondary metabolites such as phenylpropanoids and terpenoids in defense, counter-defense, and their signaling. Applied research projects are on diagnosis and biological control of plant diseases in different crops. Crops of interest, either currently or previously studied, include corn, soybean, potato, sunflower, canola, carrot, date palm, olive, cucumber, saskatoons, and tomato. Fouad has several collaborations with colleagues in Canada and abroad on these and other projects.

Molecular and Biochemical Mechanisms of Plant-Pathogen Interactions, Mechanisms of Plant Defense Suppression by Pathogens, Mechanisms of Plant Disease Biocontrol Using Plant Extracts and Beneficial Microorganisms, Detection and Biology of Soilborne and Foliar Pathogens