Manama: An agreement to advance stem cell research in preventing cancer from evolving to a life-threatening stage has been signed by Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) and Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC).
"The world loses millions of people to cancer, which is why Qatar Foundation strives to combat this disease," Faisal Mohammad Al Suwaidi, QF research and development head, said. "The use of stem cells in researching new treatments has begun to prove its effectiveness, so we are undertaking more studies in this field. This will undoubtedly contribute to building a better future for mankind."
Research will be conducted at Al Amal Hospital in Doha.
"Stem cell research is a growing innovative field and one of the priority research areas for both QF and HMC," Dr Hanadi Raffi Elayoubi, Head of the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit and Chief of Staff at Al Amal Hospital, said. "This research programme not only targets leukemia, the top third cancer diagnosis in Qatar, but also represents one of the first translational cancer research programmes in HMC." The hospital has the setting and the clinical programme that will allow the translation to bed site - to the patient, Elayoubi said.
"This is certainly a very important partnership initiated by QF to develop translational research that might impact patient's care."
Scientists from both HMC and Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI) will work under the guidance of Dr. Salem Chouaib, Research Director at the French National Institute for Health and Biomedical Research, and Head of the Cancer Immunology Division at Paris-based Institut Gustave Roussy.
Labeled the European leader in cancer research and treatment, the institute will also share its expertise as part of the agreement.
