QF signs research deal with HMC

Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) has signed a research collaboration agreement with Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), driven by a shared desire for further advancement in stem cell research, with the ultimate goal of preventing cancer from evolving to a life- threatening stage. The world loses millions of people to cancer, which is why Qatar Foundation strives to combat this disease, Faisal Mohammed al-Suwaidi, president, research and development, QF, said, adding: 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. The agreement was signed by al-Suwaidi and Edward Hillhouse, HMCs senior policy adviser for academic health systems and acting medical director. Abdelali Haoudi, QF vice-president of research and deputy director of Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), commented: QF, through the QBRI, has established a new research collaboration agreement with HMC, which has the potential to deliver major advances in the field of stem cell therapy applied to cancer. Our joint efforts will not only work to discover treatments designed to destroy cancer cells, but revolutionise the scientific approach to fighting disease in the future. Research will be conducted at Al Amal Hospital in Doha, with efforts concentrated on enhancing its reputation across the globe, particularly for its studies on leukemia. Stem cell research is a growing innovative field and one of the priority research areas for both QF and HMC, said Dr Hanadi Raffi Elayoubi, head of the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit and chief of staff at Al Amal Hospital. This research programme does not only target leukemia, the top third cancer diagnosis in Qatar, but represents one of the first translational cancer research programmes in HMC. We have the setting and the clinical programme at Al Amal Hospital that will allow the translation to bed site to the patient. This is certainly a very important partnership initiated by QF to develop translational research that might impact patients care, he added. Scientists from both HMC and 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 Institute Gustave Roussy. Labelled the European leader in cancer research and treatment, the institute will also share its expertise as part of this agreement. Through his work, Dr Chouaib seeks to transform theoretical concepts of cancer research into clinical application. As part of this agreement, he will work to foster a strong relationship between QF and other French scientists specialising in this area of study. QFs newly signed agreement with HMC will support QF on its mission to build human capacity in Qatar by ensuring that scientists have the necessary resources and means to explore alternative treatments for curing cancer. A proven cure for cancer continues to elude medical science. While chemotherapy and radiation treatment can kill malignant tumors, they do not cure every patient and, despite the billions of dollars invested globally on research, cancer remains one of the worlds major causes of death.

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QF signs research deal with HMC