Faisal Alsuwaidi, president of Qatar Foundation Research and Development and Dr Nabeel al- Salem, executive director, Outreach and Communications Qatar Foundation Research and Development with Dr Steven Chu during a session.

 

Qatar Foundation’s Annual Research Conference 2014 (ARC ’14) that concluded yesterday, offered thousands of delegates, the opportunity to listen to and engage with leading scientists and research experts from Qatar and around the world.

ARC’14 is held under the patronage of HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, chairperson of Qatar Foundation, and supports Qatar Foundation Research and Development’s (QF R&D) mission to build Qatar’s innovation and technology capacity while addressing immediate social needs in the community.

The keynote lecture presentations held at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) during the second day’s plenary session were aligned to ARC’14’s theme ‘Towards World-Class Research and Innovation,’ and examined research priorities closely aligned to the Qatar National Research Strategy (QNRS), including Water Security, Energy Security, Cyber Security and Integrated Healthcare.

Experts presented their conclusions including Dr Steven Chu, former US Secretary of Energy, addressing ‘Solar Energy and Water Security: Issues and Opportunities’; Dr Deborah Frincke, research director, National Security Agency/Central Security Service (NSA/CSS), USA, on ‘Global Challenges For Unclassified Cyber Security Research’ and Dr Hsinchun Chen, lead programme director, National Science Foundation (NSF) Smart and Connected Health Programme, USA, on ‘Smart and Connected Health Programme of NSF/NIH: Health IT R&D in the USA.’

A panel of experts during the Social Science Debate.

Faisal Alsuwaidi, president of QF R&D, said: “The opening plenary session offered a unique opportunity to listen to international leaders in solar energy, and water and cyber security. We have seen extraordinary multidisciplinary knowledge sharing and collaboration at this year’s conference. It is a huge opportunity to develop research networks with local and international partners where new ideas are developed and Qatar’s research and development sector can prosper.”

Day two of ARC ’14 witnessed parallel debates on health and social sciences with expert contributors exploring the latest themes. The debate on social sciences focused on one of the main economic pillars underpinning the Qatar National Vision 2030: ‘Developing a knowledge-based economy: Which indicators matter? How to design effective incentives?’

Building on the success of Tuesday’s opening plenary discussion, ARC’14 offered delegates thought-provoking panel discussions, technical presentations, and high-powered debates where leading experts shared constructive experiences and innovative approaches to research and science.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Qatar ‘can become pioneer in personalised medicine’

Q

atar has a great opportunity to be the pioneer in the field of personalised medicine as the country has initiated several steps in this regard, noted scientists suggested yesterday at the Annual Research Conference 2014 (ARC ’14).

Organised by the Qatar Foundation Research and Development (QF R&D) and held under the patronage of HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, chairperson, Qatar Foundation, ARC ‘14 supports QF R&D’s mission to build Qatar’s innovation and technology capacity while addressing immediate social needs in the community.

At the health debate, “Personalised and Precision Medicine in the next 10 years: Hype, hope or clinical reality?’ speakers highlighted the possibilities of realising the vision of personalised medicine.

Moderated by Dr Hilal Lashuel, of Qatar Biomedical Research Institute, the participants at the discussion included Peter Goodhand, of Global Alliance for Genomics and Health, Canada; Dr Hiroaki Kitano, of Systems Biology Institute, Japan; Dr Kathryn A Phillips, of University of California, San Francisco, US; Dr Hsinchun Chen, of National Science Foundation, US; Dr Hadi Abderrahim, of Qatar Biobank for Medical Research; and Dr Abdul-Badi Abou-Samra, of Hamad Medical Corporation.

Dr Phillips said Qatar has started several initiatives such as genomic medicine project, state-of-the-art research facilities and centres as well as setting up electronic records of patients among others. “These will give the country a great advantage as the population of the country is very small compared with other countries.”

Echoing Dr Phillips’s views, Dr Chen said Qatar can become the centre of personalised medicine. “A forward looking country like Qatar has taken the right step by embarking on genomic medicine. This can be the basis of personalised medicine. It can create the right momentum as personalised medicine is thinking about
future.”

Dr Phillips also highlighted the examples of Steve Jobs and Angelina Jolie who were treated on a level of personalised medicine. “While Steve Jobs’ life could not be saved as his genome mapping was not successful, Angelina Jolie could take precaution against breast cancer using a sort of personalised medicine approach.”

The panelists also pointed out that the most difficult task in personalised medicine will be to collect data and analyse them. “Enormous amounts of data will have to be collected. It is going to be a tsunami of data. This makes the process so tedious and can even be complicated. Everyone has to be extremely careful in the collection of data and the analysis of the same,” said Goodhand.

Experts also highlighted that genome medicine will be the basis of personalised and precision medicine. Genome mapping will enable the physicians to identify several features of the individuals and develop medicines and treatments accordingly.

Another point of discussion was the cost related to personalised medicine and whether it will result in healthcare disparity.

Dr Philips observed that in a sense, it is not going to be very expensive as thought by many but neither is it going to be cheap. “We have the technology and we have to make use of it. However personalised medicine has to keep pace with the drug companies and the regulatory issues of each country.”

 

 

Scientists  taking part in a panel discussion yesterday. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam