Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) recently held its annual Student Research Forum.
Students, faculty, staff and visitors thronged the halls of WCM-Q, viewing a display of 78 scientific posters, discussing the research projects with the authors, and watching oral presentations.
The event also featured a presentation by Prof George P Chrousos, a highly distinguished paediatrician, endocrinologist, and neurobiologist who is renowned globally for his groundbreaking contributions to medical research.
Prof Chrousos, who holds the Unesco Chair on Adolescent Health Care and is ranked among the top 250 most cited scientists worldwide, gave a keynote address on research focused on the management and consequences of stress and the role of the endocrine system in stress.
This was followed by a series of messages about the power of research to revolutionise clinical practice and healthcare given by four returning WCM-Q alumni who now work at leading healthcare institutions in Qatar and the US: Dr Sarah Kanbour, now a consultant in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism at AMAN Hospital; Dr Essa Abuhelaiqa, a transplant nephrologist with Hamad Medical Corporation; Dr Ghaith Abu-Zeinah, assistant professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York; and Dr Wasseem Skef, assistant professor of medicine, gastroenterology and hepatology at Michael E DeBakey VA Medical Centre in Houston.
Six oral research presentations were given by students and the one-day event concluded with the announcement of the winning students in the research contest.
Dr Nayef Mazloum, assistant professor of microbiology & immunology/assistant dean for student research, said: “We were impressed by the calibre and breadth of our students’ research capacity, as well as being extremely gratified by the wonderful levels of enthusiasm, engagement and participation that characterised this year’s forum.”
Dr Khaled Machaca, professor of physiology and biophysics/senior associate dean for research, innovations, and commercialisation, said: “The talent, dedication and appetite for innovation demonstrated by the students who participated in this year’s WCM-Q Student Research Forum is testament to Qatar’s vision to establish a thriving biomedical research sector here.”
Dr Thurayya Arayssi, professor of clinical medicine and vice dean for curricular and academic affairs, added: “The quality of research showcased at the Student Research Forum this year was simply outstanding and the level of engagement and energy in evidence at the event was tremendous. In addition to demonstrating great passion for research, the students also showed themselves to be extremely accomplished at conducting, presenting and discussing their projects.”
Students presented 78 scientific posters
