Anti-doping lab receives funding for research work

“It is impressive to win four grants out of 11 submitted, especially when we consider that ADLQ was applying for the first time since it was officially inaugurated by HH the Heir Apparent in December last year,” an official said.

The four projects are related to the health sector, which serves one of the important pillars of Qatar’s 2030 vision, and are in line with Qatar’s National Research
Strategy.

Two of the projects are being undertaken by Dr Syed Goda, senior research scientist with the following topics: Protein engineering of Glucarpidase to improve cancer therapy strategies; New synthesis of novel bioactive class of natural products; Mast cell proteases as key clinical markers in allergic disease.

Dr Costas Georgakopoulos, director of the doping lab in ADLQ and former director of Athens Anti-Doping Laboratory, is leading the research project on ‘gas and liquid chromatographic high resolution full scan mass spectrometry screening of sports doping substances combined with high sensitivity confirmatory methodology in human urine.’

Dr Costas will be working on the project with local talents Wadha Bushreida and Khadija Saad, senior lab
scientists.

The fourth research project of Dr Mohamed al-Rayess, also a senior research scientist in ADLQ, will be covering the ‘role of pre-adipocyte differentiation in site-specific adipocyte dysfunction and development of obesity-induced insulin resistance.’

It will be a joint effort with Dr Vidya Mohamed Ali, research lab director, Professor Aishah Abdul Latif, toxicology and multi-purpose lab director, and Morana Jaganjac, senior lab scientist.

Noor al-Mutawa, education and research director, stated that winning the grants is a natural result of all the hard work that the scientists and the research office have put in. Dr Mohamed al-Sayrafi, general manager of ADLQ, thanked the QNRF for giving ADLQ the chance to positively contribute to the development of Qatar through science and research.