Qatar Biobank registers 500 contributors

Qatar Biobank recently completed collecting health records from 500 contributors, out of which 68% are Qataris.According to the officials of Qatar Biobank, the leading biomedical research platform in the country, in its first six months of public recruitment, 72% of participants contributed to the  initiative on recommendations from friends and family. “These figures reflect the positive and valuable experiences, community members undergo at the Qatar Biobank centre which has empowered them to actively spread the word.” Nasser Masoud al-Yami, 68, who was the 500th participant said, “I heard about Qatar Biobank through a family member and have been eager to participate since. The clinical staff demonstrated a high level of care from registration, all the way to the final feedback session. I am delighted to have received such a comprehensive health-check-up, and I urge Qatar’s elder generation to lead the way.” Around 96% of the participants rated their experience at Qatar Biobank as ‘very positive’, which illustrates that Qatar Biobank’s participant-centred approach is clearly paying off. Furthermore, recent analysis of contributor feedback demonstrates that the Qatari community is confident about the nation’s largest population-based health initiative. Qatar Biobank’s recently appointed managing director, Dr Hadi Abderrahim said, “Our relationship with the public is at the heart of what we do, and is critical to our success. Our intentions are not just to get people through the door, but are instead about engaging the wider community.”Through its recruitment approach Qatar Biobank aims to provide a model for public involvement in biomedical research. By inviting the public to contribute, it empowers the local community to take on an active role as ‘citizen scientists’.