“QBRI is the only research centre in the Gulf region focusing on neurological disorders," said acting executive director Prof Omar El-Agnaf.
The study on neurological disorders is a niche area for HBKU as not much research is done in this area, he explained.
QBRI is doing something unique in the region, by focusing on autism, which is quite common, Prof El-Agnaf revealed.
QBRI is pioneering an epidemiological study to find the prevalence rate of autism in Qatar by screening students from more than 100 primary schools through the use of social communication questionnaires. This study will be finalised by early next year.
“We are starting a new study on using the eye tracking system for the early diagnosis of autism. We have a very close collaboration with Cleveland Clinic at Ohio. We will work with them to develop and customise tools and protocols to diagnose kids with autism as early as six months of age.”
Since the Cleveland scientists have already validated these tools, QBRI will work with them to validate the Arabic version in Qatar. "We will also add other tools which will make the system more sensitive and accurate. We are going to involve the Shafallah Centre, Rumaila Hospital as well as Sidra Medical and Research Center to have stations for the study.The earlier the diagnosis of autism, the greater the chance of intervention and therapy,” he elaborated.
“We also have other studies focusing on discovering and understanding novel genes contributing to autism, epilepsy and intellectual disabilities. QBRI is also looking at neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases,” noted Prof El-Agnaf.
“We are also planning to use stem cells from the patients and produce neurons to study the disease mechanism. We will also use those cells for drug screening. This is the best approach and we are doing it now for diabetes. We will extend it to our research related to neurological diseases,” described the official.
“Our scientists who are leading these studies get funding from several agencies and pharmaceutical companies from the US and Europe. One major pharmaceutical company has put in $800,000 in one of the projects of our Neurological Disorders Research Centre," Prof El-Agnaf said.
"We are doing cutting edge research and that is the reason why big pharmaceutical companies are willing to put their money here and partner with our researchers to help them with their projects.This brings more visibility to the university,” he added.
The Research Complex of HBKU. Inset- Prof. Omar El-Agnaf . PICTURE:Jayan Orma
Qatar Biomedical Research Institute(QBRI), one of the three research institutes under Hamad Bin Khalifa University, has initiated a number of pioneering studies in the field of neurological disabilities, Gulf Times has learnt.
