The Qatar Genome Project aims to provide ‘efficient and customised treatment’ for patients, HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), said on Tuesday.
Addressing the inaugural session of the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) 2016, HH Sheikha Moza explained that "the ultimate aim of the project is to find ways to develop systems that enable the patients’ genome data to be accessible to all healthcare centres, hospitals and clinics to provide efficient and customised treatment that also guarantees the protection and confidentiality of patients' health information.”
About 1,500 delegates, including several ministers and senior government officials from over 100 countries, are attending WISH 2016, being held at the Qatar National Convention Centre. The two-day event will see presentation of research papers, covering some of the most pressing and common healthcare challenges across the globe.
HH Sheikha Moza also stressed Qatar's determination to make use of the global and regional expertise of the WISH through its recommendations and research in practical implementations in the health sector.
"Through accountable care we can make sure we put patients first, using data and standards to support and document progress, and involve healthcare staff in our efforts to improve quality and cost. As a result of WISH, we are now implementing this approach in Qatar," HH Sheikha Moza said.
The QF chairperson noted that the first phase of the Qatar Genome Project was launched in September 2015 as part of a comprehensive national plan to make it the most ambitious national project of its kind in the region, and possibly in the world.
"During this pilot phase, we sequenced 3,000 genomes. In addition, the Qatar genome map was established to help identify the different gene variations and disorders impacting the local population.
"Moreover, the Qatar Genome Project, Qatar BioBank, and the Ministry of Public Health are working together to draft the regulations that will govern research in genome sciences and personalised medicine. These will constitute a national and overarching framework for all health-related research institutes in Qatar,” HH Sheikha Moza highlighted.
The research institutes are also working on building a network of specialised researchers who can analyse the pool of data from the Qatar Genome Project and the well-being of the people is the driving factor for all these policies and innovations.
Speaking about personalised medicine, HH Sheikha Moza said "When medical practitioners understand a person's biological map, it will enable them to better diagnose and treat disease individually, or as I call it, 'Customised Medicine'”
"With all this, we must keep in mind the moral and religious responsibility when we consider the impact of research and medical innovation. We need to open and broaden our horizons when dealing with issues of health. As we pursue research and science, our culture and religion also demand that we look at these pursuits through an ethical lens,” added the QF chairperson.
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