Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and Heidelberg University Hospital, an internationally renowned clinical and research institution in Heidelberg, Germany, have signed an agreement to enhance mutual collaborations in clinical, translational and basic research.

The agreement was signed by HE Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari, Minister of Public Health; professor Dr Annette Grüters-Kieslich, chief medical director and chairperson, board of Heidelberg University Hospital; and Irmtraut Gurkan, administrative director and vice-chairperson of the board, Heidelberg University Hospital.
HE the minister of public health expressed strong support for the deepening relationship between HMC and Heidelberg University Hospital, which will see further development of collaborative programmes in medicine, especially in the fields of cancer research, technology transfer and training.
“The purpose of the agreement is to promote opportunities for clinical and basic research collaborations and advance healthcare delivery in Qatar,” said HE Dr al-Kuwari. “We are very pleased to be entering into this important agreement with the Heidelberg University Hospital, as we work together to explore new ways to deliver better patient care.”
The signing of the agreement was witnessed by senior leaders from medical and university institutions in Qatar and Germany and took place during the opening ceremony of the first Doha-Heidelberg Research Conference.
Prof Grüters-Kieslich, who also gave the keynote address at the opening ceremony, said: “An important focus in the development strategy of Heidelberg University Hospital is strengthening international networks in clinical research and medical care.
For many years, Hamad Medical Corporation has been an important partner for Heidelberg University Hospital and this agreement opens the way to take our relationship to a new level in the future.”
“Hamad (Medical Corp) already has a long-standing relationship with Heidelberg University Hosptial and this agreement will see advanced opportunities for joint collaboration, particularly for cancer research and training, which will benefit a wide range of institutions in Qatar,” said Dr Saad al-Kaabi, chairman, International Medical Affairs Office at HMC.
Experts in the fields of gastro-intestinal cancer, neuro-oncology and hematological malignancies as well as paediatric cancers and genomic medicine in newborns presented their research results during the two-day conference.
The National Centre for Tumour Diseases of the Heidelberg University Hospital is an international leader in cancer medicine and has a strong academic focus on improving cancer care through intensive clinical research.

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