The neuroscientist Dr Andrew Brooks, a research professor at Rutgers University in the US, recently passed away – but not before leaving his mark on a pandemic-stricken world. He also had a very close association with Qatar and Qatar Foundation (QF).
Dr Brooks was responsible for developing the first saliva test for the coronavirus that causes Covid-19. The test employs a low-contact collection method – spitting in a tube as opposed to having someone coming into contact to swab your nose and throat for samples – and has since been used to perform more than four million tests as it continues to be one of the most reliable methods for testing. 
And Dr Brooks’ work also made an impact on Qatar, through his support for groundbreaking research in the country. He was a pivotal member of the International Scientific Advisory Committee for Precision Medicine Institute  part of Qatar Foundation Research, Development, and Innovation and played a significant role in the full robotic approach for samples traceability, together with a unique functional quality control check for DNA fingerprinting at QF RDI’s Qatar Biobank. 
He was also a member of the team who designed, developed, and implemented the first Qatari Chip (Q-Chip), bringing together experts from Qatar Biobank, Qatar Genome Programme (QGP) – also part of QF RDI – Hamad Medical Corporation and Qatar Foundation partner university Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar. 
The Q-Chip is Qatar’s first gene chip and can store hundreds of thousands of gene variants in a small device much smaller than a postage stamp. While novel gene samples would previously have been sent to other countries for diagnoses, they are now being stored on the Q-Chip for examination locally. 
Dr Nahla Afifi, director of Qatar Biobank, paid tribute to Dr Brooks, saying “I first met Dr Andrew Brooks at an international conference in 2014, and I immediately recognised the great value he could bring to Qatar Biobank and its mission to shape the future of precision medicine and healthcare in Qatar. 
“His work with us from 2015 onward proved this to be the case. I also had the chance to work with him and his team in New Jersey on proficiency testing for sample comparison to comply with CAP accreditation requirements and it was a fruitful experience.”
“I am grateful for every challenge we have passed through together and to have met and worked with such a valued expert.” 
Dr Radja Badji, genomics operations manager at QGP, also had the opportunity to work with Dr Brooks during his time in Qatar. “Dr Brooks was a major protagonist of the emerging and exciting field of precision medicine and has significantly contributed to major advances in several fields of genomics. 
“His contributions towards the progress of multi-disciplinary genomic testing arrays were substantial, and it was a true pleasure working with Andrew over the past two years.”