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Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar’s (WCM-Q) Global Institute for Population Health convened healthcare professionals, researchers and policymakers for a symposium examining how healthcare systems can better support healthier, longer lives as populations age and the burden of chronic disease grows.The symposium, titled Reimagining Healthcare and Global Health in the Longevity Era, explored the challenges and opportunities arising from increasing longevity, including the growing prevalence of non-communicable diseases, multimorbidity and disability. Discussions also examined how greater emphasis on prevention, healthspan, lifestyle medicine and cross-sector collaboration could help healthcare systems respond to changing population needs.Dr Ravinder Mamtani, vice-dean for population health and lifestyle medicine at WCM-Q, said: “The fact that human populations are living longer is a fantastic achievement for humanity, but we must also focus on helping people remain healthy, active and independent for as many of those years as possible. This requires us to look beyond traditional, disease-focused approaches and consider how prevention, healthy behaviours, public policy and innovation can work together to improve health outcomes across populations.”The symposium brought together expertise from medicine, public health, academia and government to examine healthcare blind spots and identify opportunities to translate evidence into practice and policy. Sessions addressed the challenges of chronic disease management, the relationship between lifespan and healthspan, and the potential of innovative approaches to improve population health. Presentations explored how artificial intelligence, scientific wellness and preventive care can improve global health.Dr Sohaila Cheema, assistant dean of WCM-Q’s Global Institute for Population Health, said: “Addressing the challenges and opportunities of longevity requires us to rethink how healthcare is designed and delivered, from the way we communicate with patients to how we prevent and manage chronic disease. By bringing together diverse perspectives on healthy ageing, scientific wellness, artificial intelligence and health policy, this symposium highlighted the value of a more integrated, prevention-focused approach that helps people live not only longer, but enjoy more fulfilling and healthier lives.”Other contributors included Dr Javaid Sheikh, dean of WCM-Q; Dr Hanan Abdul Rahim, professor of public health and dean of the College of Health Sciences at Qatar University; and Dr Suryanarayanan Sethumadavan, health adviser for project affairs at the Public Works Authority (Ashghal). 

Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) has launched Research Bites, a new initiative to foster a culture of research among pre-medical students and help them connect with faculty researchers, explore scientific projects and identify opportunities to participate in research.Developed by the Pre-medical Education Division under the leadership of Dr Marco Ameduri, senior associate dean for pre-medical education and Education City collaborative curricular affairs, the initiative is being delivered in collaboration with the Research Division, with contributions from Dr Khaled Machaca, vice dean for research, innovation, and commercialisation, and Dr Nayef Mazloum, associate dean for student research.Research Bites will feature regular one-hour lunchtime sessions that bring together pre-medical students, faculty researchers and research leadership in an informal, interactive setting. Each session will include short presentations introducing ongoing research projects, discussions of potential student roles and the skills students can develop, and opportunities to connect with mentors.The initiative will also help students navigate existing research programmes and funding opportunities, including the Student Research Mentorship Programme and the Undergraduate Research Experience Programme. Additionally, it will introduce students to the Pre-medical Research Structured Mentorship Portal, a new pathway designed to help prepare students for research and connect them with suitable projects and mentors.The inaugural session brought the initiative to life, with presentations outlining the role of research in pre-medical education, the opportunities available to students, and the practical steps to find and undertake a research project.Dr Mohammad Yousef, professor of physics and director of pre-medical student research, opened the event by explaining Research Bites' purpose. Dr Ameduri then outlined the vision for integrating research into pre-medical education; Dr Mazloum followed, discussing existing opportunities and how students can participate.Three faculty mentors then gave short presentations on their research projects, beginning with Dr Yousef, who spoke about a project investigating molecular switches in proteins. Dr Dalia Zakaria, associate professor of biology, spoke about COVID-19 research, and Dr Ali Chaari, associate professor of biology, discussed a project testing mechanisms underlying metabolic brain disease. Two pre-medical student representatives then explained how the Research Bites platform will connect students with projects and mentors whose research interests match their own. 

 More than 120 pre-university students from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the US, who aspire to careers in medicine, took part in Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar (WCM-Q)’s ‘Doctors of the Future’ Conference. The annual conference is open to students, teachers and school counsellors from Qatar and beyond and is designed to give pre-university students a chance to visit the WCM-Q’s campus, learn about the college’s world-class educational programmes, and discover the wide range of career opportunities available in medicine. This year’s edition was held online. The event featured the qualifying round of the High School Research Competition, in which 15 teams from 14 schools presented their research posters before a judging panel composed of WCM-Q faculty, researchers and medical students. The top teams advanced to the final round, after which the top three teams were announced.Participating students also took part in a panel discussion on applying to medical school, along with a quiz session. The first prize was awarded to the team from Doha British School – Ain Khaled for their poster titled “HeatSafe: A Wearable Early-Warning Device for Heat Stress Prevention”. The research focused on the accuracy of a wearable prototype that records various physiological indicators to detect and warn of early signs of heat stress and contribute to promoting healthy lives and well-being for all at all ages. Second place went to the team from Hunter College High School in New York for their poster titled “Air & Genes: What Traffic and Dust Do to Your Body?” The project compares how pollution leaves molecular fingerprints in the blood across two groups exposed to distinct micro-environments, generating evidence to guide prevention strategies and public health policy. Third place went to the team from DPS – Modern Indian School for their poster titled “Monosodium Glutamate Exposure and Wellness: Insights for Advancing Qatar’s Public Health Targets”.The research provides a biological basis for evaluating food additives and their impact on long-term cellular health. Organised by the WCM-Q’s Office of Student Outreach and Development, the Doctors of the Future Conference also serves to develop partnerships between the WCM-Q and secondary schools, stimulate student interest in careers in science and medicine and enhance college readiness skills. Noha Saleh, director of pre-medical administration, student outreach and educational development, said: “I am glad to see that the conference has gained real momentum, creating an international platform whereby prospective students can interact with researchers, faculty and medical students in an environment that fosters engagement, participation and collaboration.” Associate dean for foundation, student outreach and educational development programmes Dr Rachid Bendriss said: “At WCM-Q, we are committed to empowering talented and motivated pre-university students to strengthen their skills and gain a clear understanding of what it takes to pursue a successful career in medicine.” 

Population health experts at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) have published a perspective article, which outlines the need to rethink global statin guidelines for older adults in resource-diverse settings. The paper highlights that guidelines for statin medications – used to control cholesterol levels – are largely based on evidence from high-income countries, where older adults, especially those ≥75 years, are underrepresented in clinical trials. In the context of increased global life expectancy, biological and regional variation in lipid profiles and CVD risk and regional differences in healthcare services, current uniform guidelines for statin use may not be appropriate and should be reviewed to improve appropriateness, feasibility, and equity of prevention strategies, the paper argues. The paper, published in the ‘Journal of Global Health’, is authored by Dr Karima Chaabna, manager of population health research; Dr Sohaila Cheema, associate professor of clinical population health sciences and assistant dean for the institute for population health; and Dr Ravinder Mamtani, professor of population health sciences, professor of medicine (Center for Global Health), and vice-dean for population health and lifestyle medicine. Dr Mamtani, said: “Statins are widely prescribed and are proven to be effective at reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes by reducing total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. In the paper we emphasise, that a one-size-fits-all approach for prescribing statins is suboptimal on a global basis because it fails to account for biological and regional diversities, and healthcare resource limitations, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. We believe there is a need to review guidelines on statin use on a regional, context-specific basis in order to secure the best long-term outcomes for patients across the globe.” The study highlights global disparities in statin guidelines, which mean that the same patient may qualify for statins under US guidelines but not under European ones, reflecting divergent thresholds and treatment philosophies. Meanwhile, many low- and middle-income countries struggle to apply either the US or the European guidelines due to limitations in data, infrastructure, and access. Additionally, regional differences are more pronounced in adults aged over 60 because of a lack of data, which stems from historic under-representation of older adults in clinical trials. Biological diversity and cholesterol targets are also a factor, explained Dr Cheema: “The data shows that many people living for 100 or more years may often have high cholesterol levels yet do not have higher rates of heart disease. Also, cholesterol levels considered as normal or even healthy may be labelled as high-risk in some populations. This applies to regions where genetics, diet and environmental factors can affect how the body processes fats and how the heart-disease risk develops,” she said. Dr Chaabna added: “Our paper demonstrates that in order to reach equitable cardiovascular guidelines, statin recommendations must evolve to reflect biological diversity, local health system capacity, and the complexities of ageing. We call for collaborations between national governments and non-governmental organisations, such as the World Health Organisation, to develop context-sensitive guidelines based on evidence that extends beyond high-income countries. There is also a need for more region-specific research on statin use.” 

Healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, and experts from around the world gathered in Doha to explore evidence-based strategies for mitigating the health impacts of climate-related issues. The conference was co-ordinated by the Division of Continuing Professional Development at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q). Titled “Exploring the Nexus of Climate, Health, and Environment” (CHE2025), the two-day conference addressed the intersection of climate change, environmental pollution, and human health, with a strong emphasis on the unique challenges faced by the Mena region. Other areas of focus included sustainable urban planning and healthcare delivery, the food-energy-water-health nexus and strategies for achieving net-zero emissions in healthcare systems. Featuring plenary sessions, expert panels, and interactive workshops, CHE2025 offered participants actionable insights to enhance resilience and promote the integration of climate and health in research, policy, and practice. Dr Javaid Sheikh, dean of WCM-Q, said: “At WCM-Q, we recognise that the health of our communities is deeply connected to the health of our planet. CHE2025 demonstrates our commitment as an institution to bring together regional and global experts to discuss and address the urgent health threats posed by climate change, particularly in the Mena region.” The conference was directed by Dr Sadeer al-Kindi, a WCM-Q alumnus and associate professor at Houston Methodist and Weill Cornell Medicine, and medical director at the Centre for Health & Nature in Houston, US, and Dr Nasrin Mesaeli, associate professor of biochemistry at WCM-Q, who also served as speakers. Dr Sanjay Rajagopalan, chief of cardiovascular medicine and chief academic and scientific officer at University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute, who also serves as the Herman K Hellerstein MD, professor of cardiovascular medicine and director of the Case Cardiovascular Research Institute at Case Western Reserve University, described the global health impacts of climate change and pollution and how environmental stressors contribute to disease patterns. He also evaluated strategies to address environmental challenges in clinical care. Dr Thurayya Arayssi, vice-dean for academic and curricular affairs at WCM-Q, said: “Discussions about climate change are critical. Through this conference, we seek to foster collaboration, knowledge exchange, and actionable solutions to drive climate-resilient healthcare and communities in the Mena region. We are extremely pleased by the high level of interest expressed by all participants in addressing this global health challenge.”

The annual Healing Hands essay competition of Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) has recognised four Qatari high school students for their outstanding 800-word essays on the social consequences of obesity.The winners were Almayasa Waleed Alkhal (Qatar Academy High School), Shamma Mubarak al-Nuaimi (Gulf English School), Fatima Mohammed A M al-Rashid (American School of Doha), and Amna Khalid al-Hajri (Swiss International School in Qatar).The programme is designed to inspire young nationals to pursue careers in medicine and biomedical science. Many previous winners of the Healing Hands contest have gone on to join WCM-Q as students.Each of the four winners received the WCM-Q Doctors of the Future Scholarship, which offers an opportunity to spend a week gaining hands-on research experience in one of the college’s state-of-the-art core laboratories. Two of the winners completed their placements at the Proteomics Lab under the supervision of Prof. Dr Frank Schmidt, professor of biochemistry and director of the proteomics core at WCM-Q.An awards ceremony was recently held at WCM-Q, where each of the four winners was presented with a certificate and a prize. A further eight students received honourable mention certificates in recognition of the high quality of their essays, and 13 students received participation certificates.The essays of the four winners and those who received honourable mentions were noted for the originality of their ideas, their command of written English, the soundness of their supporting arguments, and the coherent structure of their essays. The judges also acknowledged the high level of the participants’ essays, noting the generally high standard of all of the entries this year.Noha Saleh, director of premedical administration, student outreach and educational development, said: “We are confident that this experience will inspire these students to consider a future in medicine."Dr Rachid Bendriss, professor of English as a second language, assistant professor of education in medicine, and associate dean for foundation, student outreach and educational development programmes, said: “We were extremely impressed by this year’s essays, which included such a sophisticated level of innovative and thought-provoking arguments and ideas."

Specialist physicians from across the globe convened in Doha for a two-day event coordinated by Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) to share the latest best practice on the diagnosis and management of nerve damage associated with type 2 diabetes.The CONNecting Experts for Clinical besT practice in Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (CONNECT-DPN) event, endorsed by the International Diabetes Federation, welcomed 10 senior clinicians from South-East Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, and Mexico.The first day of the event was held at WCM-Q and featured sessions by expert speakers on the importance of early diagnosis of diabetic neuropathy (DPN), the latest developments in screening and diagnostic tools, risk factors for developing DPN, treatment options, and the latest guidelines for the management of DPN.The first day also emphasised multidisciplinary medical team work to optimally diagnose DPN, taking into account differential diagnosis, especially ‘red flags’ for other causes of peripheral neuropathy, and expert input from pain specialists for severe, painful neuropathy as well as podiatry, vascular and orthopedic surgery for managing more advanced complications like foot ulceration and Charcot joint abnormalities.The second day was held at the state-of-the-art Clinical Trials Unit of Hamad Medical Corporation to showcase cutting-edge DPN diagnostic tools like corneal confocal microscopy, neurophysiology and advanced techniques for pain management in DPN. WCM-Q’s Dr Rayaz Malik, professor of medicine and assistant dean for clinical research partnerships, led a workshop on implementing best practice into everyday clinical management of DPN to achieve the very best patient outcomes possible.Dr Malik said: “WCM-Q has become the first medical institution in Qatar to receive official designation as an International Diabetes Federation Center of Excellence for diabetes care. This means we have a responsibility to educate healthcare professionals to provide the very best care possible for our patients with diabetes, key to which is detecting and treating diabetic neuropathy as early as possible.”

Four students from Weill Cornell Medicine–Qatar (WCM-Q) are named as joint first co-authors on a perspective paper proposing microbiome-based solutions to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR).They were guided by their supervisor, Dr Ghizlane Bendriss, assistant professor of biology at WCM-Q, who is the lead author of the paper. The paper has been published in Frontiers in Microbiomes, a leading scientific journal.Students Ali al-Kuwari, Hamad al-Karbi, Abdulla al-Khuzaei and Dounia Baroudi conducted the study in response to an announcement at the 7th edition of the World Innovation Summit for Health, held in November 2024, which emphasised that tackling AMR was a national priority.The perspective paper discusses several strategies to address the loss of diversity caused by antibiotics, including diet, probiotics, fecal transplants (FMT), and the fermentation of animal and plant products.Preliminary findings from an experiment with camel milk fermentation suggest that fermentation increases microbial diversity, enhances microbiome resilience, and potentially reduces resistance to common antibiotics like tetracycline, streptomycin, penicillin, and chloramphenicol.The increase of diversity allows the microbiome to naturally resist pathogens without additional antibiotic use.Dr Bendriss said: “Over the past four decades, antibiotic innovation and approvals have sharply declined, with annual FDA approvals dropping from about three in the 1980s to barely one today, the share of new antibiotics falling from 20% to 6% of drug approvals, and almost no truly new classes emerging since the mid-20th century.To effectively address AMR, we really need to completely shift our strategy. Microbes already possess a natural ability to fight one another by competing for nutrients and by producing antimicrobial metabolites.Therefore, I believe that microbiome-based solutions such as probiotics or FMT can offer the most sustainable alternative to traditional pharmaceutical interventions.”Additionally, the paper discusses a mechanistic model to underscore the importance of maintaining microbial balance as an effective strategy for mitigating AMR and promoting long-term health.Further research is, however, still needed to better understand the mechanisms behind these changes and their implications for public health.Student al-Kuwari said: “This project deepened my understanding of the microbial world and introduced me to the boundless potential of microbiome-based approaches in tackling real-world health challenges.With antimicrobial resistance becoming an increasingly urgent global concern, contributing to research that explores innovative, targeted solutions has been both timely and meaningful.”Fellow student Baroudi said: “Through this research, I realised that fighting harmful bacteria isn’t just about using more antibiotics; sometimes, it’s about finding better ways to restore and encourage a healthy balance of microbes.This research focuses on identifying sustainable approaches, like fermentation and restoring microbial balance, as innovative ways to nurture microbial ecosystems and offer new hope against the growing problem of antibiotic resistance.”

The start of the new academic year is always a moment I look forward to. It is a time of new beginnings, of reconnections, of energy and hopefulness. Our orientation programs fill the halls of the WCM-Q campus with new students full of excitement for the challenges ahead. Those students just starting out on their journey at WCM-Q are busily getting to know the college and making new friends, full of plans for the future, while those who are returning do so with a sense of purpose and determination.Our faculty and staff are likewise full of energy and plans for the year ahead, and the college brims with positivity - it is a truly inspirational time of year.Looking ahead, we are anticipating a number of events with special enthusiasm – stand-out happenings include our annual Student Research Forum, the third edition of our alumni-led Updates in Primary Care Conference, the second edition of our Precision Health Innovation and Education global summit, which this year is taking place in Doha, and the second edition of our Medical Education Technology Conference, which proved such a success when launched last year.We will also be welcoming experts from around the world to Doha for the third edition of our Qatar Proteomics Conference, helping to consolidate Qatar’s leading international position in this important and dynamic research field.There is also great activity in our research labs to look forward to, as our expert investigators continue their work to advance the science and practice of medicine with renewed vigour.Similarly, we look forward to a new season of community engagement through our public health initiatives, including Sahtak Awalan – Your Health First, and our recently launched public health movement, Sehatuha, which promotes and supports female health and wellness. It will be a busy year, and one filled with many opportunities to achieve great things alongside our friends and colleagues in Qatar Foundation partner institutions – we are very excited to be getting started.