Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMC-Q) showcased its latest cutting-edge scientific investigations in various fields at the college’s fifth annual Research Retreat in Doha.

The presentations included research in the fields of genetic medicine, hypertension, inherited diseases, diabetes, obesity, and the role of calcium in the cellular processes.

The annual event is designed to provide a forum for WCMC-Q researchers to share their investigations with members of the scientific community in Qatar. This year, more than 240 delegates were in attendance at the one-day event.

“The annual Research Retreat has become a firmly established tradition at WCMC-Q and a keenly anticipated date in the calendar of the college. The event gives us the opportunity to discover the incredible inventiveness of the research faculty we are so fortunate to have here and to share their work with our peers,” said Dr Javaid Sheikh, dean of WCMC-Q in opening remarks.

Dr Khaled Machaca, associate dean of Research at WCMC-Q, said: “The Research Retreat provides us with an excellent forum for bringing the scientific community together to appraise and discuss the progress that has been made in WCMC-Q’s research program over the past year.”

“With the support of Qatar Foundation and guided by its vision to lead a regional scientific renaissance, our researchers have been able to record some remarkable successes in the past year, gaining publication in some of the most prestigious medical journals worldwide.

“In addition, the support from the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) in the form of various funding mechanisms across the continuum of scientific research has been essential to the growth and success of the research efforts at Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar.

“The event also gives us the chance to share this good news with the rest of the scientific community and to highlight the fact that Qatar is fast gaining a reputation as an international center of excellence in biomedical research.”

The Research Retreat also featured a total of 86 poster presentations by research specialists, students and postdoctoral fellows explaining the findings of projects conducted at the university over the past year.

WCMC-Q has 35 active research laboratories investigating diverse areas, ranging from the basic molecular and cellular processes through to translational, clinical and population-based studies.

There are now more than 200 staff and faculty members at WCMC-Q engaged in research, and the cumulative amount of extra-mural funding awarded to WCMC-Q researchers through competitive programmes administered by Qatar National Research Fund has reached $89.5 million over the past six years. – TradeArabia News Service