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Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) is pleased to invite you to attend an information session about the launch of the second cycle of the Rapid Response Call, “Covid-19: Lessons Learned and Road to Recovery” on Thursday, 8 July 2021 at 1pm (Doha time).

Along with the various milestones and successes we have celebrated over the years, a significant achievement we are proud of is forming lasting and strong relationships with our stakeholders in Qatar and around the world.

After a successful inaugural cycle of the Rapid Response Call, launched by Qatar National Research Fund last year, to help institutions and policymakers in Qatar respond effectively to sudden and emergent situations like the COVID-19, we are pleased to announce the launch of the second cycle, titled, “Covid-19: Lessons Learned & Road to Recovery.”

After a successful inaugural cycle of the Rapid Response Call, launched by the Qatar National Research Fund last year to help institutions and policymakers in Qatar respond effectively to sudden and emergent situations like the COVID-19, we are pleased to announce the launch of the second cycle, titled, “Covid-19: Lessons Learned & Road to Recovery.”

Exploring the role of recombinant antibodies in the fight against COVID-19, a Qatari fashion technology against vitamin D deficiency, the effectiveness of Car-T cell therapy in treating cancer, making the case for MENA-wide collaboration for space exploration, and the latest innovations in Qatar’s LNG industry are just some of the 23 stories that have come under discussion in the inaugural edition of the STEM News, a magazine aimed at improving the understanding and knowledge of school students in Qatar with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) and building their science communication skills.

Around six years ago, Qatar National Research Fund and TÜBİTAK- The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey entered in a joint commitment to strengthen cooperation between the research, academic, and industrial sectors in Qatar and Turkey. This partnership was based on the idea to build a dynamic partnership to promote cutting-edge research and innovation of mutual benefit to people of both countries.

Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) have found that more than one in 10 of the population in Asia is infected with the herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), yet prevalence is declining by 2% yearly.

Clean energy has become a major growth sector as countries around the world are increasingly looking towards transitioning to low emission energy systems. The EU and the Arab region, particularly the GCC, are both committed to progress toward low emissions and sustainable practices. However, this shift needs to progress substantially if we are to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. This means that the energy sector should undergo a deep transformation over the next few decades.

In the recently held Research Outcome Seminar, “Hydrogen, the Energy Carrier of the Future,” Mr. Omran Al-Kuwari, CEO of Qatar Foundation International, delivered a keynote focusing on hydrogen and opportunities for the LNG industry. In this edition of Research Matters, we feature the speech of Mr. Al-Kuwari, who is also a doctoral researcher at University College London’s Institute for Sustainable Resources, to learn more about Qatar’s role in driving the hydrogen agenda forward.

The steady discovery of fossil fuel including crude oil and gas over the last century has played an important role in the miraculous development and the transformation of the world community. However, the ever-increasing consumption of fossil fuel, which has grown exponentially over the decades has led to a sharp rise in carbon emissions and global warming.

Qatar’s geographical positioning makes it an ideal location for harnessing solar power. In 2020, Doha received around ten hours of sunlight daily, with June being the sunniest month averaging more than twelve hours of sunlight a day. To capitalize on this, the government of Qatar has set an objective to meet 20% of its energy needs through solar power by 2030 which will reduce its dependence on hydrocarbons and consequently, reduce its carbon footprint.