Research Matters

As far as cancer genetic studies are concerned, the Arab/Qatari ethnic populations have not been extensively studied which has led to disparate gaps in our knowledge of cancer predisposition genes in these populations. Among the different types of primary breast cancers, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains the most important challenge and there is a significant gap in our understanding of the genetic, and environmental factors underlying its etiology and progression.

This month, we feature Dr. Nura Adam Mohamed, who recently made the scientific and research community in Qatar proud by receiving the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Award. Dr. Mohamed is a graduate of the Biomedical Science Department, College of Health Sciences (CHS)-Qatar University, a former member of QNRF’s Qatar Research Leadership Program (QRLP) through which she received a scholarship to study her MRes and PhD degrees from Imperial College of London.  She is currently working as a Research Associate at the Biomedical Research Center (BRC) at Qatar University. We ask her about her academic and research journey and her insights into the important role that women can play in the RDI ecosystem of Qatar.

Launched in 2018, QNRF’s High School Research Experience Program (HSREP) is driven by the mission to enable research at all levels, and encourages students in local high schools to get hands-on research experience under the mentorship of experts. In addition to introducing students to a career in research, HSREP also helps identify top talent to represent Qatar at various international competitions. The International Invention, Innovation & Technology Exhibition (ITEX) held annually in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is one such leading international competition, and this year, young researchers from Qatar have won the gold medal there and made us all proud.

Qatar National Research Fund is one of the first and most important players of Qatar’s research, development, and innovation ecosystem (RDI). Since our founding, Qatar has achieved remarkable progress in building an RDI ecosystem and is set on the path to more successes as we move forward to realize the QNV 2030 and QRDI Strategy 2030 to help solve Qatar’s national challenges and make the most out of its RDI opportunity. In the field of research, while some of its outcomes are immediate, its true impact and contribution towards the development of Qatar can be understood and valued in the long term. Even in a relatively short period spanning a decade and a half since the founding of QNRF, our researchers have made impressive strides.