Hamad bin Khalifa University’s (HBKU) Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI) conducted a series of outreach campaigns from October through December to raise awareness about issues relating to breast cancer, diabetes and brain health.
QBRI is one of three research institutes managed by the university around the country.
“QBRI is committed to playing an active and leadership role to improve the quality of health care in Qatar,” QBRI Executive Director Dr. Hilal Lashuel said. “Our community outreach and awareness campaigns represent essential elements of our strategy to engage the public as partners in our efforts to improve health care through the development of new approach for prevention, early detection and targeted and personalized treatment for diseases that affect the Qatari population.”
To raise awareness for breast cancer, the importance of early detection and promoting self-exams, the institute held public talks at HBKU, Qatar University and Villaggio mall.
The institute’s diabetes campaign centered around World Diabetes Day in December and focused on public discussions relating to early detection. The institute’s Dr. Essam Abdelalim and Dr. Mohamed Emara also presented an overview of the latest research in stem cell treatments for diabetes, including an update on the institute’s stem cell program.
The brain campaign focused mostly on creating excitement and enthusiasm for brain research and was carried out in partnership with the International Brain Organization. QBRI organized different brain-related activities for students of different ages, including an international Brain Bee that tested students in 30 different countries on their understanding of the brain.
Though the campaigns intended to get the word out about several pressing medical conditions, QBRI officials said the institute is also concerned with encouraging more young people to research the conditions.
“Community outreach and preparing the next generation of scientists in Qatar are crucial to what we do at QBRI,” Dr. Reem Al Olaby, community and events coordinator, said. “Groundbreaking research in biomedical science needs to be shared with the public as the end goal of many of our initiatives is to ultimately improve the health of the communities which we are a part of.”
