Qatar- QU SCH to collaborate on promoting maternal and child health

Date

11/3/2015 9:23:02 AM

(MENAFN- The Peninsula)

Doha November 03 (QNA) - Qatar University Biomedical Research Center (QU-BRC) and the Supreme Council of Health (SCH) recently signed a technical services testing agreement to implement a comprehensive screening program against various pathogenic microorganisms that may affect maternal and child health in Qatar.

The screening program places emphasis on viral diseases such as polyomaviruses Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Hepatitis B virus (HBV) Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and parvoviruses. Screening will also be undertaken for some pathogenic bacteria such as helicobacter pylori one of the leading causes of gastric ulcer and cancer.

The agreement was signed by QU Biomedical Research Center (BRC) director Dr Asmaa Al-Thani and SCH assistant secretary for policy affairs Dr Faleh Mohamed Hussein in the presence of officials from both institutions.

In the terms of the agreement BRC will conduct the program in its well-equipped laboratories and will provide precision screening and accurate diagnosis for the identified groups of pathogenic viral and bacterial diseases.

The Center's researchers will also establish collaborative activities with QU colleges and research centers as well as various health institutions in Qatar. SCH will implement a cohort study to examine the impact of genetic and environmental factors and transitional and non-transitional diseases on the health of the mother during pregnancy as well as on the fetus and newborn child.

The study includes the application of OMICS technologies -- the tools needed to look at the differences in DNA RNA proteins and other cellular molecules between species and among individuals of a species.

Commenting on the agreement Dr Al-Thani said: "It highlights the Center’s competitive advantage through its diversified academic and training programs reputable academic history high-quality facilities and vast manpower of qualified and well-trained personnel and students while focusing on research training and services in applied and basic biomedical research within three major areas which are metabolic diseases communicable diseases and drug discovery.

"With partners such as the SCH the Center shares the vision of improving the biomedical research profile in Qatar to reach world-class standard. For the Council Qatar’s national health authority to have given us this project shows the confidence it places in our competence and capability to execute it efficiently and effectively and at the same time train local researchers to conduct the kind of research that is related to Qatari community."

Dr Hussein said: "The study will lead to the achievement of the national vision in the medical genetics field and national and strategic health objectives. In the light of the output of this study preventive strategies would be implemented to improve maternal and child health in the country."

QNA

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