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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Qatar Foundation to fund Diabetes Prevention Program

Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) through the Academic Health System (AHS) is set to begin the region’s largest diabetes research project, the Qatar Diabetes Prevention Program (QDPP). The five-year program is funded by Qatar Foundation’s Qatar National Research Fund and co-funded by HMC.

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Qatar Foundation (QF) is reportedly funding the region’s largest five-year-long diabetes research project, Qatar Diabetes Prevention Program (QDPP). Qatar National Research Fund is the main funder of the program along with Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) as the co-funder through its Academic Health System (AHS).

The flagship research program is the result of a multi-institutional research collaboration between healthcare, education, and research organizations. The research program aims to identify the best methods to predict, prevent, and reverse type 2 diabetes. QDPP signifies an important milestone in diabetes prevention in Qatar and will start recruitment in early 2020.

The Qatar Environmental & Energy Research Institute was launched in 2011 and encompasses the fields of energy, environment, food and water resources.

Qatar Diabetes Prevention Program (QDPP)

The projects constitutes of seven complementary sub-subjects that includes: Prevent the progression of pre-diabetes into Type 2 diabetes; to find the best method to prevent gestational diabetes in subjects with diabetes risk factors discovered in pre-marital screening; to find the best method to prevent progression of gestational diabetes into Type 2 diabetes; to achieve diabetes remission in patients with newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes; to identify the genetic factors associated with pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes; to identify proteomic and metabolic markers, associated with pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes and to develop e-Health tools and evaluate mobile apps to support lifestyle intervention for diabetes prevention and management. The research program aims to identify the best methods to predict, prevent, and reverse Type 2 diabetes.

Read more: Diabetes: Can some antidepressants reduce death risk?

“One in four adult Qataris will have diabetes by 2050”

Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) predict that type 2 diabetes prevalence in Qatar will soar from 17 percent in 2012 to at least 24 percent by 2050.

Qatar is already one of the most affected countries by type 2 diabetes worldwide and, according to findings published in the Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, this epidemic is set to worsen in the next three decades, driven by the ageing of the population and high levels of obesity.

QDPP signifies an important milestone in diabetes prevention in Qatar and will start recruitment in early 2020.

The WCM-Q study, ‘Forecasting the Burden of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Qatar to 2050: A Novel Modeling Approach’, was conducted with funding from the Qatar National Research Fund, a Qatar Foundation member through the National Priorities Research Program.

Read more: Can we nip diabetes in the bud?

How is the Qatar Foundation improving lives in Qatar?

QF is a non-profit organization made up of more than 50 entities working in education, research, and community development. Founded in 1995 by then-Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and his second wife Moza bint Nasser. In addition to private funding, it is government-supported and in some ways government-funded. Chairman Sheikh Moza bint Nasser spearheaded QF’s endeavors to establish itself as a leader in education, science, and cultural development on both a regional and global scale.

QF has collaborated with top universities all across the world with the aim to bring home world-class education and research opportunities. At present, there are eight branches of international campuses and one home-grown university that the foundation has worked on including Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar.

A Novel Modeling Approach’, was conducted with funding from the Qatar National Research Fund, a Qatar Foundation member through the National Priorities Research Program.

For its primary and secondary education, QF has established various programs including the five branches of Qatar Academy, Awsaj Academy for children with learning difficulties, Qatar Leadership Academy – a joint program with Qatar Armed Forces, an Academic Bridge Program, and a post-high school academic program. From 2008-2013, QF has also remained associated with the RAND Corporation for research in QF’s educational programs under K-12 education.

A notable research initiative organized by Qatar Foundation is the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF), which was established in 2006. QF has formed international partnerships for research purposes, including with the Royal Society and the James Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University. Moreover, The Qatar Science & Technology Park (QSTP), a research and development hub, was inaugurated in March 2009.

Read more: Can chocolate prevent type-2 diabetes?

At an investment of more than $800 million by Qatar Foundation it became Qatar’s first free-trade zone. In 2010, the Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI) was founded as a vehicle to conduct multidisciplinary applied computing research. Research topics include Arabic language, computer technologies, computer security and data analysis.

The Qatar Environmental & Energy Research Institute (QEERI) was launched in 2011 and encompasses the fields of energy, environment, food and water resources. The institute’s vision places an emphasis on the research of alternative energy technology. Additionally, in 2012, the Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI) was established to develop translational biomedical research and biotechnology, focusing on diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

Another initiative launched by Qatar Foundation is the Sidra Medical and Research Center, which is reportedly the first hospital of its kind in the Middle East region. Endowed with $7.9 billion by Qatar Foundation, it is a large-scale project designed with upscale healthcare and education facilities intended to provide health services to the whole GCC region