Qatar University’s Biomedical Research Center conducting research on COVID-19 – The Peninsula Qatar

29 Mar 2020 - 8:18

Dr. Hadi Yassine, Research Projects Manager at Qatar University's Biomedical Research Center, working in a laboratory.

Qatar Universitys Biomedical Research Center (BRC-QU) in collaboration with external entities initiated several research activities focused on coronavirus (COVID-19 and MERS-CoV) lead by Dr. Asmaa Al Thani, Director at QU Biomedical Research Center and Dr. Hadi Yassine, Research Projects Manager at the Center.BRC initiated many researches to fight the emerging (COVID-19). These six researches included, A detailed analysis of exported COVID-19 cases (from China to the rest of the world) which is being done in collaboration with College of Medicine QU and Ministry of public Health (MoPH); Using digital simulation technology to test the ability of some inhibitors to stop COVID-19 binding to its cellular receptors conducted by BRC; Study of the genetics evolution of seasonal and zoonotic coronavirus that infects humans, a research being made in collaboration between The Biomedical Research Center QU and Hamad bin Khalifa University Qatar Foundation; Study the evolution of the Coronavirus (MERS) that causes respiratory syndrome in humans and camels in the Middle East held by The Biomedical Research Center QU, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and (MoPH); A comparative study on the presence and amount of anti-coronavirus antibodies against seasonal and zoonotic coronaviruses in humans in Qatar Published in February 2, 2019 by The Biomedical Research Center QU and MoPH; and Study on the complete structure of the coronavirus spike protein (viral thorn) its pre-bonding form with cellular receptors, published on March 2, 2016 by the National Institute of Health (USA) and Biomedical Research Center QU.In order to reach the various private and public health sectors in Qatar and to build necessary capacities, the Center, and in collaboration with Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) and international partners, had organized international workshops and including The Fourth International Conference on Human, Animal and Environment Interaction with Emerging Diseases 2017.The conference was the first of its kind in the region and it has received a wide echoes at the local and international levels, where the number of attendees exceeded 300, including 115 from foreign and Arab countries.It is worth mentioning that the Center for Biomedical Research at QU collaborate with various government institutions in the country not only in research, but also in service and outreaching activities. In terms of research, the Center has participated in several research projects with a number of government health (MOPH, MME, HMC, Qatar foundation and other) on antibiotic profiling of antibiotics resistant microbes in humans and animals (One health approach) and others on several viral infections circulating in Qatar.The Center seeks to engage the various sectors in the country in its research projects. In this respect, the Center has cooperated with the industrial sector in Qatar through a research project with ExxonMobil on the DNA sequence of the Dugong (sea cow). The Center is also cooperating with some community institutions, such as Al Gannas Society in Katara in the project titled Decoding the Genetic Code of Qatari Falcons.One of that the most important achievements of the Center is the establishment of a laboratory that matches the third level of laboratory bio-safety by CERTEK International, - United States of America.The Laboratories that specialize in infectious microbes are classified into four levels of bio-safety (BSL1, 2, 3, 4), based on the risk level of the studied microbes. For example BSL-3 laboratories provide safety factors when dealing with or treating infectious, self or exotic factors that are transmitted by inhalation and can cause serious illness.Examples of these germs are the highly pathogenic influenza viruses (H5N1), coronaviruses (MERS / SARS/ COVID-19), and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB). Currently, there is only one BSL3 laboratory in Qatar at Hamad Medical Corporation, which has been mandated to diagnose tuberculosis and its respective research.QUs BRC provides practical and logistical procedures to support medical and biological research at the college levels.

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Qatar University's Biomedical Research Center conducting research on COVID-19 - The Peninsula Qatar