Events 2018

Speaker: Prof. Fadhil Sadooni

Date: 22 November 2018

Since its discovery in 1888 by Déodat de Dolomieu, the mineral dolomite represented a problem that persisted to our days and called ‘the dolomite problem”. Chemically dolomite is the calcium magnesium carbonate CaMg (CO3)2. It is the most important oil and gas reservoir in the Middle East. The main reservoir of the supergiant North Field of Qatar is formed of this mineral. In contrast to all minerals, which are chemical compounds, it is impossible to precipitate this mineral in the laboratory under normal conditions, hence its origin remained an ambiguous subject. Thousands of papers and tens of books and conferences failed to provide a satisfactory answer to this problem. In recent years, dolomite was found forming in modern depositional environments such as lagoons and sabkhas. More recently, microbiologists joined geologists in this search and there is a belief that microbial components (such as microbes, lichen and algae) may play an important role in adjusting the conditions in nature to allow dolomite to form thus altering the normal chemical pathway which ends with the precipitation of its easier twin calcite (CaCO3). In Qatar, modern dolomite is found forming in the intertidal zone in association with microbial mats. These are complicated microbial structures that cover sediments and are covered with water during high tide only. They usually generate sticky extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). The role of these microbial communities is still under investigation, but it is believed that these structures may modify environmental conditions through their metabolic activity to make the environment more suitable for dolomite formation rather than its easier-going twin: calcite.

Speakers:Dr. Jithesh Puthen (SIDRA), Eng. Hakeem Almabrazi (SIDRA), Dr. Muhammad Umar Sohail (BRC)

Date: 19-20 November 2018

The Biomedical Research Center (BRC) at Qatar University (QU) held on November 19-20 a workshop on “Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) Data Analysis Workshop”. The primary goal of this workshop was to introduce participants with NGS and sequence assembly. Around 30 individuals attended the workshop representing various academic institutions and labs. Dr. Asmaa Al Thani, the Dean of College of Health Science and Director of the Biomedical Research Center at QU gave the opening speech, where she welcomed the attendees and talked about the importance of NGS data analysis, genome assembly and statistical interpretation for biomedical researchers. The workshop hosted two speakers from SIDRA: Dr. Jithesh Puthen, Investigator of Translational Bioinformatics and Lead of the Bioinformatics Core, and Eng. Hakeem Almabrazi, Senior Software Architect. Dr. Muhammad Sohail, Research Associate, was the speaker from the BRC. Dr. Jithesh introduced NGS data analysis (background) to trainees in the theoretical session. Dr. Hakeem later demonstrated Linux and quality control in genome sequencing in the practical hands-on session. On the second day, Dr. Muhammad gave a microbiome lecture and demonstrated QIIME2 in the practical session that followed. Future workshops related to NGS are under consideration due to the positive feedback from trainees.

Speaker: DR. Ibrahim Fawzy (HMC, WCM-Q)

Date: 1 Nobember 2018

Hamad Medical Corporation implemented a state-of-the-art treatment that acts as an artificial lung has provided lifesaving support to 20 patients with respiratory failure. Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO), works by oxygenating blood using an artificial lung outside of the body. It stabilizes a patient's severely diseased or damaged lungs and provides them with respiratory support. ECMO also supports the process of healing from infection by maintaining the supply of oxygen to the body while resting the lungs. In this seminar, Dr. Ibrahim talked about implementation and development of HMC’s ECMO Program.

Speakers from Oxford Nanopore Technologies: Dr. Richard Compton, VP customer operations, Dr. Bhupinder Hundle, Distribution Sales, Mr. Oliver Hartwell, Strategic Account Manager

Date: 26 September 2018

Oxford Nanopore Technologies aims to disrupt the paradigm of biological analysis by making high performance novel DNA/RNA sequencing technology that is accessible and easy to use using a single-molecule sequencing with the additional potential of detecting epigenetic modifications. The speakers demonstrated how this technology works and how it could be used in DNA/RNA sequencing.

Speakers: Dr. Cristina Maccalli (Sidra)

Date: 20 September 2018

Tumor tissues comprise a rare subpopulation of cells, denominated cancer stem cells (CSCs) endowed with “stemness’ properties. These cells have been identified as the component of tumors resistant to standard therapies as well as immunotherapy. It has been shown that CSCs display also immunoregulatory properties, allowing them to escape from immune recognition. Through the resistance of CSCs to therapeutic intervention and immune recognition, they can give rise to new tumors in the same organ site or through the metastatic colonization in other anatomic sites. We analyzed the immunomodulating properties of CSCs isolated from glioblastoma multiforme and colorectal cancer patients, showing that CSCs can play a negative regulatory activity on T cell-mediated responses (Di Tomaso et al., 2010; Volonte’ et al., 2014). Several immunomodulating molecules such aa indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), B7-H3 and PD-L1 were detected in CSCs, with in some cases up-regulation in CSCs vs. differentiated autologous cells. Moreover, we also found a differential localization in terms of cellular compartments. Of note, the neutralization of these molecules in in vitro co-cultures of CSCs with autologous T lymphocytes lead to the modulation of phenotype and functional activity of T cells. The obtained results showed that multiple mechanisms can regulate the immunosuppressive activity of CSCs. Further investigation are undergoing to further dissect these mechanisms.

Speakers: Professors and Research Assitants of BRC

Date: 2-5 September 2018

Mammalian cell culture is one of the most essential common tools in biological sciences. Our four days “Principles of Mammalian Cell Culture” course provided many students and researchers with basic theoretical and practical knowledge on the mammalian cell culture. The course was designed to cover main cell culture techniques and the best practices related to the entire cell culture workflow, such as laboratory setup, safety, and aseptic techniques, in addition to methods related to cell freezing, thawing and passaging. This training was designed for life science researchers or students with no or very little experience working in a tissue culture laboratory. Graduate/post-graduate students, doctoral/post-doctoral scholars, teaching faculty, academics and non-academics.

Speaker: Dr. Albert Willemsen

Date: 11 March 2018

Zebrafish have become important as models for human disease over the past decades. Early adopters were using in vitro techniques, mostly in genetics and molecular biology. In recent years they were used more and more as in vivo models as well, and the range of applications is still expanding. This talk will give an overview of in vivo techniques and tools. Topics include high throughput activity screening for larvae, image analysis for cardiotoxicity, activity screening in embryos, and teratological assessments. We will also discuss the possibilities of behavioral studies on adult fish based on video tracking in 2D and 3D, and detailed video analysis. There will be time for questions and discussion.

Speaker: Dr. Nahla Eltai

Date: 21 January 2018

The Biomedical Research Center at Qatar University in cooperation with the Department of Health Care and Safety of Patients at the Ministry of Public Health,the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Hamad Medical Corporation, and Bristol Centre for -Antimicrobial Research and Evaluation  Unit, UK, is organizing a workshop, on the "Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and surveillance”  on January 22nd to January 25th 2018. Dr Asma AlThani / Director of Biomedical Research Center and the Dean of Collage of health sciences at QU has welcomed the guests in the opening ceremony. The workshop included theoretical lectures and hands on sessions aimed at building capacity of antimicrobial susceptibility testing by ‎renowned national and international experts in the field. This will ensure the standardization and reliability of reporting anti-microbial resistance data especially in surveillance studies, which are the keystone for the national antimicrobial stewardship program. The workshop also includes capacity-building exercises for specialists to carry out the antimicrobial sensitivity test using several internationally approved methods.,,  In addition, the theoretical lectures aimed at informing participants about antimicrobial resistance systems and the importance of  raising awareness and strengthening the monitoring system. It is worth mentioning that this workshop included all the workers in the field of public health for humans, animals and environment in addition to researchers in different universities and included training of more than thirty participants representing twenty institutions in Qatar. This workshop is in line with the National Action Plan for Combating Antimicrobial resistance  approved by the Ministry of Public Health between 2017 and 2022.