Under the title “Research Network Groups: The Power of Collaboration”
Qatar University (QU)'s Basic Research Office at QU Health Sector successfully hosted its 8th Annual Research Symposium on Saturday, 27th April 2024, under the impactful theme “Research Network Groups: The Power of Collaboration”
The event was attended by Prof. Asmaa Al Thani, Vice President for Health Sciences and Medical Sciences at QU, Prof. Jassim Al Suwaidi, Chief Scientific, Academic, and Faculty Affairs at Hamad Medical Corporation, as a keynote speaker, and Prof. Feras Alali, Associate Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies in the health sector at QU, along with several deans of health colleges at QU, in addition to a large number of academics and researchers in the health sector from various health and academic institutions in the country.
The flagship event showcased the models and values of interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research networking, highlighting their crucial role in enhancing research quality, societal impact, driving innovation, advancing healthcare solutions, optimizing scientific resource utilization, and generating impactful research output. This alignment with the mandate of the QU Health Sector agenda underscores its commitment to supporting excellence in research.
Prof. Feras Alali, Associate Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies in the health sector at QU, emphasized the importance of the scientific program in his remarks, saying, “At the 8th QU Health Research Symposium, we celebrate a legacy of cutting-edge research findings and ground-breaking discoveries and inspire the next generation of leaders in health research. Empowering innovation and knowledge exchange, the 8th QU Health Research Symposium exemplifies our commitment to excellence in research, fostering collaboration among faculty and students to drive impactful advancements in healthcare.”
Dr. Mohamed Elrayess, Director of the Basic Research Office at QU Health Sector, highlighted the symposium’s focus on networking across disciplines, noting, “The 8th QU Health Research Symposium highlights the power of inter- and multi-disciplinary networking to spark creative solutions and improve resource efficiency. By connecting researchers across various fields, the event fosters fresh perspectives and collaborative discoveries that benefit the wider community. The symposium offers a glimpse into cutting-edge advancements in healthcare research and highlights impactful results as the Qatar University Health Sector champions excellence in research.”
Prof. Medhat Askar, Associate Vice President for Clinical Affairs at QU Health Sector, also reflected on the successful collaborations formed as a result of the symposium, remarking, “Today, at the QU Health Research Symposium, we celebrate the robust collaboration between the university and healthcare sectors. Our focus on clinical affairs has triggered more partnerships with affiliates like Hamad Medical Corporation and Sidra Hospital, even extending to private hospitals. This synergy amplifies our capacity to address healthcare needs in this region, which is often underrepresented in global research. By combining our sophisticated healthcare infrastructure with dynamic research activities, we aim to identify and address gaps in clinical research, enhancing our understanding and treatment capabilities.”
The event emphasized QU Health Sector's ongoing commitment to excellence in research, showcasing the latest developments in healthcare research and the practical outcomes of these efforts.
The symposium concluded with a call to continue fostering such impactful collaborations, which are essential in advancing the health sector and providing substantial benefits to society at large.