The Laboratory Animal Research Center (LARC) at Qatar University (QU) celebrated a decade of leadership and achievement in animal research. The event coincided with the inauguration of the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Unit, a significant milestone at both the local and regional levels, enhancing the center's and QU's capabilities to enable researchers to conduct innovative studies across various scientific fields.
The MRI Unit was inaugurated by Prof. Aiman Erbad, Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies at QU, in the presence of Prof. Ibrahim Al-Kaabi, Vice President for Academic Affairs; Prof. Asmaa Ali Al-Thani, Vice President for Medical and Health Sciences; Prof. Mohamed Ahmedna, Associate Vice President for Academic Quality and Strategy; and Dr. Hamda Al-Naemi, Founder and Director of LARC, along with several center affiliates. The celebration aimed to highlight the center's most significant achievements over the past decade.
In his opening speech, Prof. Aiman Erbad, Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies at QU, stated, “Despite its relatively recent establishment, the center has achieved remarkable milestones, providing valuable opportunities for researchers and students in research, education, training, and awareness on the use of laboratory animal studies to investigate various human diseases. The center serves as a national platform for advancing scientific research in biological, medical, and pharmaceutical fields, supporting researchers across all educational and research institutions. It has the capacity to accommodate a growing number of researchers while offering the best research facilities in animal studies."
On this occasion, Dr. Hamda Al-Naemi, Founder and Director of LARC, delivered a presentation showcasing the center's pioneering role at the local and regional levels. She highlighted its innovative design and operational methods aligned with global standards, ensuring sustainability and high-quality research. The center houses a Specific Pathogen-Free (SPF) rodent facility, diagnostic and research laboratories, cell culture farms, and an advanced live imaging unit equipped with state-of-the-art scientific technology for animal research. Dr. Al-Naemi emphasized that the center supports researchers both within and beyond QU through research partnerships and service agreements. She also highlighted its significant role in developing outstanding professional and research talents who have secured prestigious positions in both local and international job markets.
Following this, Dr. Muralitharan Shanmugakonar, Director of Research Projects at the Center, delivered a presentation on MRI technology and the innovative advancements it enables in various scientific fields, including natural sciences, biology, pharmaceuticals, and preclinical research.
The event featured three panel discussions showcasing notable research projects conducted at the center, with participation from researchers both within and outside QU. These discussions focused on the role of animal models in scientific achievements.
The first panel, titled “Success Stories in Cancer Research," was moderated by Prof. Sergio Crovella, Senior Research Professor at LARC. It featured contributions from Dr. Wouter Hendrix, Principal Investigator at the Tumor Biology and Immunology Laboratory at Sidra Medicine; Dr. Hamda AL-Thawadi, Associate Professor and Head of Basic Medical Sciences at QU College of Medicine; Dr. Layla Al-Mansoori, Assistant Research Professor at QU's Biomedical Research Center; Arij Fouzat Hassan, PhD candidate and Graduate Teaching Assistant at QU's College of Pharmacy; and Hadeel Shafiq Khair-Eddin, PhD candidate at QU's College of Medicine.
The second panel, “Success Stories in Neuroscience Research," was moderated by Dr. Hamda Abou Jassoum, Assistant Research Professor at LARC. Participants included Prof. Omar El-Agnaf, Principal Investigator at the Neurological Disorders Research Center at the Qatar Biomedical Research Institute and Associate Professor at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU)'s College of Health and Life Sciences, and Prof. Laiche Djouhri, Professor of Physiology at QU's College of Medicine.
The third panel, “Success Stories in Metabolic Research," was moderated by Dr. Muralitharan Shanmugakonar and featured contributions from QU researchers, including Prof. Mohamed Ahmedna, Associate Vice President for Academic Quality and Strategy; Dr. Mohamed ELRAYESS, Associate Research Professor and Head of Basic Research in the Health Sector; Dr. Hamda Abou Jassoum, Assistant Research Professor at LARC; Dr. Abdella Habib, Assistant Professor of Biochemistry at QU's College of Medicine; and Sandra Das, PhD candidate in the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences at QU's College of Arts and Sciences.
The LARC serves as a platform that bridges various disciplines, fostering interdisciplinary research and paving the way for innovation in fundamental, biological, biomedical, and pharmaceutical sciences. The center remains committed to providing humane animal care, conducting high-quality animal research, offering consultancy services, and delivering training and support to faculty members, researchers, and graduate students across Qatar.
The center is distinguished by its close monitoring system for animal care, ensuring humane treatment and veterinary care provided by professionally licensed staff.