QNRF Awards Two Research Grants to Sidra Clinical and Research Center

Doha, October 13 (QNA) - Sidra Medical and Research Center (Sidra) announced today that Dr. John Heath, Section Head of Neuro-Oncology and Dr. Sergio Rutella, Executive Director of the Clinical Research Center, have both received cancer research grants from Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF). The three-year grants are worth US$800,000 each. Dr. Heath will be conducting research into genetic predispositions to childhood cancer in the Qatari and GCC population. Dr. Rutella will investigate the use of immunotherapy to fight blood cancers focusing on patients in Qatar and the Middle East and North African (MENA) region. Both programs are scheduled to start in January 2016. "We are grateful to QNRF for recognizing the importance of both the programs and giving Drs. Heath and Rutella the opportunity to start groundbreaking research. We take immense pride in the quality and depth of our research programs and the fact they have a national and global relevance. We are committed to supporting Qatars national health and research strategies as well as the national cancer strategy by paving the way for research initiatives that will enable early risk identification and better treatment methodologies for cancer patients," said Dr. Francesco Marincola, Chief Research Officer at Sidra Medical and Research Center. "By coordinating and hosting the programs in Qatar and taking a comparative approach with other countries, we are establishing programs that put Qatar at the forefront of international cancer research. The two programs will feature Sidra led teams collaborating with researchers and clinicians from Qatar and across the world including Germany, Italy, Pakistan and the USA. Using comparative data with other countries will improve overall knowledge of genetic risks in the case of Dr. Heaths research; while Dr. Rutellas program will help establish a clinical and research network for immunotherapy treatment of acute childhood leukemia. Commenting on the grants, Dr. Abdul Sattar Al-Taie, Executive of Qatar National Research Fund said, "Our selection of both the Sidra programs underlies our mission to support initiatives that will develop Qatar into a hub for research excellence and align with the Qatar National Research Strategy. QNRF is a big supporter of medical and scientific research particularly those that will lay the foundation to equip Qatar with the resources, technologies and programs to offer internationally respected healthcare and cancer services. We wish both recipients every success in their research endeavors and are confident of their progress in the field of pediatric cancer research." (QNA)