Qatar Conducts A Stem Cell Research Focusing on Diabetes

Qatar enters into stem cell research and will focus on diabetes at the outset, which brings a glimmer of hope to diabetics because more than 15 percent of the population are suffering from diabetes.

“Our focus in Qatar is to have innovative research for the benefit of the world. Stem cell therapy is one such area which promises a bright future for man,” said Dr Abdel Haoudi, Vice President, Research Division, Qatar Foundation Stem cells are the most basic cells and are characterized by the unique property to reproduce quickly and indefinitely, and their potential to become any cell-type of the body. These cells are simply waiting for “instructions” to be programmed into one tissue or another. Hence the cells have a potential of treating a number of diseases.

“As a priority, the research in Qatar will be looking at application of stem cells in diabetes. There is potential in stem cells to replace some of the defective cells which are the root cause of diabetes. We will use stem cell research to find how it can be done and then soon translate it for medical applications,” he told The Peninsula.

With diabetes being the first step into the research, QF has started training a number of potential Qatari students and researchers at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge.

“The institute is one of the leading ones working on applications of stem cells in diabetes. Once the training is complete the young researchers will return and continue studies on the subject.”

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