DOHA: A Radiation Genetics and Chemical Mutagenesis Lab has opened at College of the North Atlantic – Qatar (CNA-Q).
It was officially opened this week and has four main responsibilities: To assess human risks from exposure to environmental and chemical hazards, to understand mechanisms of chemical and radiation-induced DNA damage, to initiate a training and research programme in biomedical and environmental research programmes to build research capacity, and to create a network of experts in the country and region.
Dr Firouz Darroudi, a leading cancer researcher, will be spearheading the research and training work at the lab. He has been working with CNA-Q since 2012 as Research and Training Consultant, working with CNA-Q students and external stakeholders. “From our studies we can investigate causes of cancers, find biomarkers of cancers of different origins and improve cancer therapy regimens of people who have cancer,” Dr Darroudi said.
“We are incredibly excited about the potential of the lab and the students at CNA-Q I have been working with, and the amazing response we have received from researchers throughout Qatar. We have been very busy working with people from Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar Foundation, Qatar University and the Ministry of the Environment, and it has been amazing to see the level of interest and collaboration.” Currently, 11 students from School of Health Sciences are working with Dr Darroudi.
In the past 12 months, he has held workshops for graduate and post-doctoral students, oncologists and cancer researchers from across the country. The success of the workshops led to the opening of the lab.
“CNA-Q is known for its quality training,” noted Dr Mike Long, Chair of the Office of Applied Research. “Our partnership with Dr Darroudi has allowed us to use talents of a world-renowned biomedical researcher to engage in cancer and biomedical research and develop skill sets of the research community in Qatar.”
While the lab will be of immediate benefit to CNA-Q students and instructors, Dr Darroudi intends it to have a national impact. “Not only will the work being done in this lab help generate a safer environment and improve human health, it will also serve to initiate collaborations with other research centres in Qatar to further develop local knowledge and expertise of international high standards.” Collaborations will help generate an educational and scientific centre in the Middle East on biological, environmental and medical programmes, ensuring researchers and practitioners are able to provide the best medical advice for the people of Qatar and the Arab world.The Peninsula
