DOHA: Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) has announced the funding of three research proposals submitted to the sixth batch of its National Priorities Research Programme – Exceptional Proposals (NPRP–EP).
Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and Texas A&M University at Qatar (Tamuq) will benefit from funding through NPRP–EP, which offers additional resources beyond those available under NPRP.
“QNRF has developed NPRP-EP, and other funding programmes to nurture Qatar’s research environment by addressing the key areas outlined in the Qatar National Research Strategy,” said Dr Abdul Sattar Al Taie, Executive Director, QNRF.
“I am proud to say that all three proposals awarded funding under the sixth batch of NPRP-EP hold very high potential for knowledge advancement and innovation breakthrough, which warrants the extra investment being made by QNRF.”
HMC has been awarded funding for its proposal ‘Sphingolipids in childhood asthma and obesity’ being led by Dr Ibrahim Janahi, Head, Paediatric Pulmonology Section.
Dr Janahi’s research will investigate the relationship between asthma and obesity among children in Qatar by studying novel therapies for the common diseases.
Two proposals from Tamuq have been awarded funding under NPRP-EP.
The first is ‘Synthesis of Novel and Sustainable Functionalised Linear and Cyclic Polymers via Olefin Metathesis which seeks to develop novel and environmentally-friendly ways in which synthesise polymers like polyolefins are produced on an immense scale in Qatar.
The project is being led by Professor Hassan Bazzi, Assistant Dean, Research and Graduate Studies, and Professor of Chemistry, Tamuq, in collaboration with Professor Robert Grubbs, Nobel laureate in chemistry from California Institute of Technology.
The second proposal from Tamuq awarded funding is ‘Design of Novel Catalysts and Processes for carbon dioxide (CO2) Conversion from Micro to Macro scale’.
It seeks to develop new catalysts and novel technologies that scale the conversion of CO2, which could significantly impact gas processing technology and CO2 conversion in Qatar and the rest of the world.
Led by Dr Nimir ElBashir Director, Fuel Characterisation Lab, and Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, Tamuq, in collaboration with Total E&P Qatar, the project involves building infrastructure to support large-scale catalyst synthesis in Qatar.
The Peninsula
