DOHA: To improve skills of medical staff in best practice methodologies for conducting research or exploring innovative ideas, a two-day symposium was held by Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC).
HMC’s Surgical Services, in collaboration with Academic Health System (AHS), held its inaugural ‘Research and Innovation Idea Days.’ The event was the first of its kind and part of HMC’s efforts to stimulate research and innovation that will benefit patients and contribute to the population’s health and well-being.
Dr Abdulla Al Ansari, Deputy Chief, Medical, Academic and Research Affairs, Surgical Services, HMC, said activities provided an opportunity for clinical staff interested in research to learn from locally-based and international research and innovation experts through presentations on research skills and practices.
Speakers included representatives from HMC, Qatar University (QU), Cleveland Clinic (US), McMaster University (Canada) and other leading international experts in the field of research.
“Several years ago, we initiated a collaboration between Surgical Services and QU to cultivate a multidisciplinary approach to research at HMC. This collaboration has been successful and has in part laid the groundwork for the symposium,” said Dr Al Ansari. Participants also had the opportunity to present research proposals for peer review. A panel of experts critiqued their work to hone their skills in conducting research, writing research proposals and writing and publishing results of their studies.
Professor Ibrahim Janahi, Executive Director, Medical Research Centre (MRC), HMC, conveyed the organisation’s support for the event and said it fitted into the general strategy for research enterprise at HMC.
“Research is one of the pillars of our AHS initiative,” he said.
Prof Janahi highlighted MRC’s efforts to support HMC researchers and recent activities, such as the recruitment of eminent clinician scientists and investigators for HMC’s interim Translational Research Institute, which opened last year at Hamad Bin Khalifa Medical City.
He also spoke about HMC’s thriving Internal Research Grants Programme, which provides funds for exceptional research proposals from HMC staff, in addition to any external funding, such as those from the National Priorities Research Programme of Qatar National Research Fund.
The expert panel expressed happiness over the materials presented by participants and said they were honoured to be part of the event which showcased HMC’s commitment to research.
They also expressed confidence that HMC will be ranked among leading research institutions in the future. The Peninsula
