Doha: Qatar University College of Medicine (QU-CMED) held a ‘March for Cancer’ in support of patients and with a long-term vision to establish a tradition of individual fundraising support for cancer research in the country.
The march was held on the Corniche and over 100 community members joined QU and CMED members.
Participants met at the registration point opposite Costa café at the Sheraton end of the Corniche where they received lavender-coloured scarves and balloons to represent support for patients.
At 4pm, the march proceeded towards the Oryx statue in the middle of the Corniche and back to the registration point.
Medical student Mohammad Al Jaber said: “Community events like this have the three-fold purpose of increasing awareness, strengthening ties among college members and raising funds for a good cause; in this case supporting cancer patients.”
Community member Jeel Musfi said: “I think this a nice way to spend an active, healthy and enjoyable afternoon and at the same time do it for a cause.
“I look forward to participating in similar events by the college.”
Dr Egon Toft, Vice-President, Medical Education, QU, and Dean of the college said: “By participating, marchers expressed solidarity with cancer patients and support for research. We aim to develop this into an annual tradition that coincides with World Cancer Day. We anticipate that with time, it will grow into a large-scale event and raise considerable funds for cancer research at the college.”
Dr Toft highlighted the importance the college places on cancer research and some of its research areas: “Our cancer research aims to identify prognostic biomarkers, develop novel therapeutic interventions for personalised medicine and new protocols and strategies that synergise with conventional cancer treatments.”
He said research will also investigate the development of chemo-resistance. “Building on previous findings, we aim to explore the effect of the two most onco-viruses on human carcinogenesis and metastasis using human cell lines and animal models. We are also studying human breast cancer in Gulf countries using micro-array technology,” he said.
The college recently established two groups focused on cancer research — one to study cancer biology and metastasis and the other to explore cancer proteomics and systems biology for personalised medicine.
The Peninsula
