Qatar University’s (QU) Biomedical Research Center (BRC) concluded yesterday a 5-day conference and workshop entitled “Current and Emerging Trends in Zebrafish Research,” which involved both theoretical lectures from renowned experts in the field as well as hands-on practical sessions to train interested researchers.
The conference was organised in cooperation with Sedeer Medical, Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC), Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) and Al Obeidly Trading Technology W.L.L.
The conference boasted more than 100 attendees including speakers from outside Qatar such as Turkey, Japan, US, UK, Germany, Singapore and Spain, in addition to speakers from various sectors in Qatar.
The aim of the programme held in QU was to focus on the utilisation of the zebrafish model in a variety of research investigations, and to introduce this relatively new animal model to students, academicians, researchers and health care practitioners in the nation. The workshop also provided a platform for establishing new collaborations.
QU Vice-President for Research and Graduate Studies, Prof. Mariam Al Maadeed (pictured), spoke at the conference saying, “Zebrafish is a small, beautiful and unique creature, which has a number of exceptional attributes, making it a vital topic in medical scientific research. The genes of the zebrafish are similar to human genes and have a unique ability to regenerate damaged cells and tissues.”
Prof. Mariam Al Maadeed, added, “Research on zebrafish has provided us with impressive results, and has opened an advanced route in biomedical sciences, which led researchers to a rare opportunity to diagnose and treat many human diseases, foremost among them cardiovascular and other diseases. Heart disease is still a serious threat to human life everywhere, and it is a major cause of death of millions in the world, including the Gulf and Qatar.”
