DOHA: Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) of Qatar Foundation (QF) has awarded three grants to junior scientists in the country conducting research in the fields of health, energy and environment.
The grants will fund new research in obesity, mental health and monitoring air quality, among others.
The Junior Scientists Research Experience Programme (JSREP), in its sixth cycle, funds young Qatar-based researchers under 40 who hold a PhD, MD or terminal academic research degree.
One of the awarded proposals from Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, based at QF, will investigate new methods to treat obesity, a medical condition due to excess body fat.
Obesity is a serious health issue which can lead to type 2 diabetes, heart conditions, osteoarthritis, and certain types of cancer.
Another project, from Qatar University, will seek to improve patient care for individuals that suffer from mental health issues.
This study will examine benefits of having healthcare providers from different professions collaborate on the most optimal treatment for their patients.
The research also aims to improve awareness of mental health.
A team from Texas A&M University at Qatar was awarded a grant for their innovative proposal that seeks to improve existing methods for process monitoring, which could be used to enhance monitoring of air quality, drinking water distribution networks, and waste water treatment.
QNRF programmes are designed to engage researchers with different levels of experience, from students to top-tier scientists.
The twice-yearly Junior Scientists Research Experience Programme awards successful applicants up to a maximum of $100,000 in grants per proposal per year for research projects lasting one to three years.
QNRF’s Executive Director, Dr Abdul Sattar Al Taie, said: “We support scientific talents by providing gifted young people with the opportunity to carry out their independent research that is of national priority to Qatar.
“It is through supporting their efforts that we can effectively build a knowledge-based economy and transform our nation into a global centre of research excellence.”
The Peninsula
