Tribune News Network
Doha
The first International Biomaterials Conference in Qatar was hosted by Qatar University’s (QU) Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) at QU’s Research Complex on May 6 and 7. The meet was titled ‘Biomaterial, Biosensor and Microfluidics Technologies for Medical Applications’.
Biomaterials is a very popular research area that covers a variety of topics such as tissue engineering, implants, nano-medicine, biosensors, and lab-on-a-chip/organ-on-a-chip applications. The conference was funded through Conference and Workshop Sponsorship (CWSP) programme from Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) under Qatar Research Development and Innovation (QRDI) Council.
In addition, to the generous support from QU. The event was organised in collaboration with QU’s scientific journal, ‘Emergent Materials’ published by Springer, in which the conference was accredited for health professionals under CPD-QU Health with 13 credit hours.
The objective of this conference was to enhance biomaterial research and entrepreneurship in critically important areas by bringing world-class academicians, scientists, and clinicians to the nation to present their cutting-edge biomaterials research.
The event successfully attracted more than 200 attendees including QU students, researchers, and faculty as well as other education and research institutions in the nation such as Hamad bin Khalifa University and Texas A&M in Qatar.
Several health care professionals from Hamad Medical Corporation and Sidra Medicine also attended the event.
There were 34 podium presentations from local institutions as well as from prestigious international institutions from the US, Germany, UK, UAE, Turkey, Thailand, India, Egypt, North Macedonia, and Iran.
Prof Mariam Al Maadeed, QU’s vice president for research and graduate studies, stated in her welcome speech, “Investing in this area in terms of knowledge and technology development is a cornerstone for Qatar’s National Vision 2030 and I believe this conference will contribute to advancing biomaterial field in the nation.”
Prof Asmaa Ali J F Al-Thani, vice president for health and medical sciences and director of the Biomedical Research Centre, stated, “We have been increasing our investment in science and research at the university, which resulted in Qatar University being ranked 208th in QS World University Ranking and second in the Arab World.”
In his opening speech, Prof. Dr Omar M Aboumarzouk, vice-chair of surgery for research, head of the Surgical Research Section, Hamad Medical Corporation elegantly explained the importance of biomaterials in medical practice and demonstrated relevant research and medical practice at HMC.
During the event, Dr. Parakalan Krishnamachari, RDI senior scientific expert, from Qatar National Research Fund explained the impact of QNRF funding programs in the nation emphasising the importance of international research collaboration through programmes such as CWSP.
