Transforming healthcare: WCM-Q’s cutting-edge research

Established to address the most pressing health needs in Qatar and the region while advancing disease understanding at the most basic levels globally, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar’s (WCM-Q) pioneering biomedical research program is a testament to the power of science to positively transform lives and innovate in healthcare.

With a robust research infrastructure and a highly skilled workforce, WCM-Q has achieved exceptional scientific productivity at a level competitive with top-tier research-intensive universities worldwide. This success has significantly enriched and advanced biomedical research capabilities in Qatar and the wider region. Integral to these efforts is the unwavering support of Qatar Foundation (QF) and the scientific depth and backing from the Weill Cornell Medicine (WCM) in New York home campus.

WCM-Q’s innovative and multidisciplinary research model has placed it in a unique position to advance personalized medicine as the new standard of care in Qatar, with clinical, lifestyle, and financial benefits for patients and the entire healthcare system.

The college operates 23 state-of-the-art research laboratories that explore a variety of research areas, ranging from basic molecular and cellular pathways to translational, clinical, and epidemiological studies. WCM-Q’s core laboratories also serve as national research hubs that are accessible to biomedical stakeholders in Qatar and contribute to the national vision for healthcare, scientific research, and economic development. Collaborative biomedical research projects with institutions with overlapping medical, education, and healthcare goals are also ongoing. 

Researchers at WCM-Q have made significant advancements in understanding and combating diabetes, have developed a groundbreaking kidney transplant rejection test, and demonstrated the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions in reversing various diseases. In collaboration with colleagues at Sidra Medicine, WCM-Q faculty have initiated the clinical implementation of precision medicine approaches for monogenic disorders. On the innovation front, WCM-Q faculty are developing novel technologies to use miRNA-based therapeutics for dyslipidaemia, corneal confocal-based diagnostics for metabolic and neurodegenerative disorders, steroid analogues to treat diabetes, and biologics for hyperhidrosis.

Other achievements include the establishment of the premier date palm genomics database worldwide, sequencing the first genome of the Arabian Oryx, investigating the potential of desert cyanobacteria to treat neurodegenerative diseases, and reporting the first landscape of cancer germline variation in the Middle East. The QChip1 represents another major step toward personalized medicine by detecting prevalent hereditary disorders in Qatar. Additionally, findings from the Research Division’s Infectious Disease Epidemiology Group (IDEG) have influenced global COVID-19 response efforts and informed both international and national guidelines, including those issued by the World Health Organization (WHO). In 2020, the IDEG was officially designated a WHO Collaborating Centre.

Furthermore, the Research Division has significantly contributed to building Qatar’s scientific human capacity by recruiting and training nationals and long-term residents. To prepare the next generation of researchers and clinicians, WCM-Q has implemented a wide range of specialized training programs covering all aspects of biomedical research, from basic laboratory work to clinical applications and regulatory administration.

Since 2009, WCM-Q has trained 243 research specialists and clinical research coordinators. More than 445 volunteers and visiting researchers have also gained valuable experience in WCM-Q’s laboratories as of the end of Fiscal Year 2024. Faculty members with expertise in artificial intelligence have also been recruited to further advance WCM-Q’s personalized medicine efforts.

Since the launch of the research program in 2010, faculty have published more than 2,108 papers, garnering over 132,000 citations. The academic impact of WCM-Q is fully realized when biomedical research and scholarship lead to improved patient outcomes that benefit both Qatar and the global community.

Commenting on WCM-Q’s remarkable contributions to biomedical research, Dr. Khaled Machaca, professor of physiology and biophysics/senior associate dean for research, innovations, and commercialization, said: “In the biomedical field, it is rare to see a significant impact from new programs within just a few years, as the typical timeline for clinically impactful approaches is long. The unique partnership between Qatar Foundation and Cornell University has defied this expectation by establishing a regionally and globally impactful research effort that has proven high caliber scientific contributions and the potential for innovative treatments in the clinic in the span of a decade or so. This illustrates how a relatively young program, with the proper support, can leapfrog decades of development toward making an impactful contribution to the biomedical field.”

The Office of Research Innovation & Commercialization (ORIC), working under the auspices of WCM Enterprise Innovation and its Center for Technology Licensing (CTL) in New York, in line with the “One Cornell” vision, is dedicated to advancing life science technologies through strategic research partnerships, licensing, and entrepreneurial support. By leveraging the biomedical expertise of WCM-Q’s faculty and access to unique local clinical cohorts, the college offers a robust program for co-developing industry technologies and proprietary innovations. With a strong intellectual property portfolio, WCM-Q contributes to the national vision of translating academic research into medically viable solutions.

Furthermore, to provide researchers, students, and external partners with opportunities to exchange ideas, collaborate, and align research efforts with real-world healthcare needs, WCM-Q has hosted over 255 departmental seminars, 17 international conferences, and numerous local events.

With an unwavering commitment to advancing disease understanding and nearly $128 million in competitively awarded extramural funding over the past 14 years from the Qatar Research, Development and Innovation (QRDI) Council/Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) and international agencies, WCM-Q is poised to continue setting a regional standard for biomedical research excellence.