HBKU Contributes its Globally Relevant Research at WISH 2022

Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) was an event partner at the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) 2022 - Qatar Foundation’s global health initiative which gathers innovative thinkers redefining the healthcare sector.

With an exhibition in the partner platform, HBKU demonstrated its commitment to sharing knowledge and working with partners striving to build a healthier world. It was an opportunity to build relationships with experts, the highest level of decision makers, scientists, and entrepreneurs developing healthcare innovations.

HBKU faculty supported the program with evidence-based ideas and insights in interactive panel discussions, roundtables, and workshops. Their contributions tied into the WISH 2022 theme “Healing the Future” and core topics that included the potential health legacy of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM, disability and accessibility, Islamic ethics, and others. Faculty also contributed to the WISH policy reports which underpinned discussions on making healthcare more accessible, equitable, and affordable.

Among the College of Science and Engineering (CSE)’s expert engagements, Dr. Dena Al Thani, Associate Professor in Information and Computing Technology, discussed the key issues and solutions for inclusivity at sports events alongside industry experts during the panel “Accessible by Design: Building a Legacy of Inclusion” on October 4.

Chairing the WISH 2022 Forum on Islamic Ethics, Dr. Mohammed Ghaly, Professor of Islam and Biomedical Ethics at the Research Center for Islamic Legislation and Ethics (CILE), presented insights from the WISH-commissioned report launched at the summit. Dr. Ghaly was the lead co-author of “Islamic Ethics and the Healthcare of Children in the Genetics Era”, which aimed to enhance and diversify the international bioethical discourse on genetics by highlighting the contribution of Islam.

At a partner-led session, Dr. Ghaly, Dr. Ahmed Elmagarmid, Executive Director of Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI), and Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, President of the Pontifical Academy for Life, engaged around the “The Ethics of AI in Healthcare”.

Dr. Raian Ali, Professor in Information and Computing Technology, CSE, had his work featured in a session titled “Adolescent Overuse of Digital Technology: Perspectives of Parents, Adolescents, and Practitioners in Qatar Digital Addiction, also on October 4.

Dr. Kamilla Swart, Associate Professor and Director of the Master of Science in Sport and Entertainment Management at CSE, was a speaker at the policy briefing “Making Sports Accessible for Persons with Disability” on October 6, combining insights from research being done at CSE with best practices.

In a panel moderated by BBC Presenter Stephen Sackur, Dr. Mowafa Househ, Professor at CSE, discussed the imperative need for digital health tools that are customized to individual knowledge and are user-friendly and inherently easy to understand. 

Commenting after the close of the summit, Dr. Raian Ali said: “CSE was honored to once again support the goal of WISH, to leverage collaboration and innovation to transform the way major global challenges are addressed. Our contributions aimed to present research efforts by CSE that address local and regional challenges and have a global reach. WISH remains one of the most important platforms bringing to the fore action-driven research to influence policy and innovation.”

For more information on its programs and research initiatives, please visit hbku.edu.qa