The Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University has successfully concluded the ‘Translational Advances in Stem Cells for Diabetes Symposium’, organized by the Steering Committee of Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI)-Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) Agreement. The two-day event was held at Minaretein on the HBKU campus in Education City, Doha, and aimed to promote research interaction and collaboration at the intersection of diabetes and stem cell biology.

The symposium featured a panel discussion during the conference, titled “Stem cell therapy for diabetes: from basic science to clinical translation.” The discussion was moderated by Dr. Essam Abdelalim, Scientist at QBRI and Chair of the Steering Committee of the QBRI-HSCI Agreement, and featured esteemed experts, including Prof. Camillo Ricordi, Director of the Diabetes Research Institute and the Cell Transplant Center, University of Miami; Prof. Kenji Osafune, Head, Department of Cell Growth and Differentiation, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University; Dr. Adrian Teo, Principal Investigator, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology, and Research; Prof. Dr. Matthias Hebrok, Director, Center for Organoid Systems and Tissue Engineering (COS), Technical University Munich.

Over the course of two days, the symposium featured keynote speeches from renowned scientists in the fields of diabetes and stem cells, including Dr. Ramona Pop, Interim Research Director, Melton Lab, Harvard Stem Cell Institute; and Prof. Miriam Cnop, Director, Center for Diabetes Research, Université Libre de Bruxelles as well as multiple local speakers. 

Participants presented cutting-edge research in this field, including stem cell-derived pancreatic islets for cell therapy, the understanding of diabetes pathogenesis using stem cells, the establishment of clinically relevant iPSCs, and precision medicine in diabetes.

Dr. Omar Albagha, Acting Executive Director of QBRI, added, "We are pleased to have hosted such an exceptional group of experts at our symposium. The discussions and presentations were insightful and inspiring, and we hope that they will lead to further advancements in stem cell therapy for diabetes. This event also highlights QBRI's dedication to supporting cutting-edge research that has the potential to positively impact the lives of people with diabetes."

Speaking about the event, Dr. Essam M. Abdelalim said, "The symposium provided an invaluable opportunity for researchers and healthcare professionals to come together and share their knowledge and expertise in precision medicine and translational research. By fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing, we can accelerate the pace of scientific discovery and ultimately improve patient outcomes."

The successful conclusion of the symposium is a testament to QBRI's commitment to promoting research collaboration and advancing knowledge in the field of stem cell therapy for diabetes. QBRI looks forward to hosting more events that will facilitate the exchange of ideas and help accelerate progress in diabetes research.

QBRI aims to build a strong scientific community, enabling Qatar to capitalize on the latest scientific, medical, and technological advances. Prevention being a priority, QBRI addresses immediate health challenges by focusing on more effective, novel solutions for diagnosis, treatment, and applied research that integrates multidisciplinary approaches.