Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s (HBKU) College of Health and Life Sciences (CHLS) recently concluded a number of seminars as part of the college’s mandate to augment students’ learning experiences and supplement core course material. The seminars touched upon topics that are germane to the biomedical and health sciences, as well as their applications in the healthcare field.

Professor Brian Burke, research director at the Institute of Medical Biology at A*STAR in Singapore, on Wednesday, November 7, discussed the topic of ‘Molecular interactions at the nuclear periphery: New LINCs to human disease’. The lecture explained how physical connections between different components within eukaryotic cells are important not only for healthy cell functions, but also how these connections play a critical role in many diseases. 

Last month, a seminar entitled ‘Flow Virometry: A Nanotechnology Method to Study Viruses and Microvesicles by Flow Cytometry’ was delivered by Dr. Jean-Charles Grivel, director of the Deep Phenotyping Core at Sidra Medical and Research Center. It offered CHLS students, faculty, and other attendees an overview of microvesicles and the methods currently available for their characterization. Furthermore, Dr. Grivel discussed how flow virometry can be used to study the HIV and Dengue viruses as well as microvesicles found in blood.

Commenting on the college’s recent seminars, Dr. Edward Stuenkel, dean of CHLS, said: “The College is deeply committed to initiatives that aim to provide a well-rounded understanding of the fields of biomedicine and health sciences as they especially pertain to knowledge, intervention or technologies that affect the health of entire populations.

“CHLS welcomes Qatar-based and internationally-recognized experts, all with the aim of providing its students, faculty, and the broader HBKU community with a holistic learning environment that extends beyond the confines of the classroom.”

CHLS is at the vanguard of innovative educational and practice-based offerings. With four multidisciplinary programs at the master’s and PhD levels, the college actively seeks to complement national healthcare aspirations and advance the biomedical sciences. As a fast-evolving entity within HBKU, the college aspires to draw on the expertise of local and international specialists who provide unique insights and share their knowledge with the broader HBKU and Education City communities.

With innovation and excellence as cornerstones to all of its endeavors, HBKU is dedicated to providing its students with an integrated learning experience by regularly collaborating with academic institutions and inviting experts in their field to participate in discussions that add value to the University’s current curriculum.