Qfrd Final Jan18 2010pdf

8/7/2019 Qfrd Final Jan18 2010pdf

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QATAR FOUNDATIONRESEARCH DIVISION

ANNUAL REPORT


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Executive Summary

From the Vice President For Research

Qatar Foundation Research DivisionSupporting Qatars Research VisionObjectivesStrategy

Research InitiativesQatar Research InstitutesQatar Biomedical Research InstituteQatar Environment and Energy Research InstituteQatar Computing Research Institute

Research ManagementScientic Monitoring and Regular Assessment ProgramProjects and Partnerships

Capacity BuildingQatar Science Leadership ProgramScientic Research Exchanges Program

OutreachConerencesDistinguished Lecture SeriesScience Communication

InfrastructureMultidisciplinary Applied Research BuildingOrganisation

Outlook

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CONTENTS

ANNUAL REPORT 2008/09 PAGE 01


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1.0

Executive Summary

Qatar Foundation leads Qatars drive to becomea knowledge-based society by educating its

rising generation to the highest standards andbuilding its capacity or science, researchand technology development.

The Research Division o Qatar Foundation

contributes to this mission by developing institutes,partnerships and scientists that will position Qataras an international leader in targeted elds o research,while supporting and coordinating research activities

o the oundations member organisations.

The Research Division was established in late 2007.

Much o its work since then has ocused on theplanning o several research capacity buildingprograms including applied research institutes that

will deliver Qatar Foundations own research agenda,establishing partnerships with international universitiesand scientists to initiate research projects in Qatar,

and ormulating assessment and monitoringmechanisms to manage the research successully.

The development o this research strategy culminated in2009 with the preparation and submission o completeplans or three Qatar Research Institutes. Dedicated to

health sciences, energy & environment, and inormation& communication technology, the institutes will beowned and operated by Qatar Foundation.

The institutes remit is to perorm hard scienceon specic needs acing Qatars people and industry,

in order to achieve tangible benets or the localcommunity and establish Qatar as a contributor

to international store o knowledge. They willachieve this through multidisciplinary, collaborative

research carried out between their own teamso scientists, existing Qatar Foundation membersand new international research partners.

The Qatar Research Institutes will be establishedin the second hal o the year. Directors o theinstitutes have been identied and are expected

to take their posts ater the summer. Considerablework was perormed in 2008/09 on building theinstitutes research programs with international

partners o the highest calibre.

The year 2008/09 also saw plans made or a dedicatedQatar Foundation research center at Education City.

The acility will eventually house multidisciplinaryresearch programs as well as laboratories or universalplatorm technologies, a new model or research

sought by renowned international institutes. In thecoming year it is aimed that the building plans will bedeveloped to a nal stage and construction commenced.

To develop the local scientists that will lead QatarFoundations many research initiatives, the Research

Division created Qatar Science Leadership Program in2008. The program osters promising Qatari sciencegraduates to become uture research leaders by

arranging internships and higher degrees. The pilotphase o six participants proved to be very successul andin Fall 2009 the program will be expanded to additional

participants and ocially launched.

Gaining recognition for Qatars research agendaand building links with international scientists,Qatar Foundations Research Division organisesconferences and symposia in targeted themes.

The First International Symposium was held during9-10 March 2008 which targeted some o the most

promising uses o nanotechnology that could havepotential implications on the wellbeing o society.The ocus was on how applied nanotechnology

could advance detection and diagnosis o diseaseand monitoring treatments. Topics surroundingnanomedicine such as ethical and legal concerns

related to its uses in humans were also deliberatedso that Qatar Foundation would be able to benetrom cutting edge nanotechnology research while

harnessing its implementations or curing disease.

PAGE 02 QATAR FOUNDATION RESEARCH DIVISION


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Relating to the advances o medical science and itspractice, another targeted topic was pursued at a

workshop held during 23-25 March 2008 to considerthe stewardship o human health as a result oaddressing the changing environmental challenges

in the Middle East, and was conducted in partnershipwith the Fulbright Academy o Science and Technology.

The workshop brought together proessionals,academics and policymakers to expand knowledgeand international understanding on key questionsconcerning how environmental pressures such as

water, air and noise pollution aect the health o men,women and children in the region and those implicationson stewardship particularly on the new sense o purpose

and role o nursing workorce and education in theState o Qatar.

In November 2008 it held the BioQatar symposiumwith Qatar Science & Technology Park, which resulted inproposals or promising biotechnology ventures in cancer

and diabetes, and in March 2009 hosted the QatarStem Cell Workshop in partnership with Rice UniversitysJames A. Baker III Institute or Public Policy and Weill

Cornell Medical College in Qatar, whose speakersincluded two Nobel Laureates. Planning commenced in2008/09 or urther stem cell events and a major orum

on clean energy, carbon capture and storage with QatarPetroleum and ExxonMobil.

Links between local and international scientists

were urther bolstered by the Distinguished LectureSeries. Over the year Qatar Foundation hosted visitsby our Nobel Laureates, including Proessors Sir Martin

Evans and Gnter Blobel whose priceless experienceand input helped to advance the Research Divisionsstem cell program.

The year ahead will see Qatar Foundations ResearchDivision ocus its eorts on launching and developing

the Qatar Research Institutes, their research partnershipsand their monitoring and assessment unctions. Planswill be completed or a dedicated research building at

Education City.

The new participants in the Qatar Science Leadership

Program will be welcomed to the program and placedin appropriate training schedules. Participants romthe pilot phase will complete the program and take

up research positions at Qatar Foundation. The sixyoung Qatari scientists embody Qatars vision andemerging success in transorming itsel into a

knowledge society.



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Is there a more ambitious goal than to achieve

scientic renaissance by transorming naturalresources into intellectual resources?

As we know Qatar has set itsel this rmly on this path,and has already made much progress. The cornerstonesor world-class education, science and medicine have

been laid by Qatar Foundation through the institutesit has established at Education City.

We have seen its rst university graduates don theirgowns, scientists start to peer into microscopesat the universities research labs, and the rst

company le or a patent rom its technology park.

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FROM THE VICE PRESIDENTFOR RESEARCH

With the establishment o the Qatar Foundation

Research Division in late 2007, a new impetus was givento supporting, coordinating and expanding research at

Education City. Over the past two years my colleaguesand I have been working hard on some exciting plansthat we are now ready to reveal and implement.

They include three Qatar Research Institutes thatwill conduct applied research, in a multidisciplinaryand collaborative approach, on some o the most

pressing challenges acing Qatar: cancer and diabetes,clean energy production, environmental protection,and seizing the opportunities o the digital age.



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Signicantly, the institutes will be owned, managed

and staed by Qatar Foundation. They mark a milestonein Qatars vision or becoming a knowledge society

by augmenting our valued university partners withindigenous research institutes.

In the past year we also greatly expanded the career

development o promising young Qatari researchersthat will be the lieblood o the institutes. I am especiallypleased to report that the Qatar Science Leadership

Program accepted highly promising and brilliant Qataricandidates this year. Meanwhile the six participantswho completed last years pilot phase are about to start

working at Qatar Foundation.

DR. ABDELALI HAOUDIVICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH


The Research Division also achieved strong progress

in 2008/09 on ormulating systems or assessing andmonitoring research at Education City, planning a

dedicated research building that will house the newresearch institutes, and establishing partnerships withsome o the most elite overseas academic centres thatwill join our research eorts.

I am proud to present to you the 2008/09 Annual Reporto the Qatar Foundation Research Division, and I look

orward to your continued support as together we createa science renaissance in Qatar.


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3.0

QATAR FOUNDATIONRESEARCH DIVISIONSupporting QatarsResearch Vision ObjectivesThe Qatar Foundation Research Division develops

research institutes and partnerships under a long-termstrategy or making Qatar an international leader

in targeted elds o science, while supporting andcoordinating research activities o the oundations

member organisations.

The division was established by Qatar Foundation in late

2007, in response to a need to coordinate its growingnumber o academic and applied research entities.The Research Division was also tasked with ormulating

an overall strategy and structure or the oundationsresearch eorts, and to integrate those eorts withthe global scientic community.

By encouraging, supporting and overseeing a large seto research programs, Qatar Foundation is signicantly

advancing the knowledge-based economy called orby the Qatar National Vision 2030.

It is also a principle agent in raising national researchand development to 2.8 percent o gross domesticproduct, a target set by His Highness Sheikh Hamad

bin Khalia Al Thani, the Emir o Qatar, in 2006.At this level Qatar will be one o the worlds mostintensive investors in research.

These are ambitious goals. Achieving them requires:a clear strategy under which initiatives are planned,

partnering with the highest calibre international partners,

careully preparing or and monitoring the progress oresearch activities, and building the capacity among

Qatars citizens to lead the countrys research enterprise.

Qatar Foundations Research Division has put in place

much o the structure and plans necessary to ull thismission. This report describes the divisions strategyand organisation, and highlights its activities and

accomplishments rom July 2008 to June 2009.

Qatar Foundation Research Divisions purpose is to

promote cutting-edge research and development,through branch-campus universities and research centres

at Education City, that help build Qatars innovation andtechnology capacity, support the growth o Qatari society,and solve national challenges in health, climate change,the environment, clean energy and other elds.

To ull this undamental mission the Research Divisionaims to:

Establish and operate research institutes,and sponsor research by Qatar Foundations

member organisations, in targeted scientic areas

Oversee, coordinate and integrate research activitiesby Qatar Foundation and its member organisations

Position Qatar research programs at thecutting-edge o their eld by orming partnershipswith top international science institutes

Ensure the highest quality o research at QatarFoundation by initially evaluating, and thencontinually monitoring, research plans and programs

Provide support to the senior leadershipo Qatar Foundation and its member organisationsin the implementation and monitoring o newresearch initiatives

Build the scientic capacity o the local population, inparticular ostering young Qatari scientists to become

leaders o Qatar Foundations research initiatives

Build Qatars position in the international scienticcommunity by promoting its research achievements,hosting conerences, and orming relationships withleading scientists.



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Ultimately, transorming Qatar into a knowledge-based society means more than setting up institutes

and projects; it demands the emergence o a research

culture. The Qatar Foundation Research Division isostering such a national culture through training,

scientic exchanges, and consulting with local authoritieson research policy and plans.

In all its activities the Research Division strives to pursueresearch that aligns with the needs o Qatars economyand society, engage local scientists and organisations

in the research, and apply its outcomes to the beneto the countrys people.

Scientifc Focus

Qatar is a small country, and to be internationallycompetitive it must concentrate its research eorts in

certain areas.

Qatar Foundation has selected three key elds, based on

the needs and strengths o Qatars economy and society:

Health sciences. Physical and psychological healthis undamental to the quality o lie o every

person, and Qatar has placed it at the oreront

o its development goals or 2030. Further, Arabpopulations ace unique health challenges such as a

high rate o diabetes that have not been sucientlyaddressed. Qatar Foundation has already establishedWeill Cornell Medical College in Qatar and is now

building the Sidra Medical and Research Center.The Research Division is also now assemblinga biomedical research institute.

Energy & environment. Qatar has been blessedwith the worlds third largest reserves o naturalgas, which has propelled national wealth and

development. Yet an economy overly dependent onpetroleum income can be hurt by severe fuctuations

in prices, and climate change and environmentalprotection demand attention. Six oil companies,including Qatar Petroleum, have established R&Dcentres at Qatar Science & Technology Park, and

Texas A&M University at Qatar which are ocusingon energy and environmental research. They will beaugmented by a dedicated research institute being

developed by Qatar Foundations Research Division.

Computing. Digital technologies have becomean integral part o everyday lie and a driver oentrepreneurship and economic growth. Qatar

is quickly adopting these technologies but muchopportunity remains to adapt them to the Arab

language and develop new applications to serveregional markets. Complementing CarnegieMellon University in Qatars computer scienceand inormation systems courses, and mindul o

ictQatars initiatives to develop the industry, the QatarFoundation Research Division is now establishing acomputing research institute.

While these three elds are the ocus o QatarFoundations research eorts, they will be complemented

by initiatives in other technologies. For example theResearch Division is establishing a research programin nanotechnology because it is an enabling

technology that can be applied to biomedicine,energy and the environment.

StrategyMany dierent approaches can be taken to building a

national research program. Qatar Foundation has madethree key strategic decisions that undamentally shapeits choice and scope o activities.

Those decisions are: to ocus on certain elds o science;to support both basic and applied research; and to

integrate local and international partners to acceleratethe transer o knowledge.



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BIOMEDICINE &BIOTECHNOLOGY:

The use o modernbiotechnology techniquesin medicine, ecologyand energy

ENABLINGTECHNOLOGIES(Nanotechnology):

Use o multidisciplinaryfelds to control matter atthe atomic and molecularscale or applicationsin medical, energyand ecology

HealthEnergyEnvironmentComputing

ENERGY& ENVIRONMENTALSCIENCE:

Use o Interdisciplinarystudies to determinethe eects betweenenvironment, humanhealth, scarce energyresources andsustainable ecosystem

COMPUTATIONALSCIENCES:

Using computationaltechniques to make rapidanalysis o healthcare,ecology and energydata possible

GenomicsProteomicsBioinormaticsMolecular Imaging

PharmacogenomicsNanovaccinologyBiocompatibility

BioremediationEpidemiologyMicrobiologyRenewable Energy

Nanoparticle drugdeliveryNanoroboticsToxicology

Qatar Foundation has made the strategic decisionto focus on biomedical, energy, environment andcomputing.



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Fundamental and Applied Research

Qatar Foundation promotes research rom theundamental, or inquisitive, stage through to

development o real-world products.

Connement to undamental research would miss

the benets being transerred to society, and ocusingsolely on technology commercialisation would ail toachieve Qatars ambition to be an originator o

scientic knowledge.

The Research Division urther bases its investment

in undamental research on the observation thattechnology transer by itsel has ailed to convey

scientic knowledge, or the capacity to innovate,to Qatar over previous decades. There is no substituteor advanced education and the practice o basic scienceto build a national research capacity.

Qatar Foundation promotes the ull chain o researchand development through the ollowing strategy:

Fundamental research is conducted by the branchcampus universities at Education City, under budgetsprovided by Qatar Foundation or through project

grants rom the Qatar National Research Fund

Applied research is conducted by QF-SponsoredResearch Centres as well as QF-Owned Research

Institutes. In the uture the three Qatar ResearchInstitutes being established by Qatar Foundationand Sidra Medical and Research Center will

principally undertake applied and clinical researchTechnology development and commercialisationis conducted by companies at Qatar Science &

Technology Park and centres established at the park.

Basic and FundamentalResearch (UniversityScience ResearchLaboratories or ScienceCentres of Excellence)

Corporate Research,Technology Developmentand Commercialization(QSTP)

Applied Research andDevelopment (AppliedResearch Centres ofExcellence)

Including but not limited to:

Weill Cornell -QBiomedical Research Labs

TAMU-QScience & Engineering Research Labs

CMU-QIT & Systems Research Labs

VCU-QCentre o Research In Design


Chevron, Total, ExxonMobil,ConocoPhillips

GE, Shell, Rolls Royce, Qatar Petroleum,Microsot, iHorizons

Tata, Qatar Robotic Surgery Centre,SMARD, Transport Research Laboratory


Centre or Genomics and ProteomicsMedicine

Centre or Stem Cells Res.

Centre or Molecular Imaging Research

Centre or Inectious Diseases

Centre or Bioinormatics and DataMining

Centre or Applied Nanotechnology

Centre or Environmental Research


Qatar foundation promotes research from the initiativestage to commercialisation.


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Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar is conductingfundamental medical research

Qatar Science & Technology Park promotes thecommercialisation of research at Education City


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Partnership and Integration

Qatar has the twin aims o rapidly launchingmajor research activities and developing its own

indigenous scientic institutes all o the highestinternational standard.

To achieve this Qatar Foundation has adoptedthe strategy o partnering with renowned overseasinstitutes to establish research and training programs

at Education City, while simultaneously building itsown research institutes and training local citizensto take on leadership positions.

It also works with relevant external organisations

in Qatar such as Hamad Medical Corporation and QatarUniversity, to achieve alignment and integration betweenthe countrys research eorts.

The Research Division promotes science at Education Cityin two main ways: by coordinating QF sponsored researchprograms including the six branch campus universities,

and by coordinating QF Research Institutes.

In sponsored research, the member organisation

ormulates the scientic plan, manages the programand employs the personnel. Qatar Foundation unds theprogram and retains a governance and oversight role. In its

Qatar Research Institutes, Qatar Foundation itsel employsthe sta and manages the operations.

Ofce o Research Training and Development.Responsible or training programs to build capacityo local scientists.

Three Qatar Research Institutes are being established:

Biomedical Sciences

Energy & Environment

Computing

The Research Division is responsible or dening research

programs o the institutes, establishing internationalpartnerships and developing their teams o scientists.

As an example the Qatar Biomedical Research Institutewill ocus on health sciences and will include biomarkerdiscovery and development research program, and a

stem cell research program, to name just two. QatarFoundation ormed an agreement with the James A.Baker III Institute or Public Policy to develop the policy

or stem cell research. Partners or specic researchprograms are also under discussion.

Meanwhile the division has organised internships

or several Qatari scientists at stem cell labs in Qatarand abroad, as part o their career development

to eventually become leaders at the QatarBiomedical Research Institute.

In this way Qatar will be able to rapidly engage in stemcell research o an international standard, while graduallybuilding the capacity o its own scientists and institutes.Research Division Ofces

The Qatar Foundation Research Division is headedby the oundations Vice President or Research,

Dr. Abdelali Haoudi.

The division is organised into 5 oces:

Ofce o the Vice President or Research.Responsible or ormulating the research strategy

and integrating it with the overall strategy o QatarFoundation to help achieve the Foundations visionand mission.

Ofce o Institutional Research. Responsible orinitial assessment and regular monitoring o researchat Qatar Foundation

Ofce o Research Coordination andCompliance. Responsible or coordinating andensuring high standards or the conduct and

compliance o research at Qatar Foundation

Ofce o Research Partnerships. Responsibleor establishing partnerships with local andinternational institutions



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4.0RESEARCH INITIATIVES

Qatar Research Institutes

The central purpose o the Qatar Foundation ResearchDivision is to promote and coordinate research by the

oundation and its member organisations.

So ar the main agents or research at Education City

have been the branch campus universities: Weill CornellMedical College in Qatar, Texas A&M University atQatar and Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar each has

signicant scientic research programs in place that aresupported by Qatar Foundation.

In March 2008 the Qatar Science & Technology Park wasinaugurated, whose member companies are developingand commercialising innovative technologies. In 2012

the Sidra Medical and Research Center will open as amajor enterprise o treatment, training and research.

In Qatars research strategy there is also need and intentor indigenous institutes that perorm applied research

on problems o national priority, at a standard worthyo international recognition. Thereore, Qatar Foundationis establishing its own three research centers, the Qatar

Research institutes, that will be staed by scientistsemployed by the oundation and ocus on deliveringtargeted research strategy.

Qatar Research Institutes



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The three institutes orm the centrepiece o theoundations long-term research plan.

The new institutes will complement and collaboratewith other science, research and technology organisations

at Education City. They will also collaborate with externalorganisations to ensure that the science is relevant andapplied to the benet o Qatar community, in order

to orm a network o research centers.

Partner 2 contributingone research program




Research Implementation Model:Developing & Enabling ScienceOne Program, Multiple Partners

SCIENTIFIC

DIRECTOR

RESEARCHTEAM

RESEARCHTEAM

RESEARCHTEAM

RESEARCHCENTER OF

EXCELLENCE

RESEARCHTEAM

The Qatar Research Institutes are complex andlarge-scale initiatives. Each will comprise a set

o specialised research programs with dierentacademic partners, together coordinated andlead by an institute director (see illustration).


Each Qatar Research Institute will comprisemultiple research programs.


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All three institutes will be launched in the second hal o

2009 and developed in two phases over the next severalyears (see box). They will start operating rom existingacilities at Education City and other appropriate research

sites and eventually relocate to dedicated researchbuildings that will be constructed.

The success o the institutes will ultimately dependon the calibre o their scientists. In 2008/09 theResearch Division signicantly expanded the QatarScience Leadership Program (see chapter 6), which

is training young Qatari scientists to become the

institutes research administrators and investigators.Meanwhile Qatar Foundations Arab Expatriate

Scientists Forum is being used to identiyexperienced candidates to launch the institutes.

In 2007/2008 the initial content and specialisationso each o the Qatar Research Institutes was dened.The Research Division also made signicant progress

in orming partnerships with international academicorganisations to establish specic research programs.

Qatar Foundation Research Division has establisheda two-phase, our-year plan or building theinrastructure, people and partnerships that willunderpin the three Qatar Research Institutes.

Interim Phase - Years 1 to 3

Starting rom the second hal o 2009, and lasting

or approximately three years, this phase sees the startup o the Qatar Research Institutes and their specicprojects dened by the Research Division.

Key activities during this period will be the purchase oequipment and hiring o personnel by Qatar Foundation.

The projects will be hosted at existing researchlaboratories o the branch campus universities atEducation City while Qatar Foundations other research

buildings are being constructed.

The earliest part o this phase will see the start o small

projects in the universities laboratories. A research teamo eight to ten will be hired including junior and seniorscientists and technicians.

Later in the phase promising Qatari students, identied

and nurtured through the Qatar Science LeadershipProgram, will be sent to the programs partner institutesto gain research experience and study or post-graduatedegrees in the targeted areas.

Permanent Phase Year 4 onward

Research programs commenced in the rst phase willbe transerred to Qatar Foundations dedicated research

building upon its completion in around our years.

At this point many o the Qatari scientists that had

been pursuing post-graduate degrees abroad willreturn to Qatar and orm the junior research personnelo the new centres.



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Qatar Biomedical

Research Institute

BASIC PATIENT CARETRANSLATIONALAND CLINICAL

HMC

Centre or MolecularImaging Research

Centre or Stem cellResearch

Centre or ProteomicMedicine Research

Centre or GenomicMedicine Research

Cancer Research and Treatment

Diabetes Research and Treatment

Dementias and NeurodegenerativeDiseases Research and Treatment

Cardiovascular Researchand Treatment

Inectious Diseases Researchand Treatment

SIDRA LABS

BIOBANK

WCMC-Q

Qatar will impart new medical knowledge that makespossible personalised and predictive care. This will beachieved by bringing academic health sciences closer to

hospital practice and delivery, while raising the standardso medical care in the country.

Qatar Foundations biomedicine strategy is based on

complementing current Qatar institutions with newcentres o specialised expertise.

Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar is training doctorsand scientists and perorming basic and applied medical

research. Hamad Medical Corporation provides accessto patients. Sidra Medical and Research Centre will bean important agent in this domain, perorming training,treatment and clinical research mainly in womens and

childrens health. However modern biomedical researchdemands capabilities in a wide set o enablingtechnologies such as genomics and proteomics .

Qatar Foundations biomedical research planintegrates with other Qatar health entities.


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The missing link is translational and clinical research,bridging the gap between basic science and patient care.Qatar Foundation is establishing such capabilities under

the new Qatar Biomedical Research Institute.

The centres will ocus on diseases prevalent in Qatar such

as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular and neurodegenerativeillness. An inectious diseases centre will monitor andrespond to outbreaks o contagions in Qatar. A biobank

will be a piece o national inrastructure that servesthe operations and research o multiple medicalestablishments in Qatar.

The Qatar Biomedical Research Institute will alsoparticipate in commercialising promising biotechnologies,

to bring the health benets to local patients and createnew business ventures.

The institute will be launched in second hal o 2009 andwill likely be initially located in the laboratories o WeillCornell Medical College in Qatar. It will eventually become

part o a new biomedical research building.

The institutes initial programs will include:

Stem cells

Biomarkers (based on genomics and proteomics)

Clinical trials and epidemiology

Inectious diseases

Cancer

A national biobank is planned that will serve thesecentres as well as other medical acilities in Qatar.

Future programs under consideration include molecularimaging, vaccine and drug development.

Each program will be based on partnerships withlocal and international research bodies. In 2008/09the Research Division greatly advanced a number o

partnerships in the ollowing areas.


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WCMC-Qs Stem Cellresearch Program willtarget cadiovasculardiseases

program will targetneurological diseases

Stem Cells researchprogram will targetdiabetes diseases

Stem Cells researchprogram will target cancer

diseases

STEM CELLS

TARGETS

CANCERRESEARCH

NEUROLOGICALDISEASES RESEARCH

DIABETESRESEARCH

STEM CELLSRESEARCHCENTER OF

EXCELLENCE

CARDIOVASCULARDISEASES RESEARCH

Stem Cells

In the area o stem cells, the Research Divisionprogressed work with Qatars health and religiousauthorities in 2008/09 on establishing guidelines

or research, health services and treatment. This workshould lead to a solid oundation on which Qatar canbuild a sophisticated, multi-party stem cell program.

Potential international partners or the researchprogram have expressed interest in being part

o a collaborative stem cell centre under theQatar Biomedical Research Institute.

The research partnerships would complement

an existing agreement with the James A. Baker IIIInstitute or Public Policy, which is helping to ormulate

stem cell research policies or Qatar. The Baker Institutealso partnered with Qatar Foundation in hostinga successul international conerence on stem cell

science in Qatar in March 2009.


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WCMC-Qs geneticresearch Program willtarget cadiovasculardiseases

SIDRAs genetic researchprogram will target

prenatal and maternaldiseases

Genomics medicalresearch program willtarget metabolic disorders(diabetes, obesity)

Genomics research willtarget cancer diseases

Carnegie

MellonUniversitysbioinformaticsresearchprogramme willenable datamining andcomputationalbiologicalanalysis for allpartners

BIOMARKERDISCOVERY &

THERAPEUTICSDEVELOPMENT

CANCERRESEARCH

TREATINGPRENATAL &MATERNALDISEASES

DIABETESRESEARCH

GENOMICSMEDICINERESEARCHCENTER OF

EXCELLENCE

CARDIOVASCULARDISEASES RESEARCH

Biomarkers

One o the specialisations o the Qatar BiomedicalResearch Institute will be in biomarkers, based on the

sciences o genomics and proteomics. Potential partnershave been selected based on their reputations ortreating a particular area o chronic diseases,

particularly diabetes and cancer.



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Molecular imaging

program will focus onnanoenergy

SIDRAs molecular

imaging research programwill target prenatal and

maternal diseases

Molecular imagingresearch programwill focus on energygeneration

Molecular imagingresearch program will

target human diseases

MOLECULARIMAGINGTARGETS

BIOMEDICALRESEARCH

TREATINGPRENATAL &MATERNALDISEASES

ENERGYGENERATION

MOLECULARIMAGINGRESEARCHCENTER OF

EXCELLENCE

NANOENERGYAND STORAGE

Molecular Imaging Research

The Research Division commenced discussionsin 2008/09 to conduct molecular imaging research,

concentrating on chronic diseases prevalent in theGul. It is envisaged that these studies will besupported by work on energy generation, storage

and sustainable applications.


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Applied Nanotechnology

& NanoscienceIn terms o applied nanotechnology research, two

programs are being considered to develop innovativesolutions to meet near term objectives o energy,personalized health and sustainable environment or

a modern Qatar, considering the needs o the currentgeneration as well as the needs o uture generations.

Nanotechnologyresearch program willdevelop renewable andsustainable solutions forenergy use

Nanotechnology researchprogram will developpersonalised medical

solutions

APPLIED

NANOTECHNOLOGYTARGETS

PERSONALISEDMEDICINE

RENEWABLEAND

SUSTAINABLEENERGY

NANOTECHNOLOGYRESEARCHCENTER OF

EXCELLENCE



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WCMC-QQatar University

Qatar SupremeCouncil for Health

Infectious diseasesprogram will be thenational referencelaboratory in Doha

Hamad MedicalCorporation

SIDRA

INFECTIOUSDISEASESTARGETS

TUBERCULOSIS,MENINGITIS,

HEPATITIS C &OTHER INFECT DIS.

PUBLIC HEALTHMONITORING AND

EPIDEMIOLOGY

EMERGING ANDRE-EMERGING

INFECTIOUSDISEASES

NATIONALREFERENCECENTRE FORINFECTIOUSDISEASES

TRAINING ANDCAPACITY BUILDING

National Reerence Centre or

Inectious DiseasesThe Qatar Biomedical Research Institute will include a

national reerence centre or inectious diseases that willhelp to prepare against and ght contagious outbreaksin Qatar. It would also involve many other medical

establishments in Qatar, such as:

Supreme Council or Health

Hamad Medical Corporation

Qatar University

Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar

Sidra Medical and Research Center


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Qatar Environment and

Energy Research InstituteDemand or energy worldwide continues to grow,

especially in Qatar where the economy is expandingrapidly and the population is rising to match. This placespressure on the local environment and contributes to

global carbon emissions. Hence Qatar has a strategicneed to develop ways o producing more energy withless environmental impact, and to study and protect its

environmental habitat.

Qatar Foundation is establishing the Qatar Environment

and Energy Research Institute to conduct appliedresearch in these areas. In 2008/09 the Research Divisionnalised the planning and approval or the institute,

which will be launched in the second hal o 2009.

The institute will address the broad areas o energy and

the environment, with a number o specialist centres thatocus on specic challenges acing Qatar.

Energy GenerationTo meet growth demands

Deep carbonate reservoirsCatalystsImproved efciencyin generation

Renewable EnergyTo provide cleaner, saer andconsistent energy supply

SolarFuel Cells

Sustainable EnergyTo remain sustainablein the uture long aterexisting energy sourceshave depleted

Hydrogen EnergyCarbon capture and reuseLarge capacity, energystorage

Energy Research Development Map

Energy

The goal in energy research is to ensure that the countryis able to meet its growing demand or electricity in anenvironmentally sustainable manner by producing power

cleanly, saely and consistently.

Qatar has several viable options or producing energy

large oil and gas reserves, abundant sunshine andeasibility or a nuclear plant hence the research institutewill address a wide spectrum o energy sources. Areaso study are likely to include ossil uels, solar energy

and uel cells.

Texas A&M University at Qatar has commencedhydrocarbon-related research in carbonate reservoirs,

catalysis o natural gas and power generation eciency.It is also studying solar and nuclear energy sources.

The Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute

will complement this work by investigating technologiesthat are identied as having the most commercial

promise and in which it is easible to build a prototypepilot plant in Qatar.



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EnvironmentEnvironmental research at the Qatar Environment and

Energy Research Institute will have two main parts.

The rst addresses climate change and contaminants

harmul to the environment, with a ocus on Qatarsdesert and marine ecologies, plant and animal lie,and air quality.

The second addresses contaminants aecting humans,or example lead and mercury levels in the environment,

carbon emissions, and locations that pose risks

or human health.

The Research Division consulted extensively with Qatar

government authorities when planning the Qatar Instituteo Integrated Environment. Its research agenda contributesto the State aims o better understanding Qatars ecology

and preserving its indigenous plants.

Environmental health was also identied as an area

where attention was needed, based on advice thathandling o chemicals and waste disposal in Qatarwere not at an international standard. The Research

Division held a workshop with the Fulbright Academy

o Science and Technology on the subject, the outcomeso which will help shape the research activities o the

environment institute.

Environmental Research Development Map

Desert Ecology Health Care Settings

Contaminants aectingEnvironment

Contaminants aectingHumans

EnvironmentalSustainability

Air Quality Bioremediation

Clean Water Environmental health / epidemiology

Endangered Species

Waste disposals Experimental psychology

Climat Change Carbon Emissions

Marine Lie Healthy Housing

Plants Toxicology (e.g. Mercury, Lead)


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Qatar ComputingResearch InstituteThe concept o Computing Research Institute atQatar Foundation was raised in 2007 by the ArabExpatriate Scientists orum. Initially conceived as the

Al-Khwarizmi Institute or Computer and InormationScience and Engineering, the centre is now beingrealised by the Research Division as the Qatar

Computing Research Institute.

The goal o the institute is to transorm Qatar into a

modern digital society by enriching the lives o every

individual and delivering the promise o a connectedknowledge-based environment.

The Qatar Computing Research Institute will ocuson inormatics programs relevant to local needs in

areas that include healthcare, energy use, environmentalprotection and sel-development technologies. It willdeliver computing-intensive applications or the modelling

and simulation o energy and environment systems,biological and chemical processes, and visualisationmodelling or improved human-computer interactions.In 2008/09 the Research Division completed the basic

plan or the strategy, scope and organisation o the

institute. It obtained approval or its establishmentand has commenced the process o appointing itsdirector. The institute is expected to be launched in

the all o 2009.

The complete research agenda o the Qatar Computing

Research Institute will be ully dened upon its directortaking post. Its programs will also be designed tocomplement existing and planned computing eorts in

the country such as Carnegie Mellon University in Qatarsresearch programs, Qatar Universitys Wireless InnovationCentre and ictQatar.

Arab LanguageTechnologies

Search Engines

Qatar Computing Research Institute

ContentDevelopment

Bioinormatics

Omics

Hub Technologies

Internet Computing

Cloud Computing

Web 3.0

Social Networks

High PerormanceComputing (HPC)

Data Intensive HPC

Visualization

Simulation

Data Mining andMachine Learning

Data Fusion &

Quality

Sensor andStreamlining Data

InnovativeComputing Research

Digital Society Research

Cyber Inrastructure (Storage, Networks and Servers)

QCRI Data Center

Computer - Enabled Scientifc Discovery


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Formalised research management is as vital to scienticachievement as the actual perormance o experiments.

Qatar Foundation Research Division is responsibleor selecting and planning programs undertakenby the Qatar Research Institutes, and or overseeing

and evaluating the research programs o allorganisations at Education City.

This management unction ensures that:

There are neither gaps nor overlaps in QatarFoundation-supported research

Qatars investment in research is alignedwith national goals

Research programs remain on time,within budget and true to goals

Data is available or research planning and reporting

Opportunities or collaboration are seized

Research output is recorded, publicisedand built upon

Legal, regulatory and ethical guidelines are ollowed.

These objectives are managed at the Research Division

by the oce o Institution Research which providesInstitutional assessment ramework or ongoing andincoming research programs supported by Qatar

Foundation, and by the oce o Research Coordinationand Compliance which develops appropriate researchcompliance guidelines within Education City and ensures

seamless integration o research activites to improveproject success.

5.0RESEARCH MANAGEMENT

Scientifc Monitoringand Regular AssessmentProgram

To ensure that research undertaken at Qatar Foundationis o the highest quality, the Scientic Monitoring andRegular Assessment program was established by the

Research Division. It comprises two parts: conductingthe initial evaluation o research proposals presentedto the oundation, and assessing the progress o research

plans at Education City.

In 2008/09 the Qatar Foundation Review Panelwas launched. The panel is responsible or the initialassessment o research programs, and ormulatesa common ramework o conduct, to achieve thehighest standards o research at Education City.

The panel, which meets on a monthly basis to reviewresearch proposals and programs, is coordinated by

the Research Division and comprises members rom:

Qatar Foundation Research Division

Qatar National Research Fund

Qatar Science & Technology ParkSidra Medical and Research Center

During 2008/09 the panel identied and assessed

research programs that were proposed or the threeQatar Research Institutes, rom potential partners andunsolicited proposals.

The second part o the research management atQatar Foundation will be the Regular Monitoring and

Assessment unction. It will address work that is already

active and assesses, usually on an annual basis, theprogress o the research with respect to original plans and

milestones that were laid. It will also evaluate the impacto the research. The unction will be launched ater therst research programs within Education City commence.

The Research Division also operates the ScienticCoordination program, which shares inormation

between and aligns the activities o Education Citysresearch organisations. The program addresses ethical,environmental, legal and social issues that aect theorganisations research.


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Projects and Partnerships

The Research Division undertakes projects and

partnerships which contribute to the managemento research at Qatar Foundation.

In the area o stem cells, a partnership was ormedbetween the James A. Baker III Institute or Public Policyand QF in 2008 to advise on stem-cell research and

policy or Qatar. The work will lead to the establishmento research guidelines and plans or the proper conducto stem cell research.

In March 2009 the Baker Institute partnered withQatar Foundation in hosting an international workshopon stem cells in Doha. The orum helped to ensure

that policies governing stem-cell research in Qatarwill be o an international standard and at theoreront o the science.

Another component o this partnership is the Stem CellFellowship Program that oers up-to-date inormation

on stem cell science and the most recent internationalrecommendations on policy and ethics o stem cellresearch. This program intends to provide the manpower

or Qatar Foundation uture stem cel l research centers.

The Research Division contributes to achieving high levels

o saety and ethics in medical research, not only atEducation City but across the Qatar health sector.



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The primary mission o Qatar Foundation is tooster the individuals that will orm an innovative

and knowledge-based society in Qatar.

Placing this mission at the heart o its strategy, the

Research Division strives to develop a sizeable baseo local scientists that have the knowledge, skill andopportunity to pursue world-class research.

The importance o this goal is refected in the planningby the Research Division in 2008/09 or a dedicatedOce o Research Training and Development. The oce

elevates the management o existing training programsand expands them to meet the ast-growing demand orresearchers at Qatar Foundation.

The two main training programs are the Qatar Science

Leadership Program, which accelerates the careerdevelopment o Qatari scientists recently graduatedrom university, and the Scientic Research Exchanges

Program, which provides opportunities or proessionalresearchers to gain experience in the laboratories oleading institutes overseas.

An additional training program or technical

support sta is being developed in partnershipwith relevant institutions in Qatar including Collegeo the North Atlantic.

6.0CAPACITY BUILDING

Qatar ScienceLeadership Program

Many new research centres are being opened at Qatar

Foundation, including those o the branch campusuniversities and the oundations own Qatar ResearchInstitutes. A strategic imperative is that local scientists

are well represented among the centres leadingresearchers and administrators.

Recognising that action was needed to encouragescience and engineering graduates in Qatar to pursueresearch careers, and to provide them with the

experience necessary to manage major researchprojects, the Research Division established the QatarScience Leadership Program.

The program comprises two streams: Scientists andResearch Administrators. In the Research Administrators

stream, participants are rotated or two years throughactive research centres at Education City such as thebranch campus universities and Qatar Science &

Technology Park, where they gain practical experiencein a variety o research projects (see chart on next page).

In the Scientists stream, participants are sponsoredto undertake a Masters or PhD degree. The subject otheir research is aligned with the areas o science being

pursued by research centres at Education City includingQatar Research Institutes planned research programs.

Participants are sponsored by Qatar Foundation duringthe program and are guaranteed a job at Education

City upon their successul completion o the training.

The pilot phase o the Qatar Science Leadership

Program was launched in May 2008. Six participantsentered the program, the rst o whom graduatedrom it in June 2009 and has now joined QSTP.

Following the successul pilot phase the programwas signicantly expanded in 2008/09, and places

were oered or additional candidates or the cyclecommencing Fall 2009.

As the branch campus universities continue to increasetheir output o graduates, and the Qatar ScienceLeadership Program builds on its initial success, the

outlook is that signicant numbers o young Qatariscientists and engineers will be positioned to take onresearch careers at Education City in the coming years.



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Dr. Wadha Al Muftah, participant in Qatar ScienceLeadership Program


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TrainingOpportunities ResearchEvaluation ResearchEventCoordination

ResearchPromotion ResearchMonitoring Insights intoscience park Insights intoa undingbody

Insights intoresearchcentres

X X X X

6 MONTHSX X X X

X X X X

QSTP X X X X X 6 MONTHS

SIDRA X X 6 MONTHS

QF BranchCampusesand otherResearchpartners

X X X 6 MONTHS

Scientifc ResearchExchanges Program

The Scientic Research Exchanges Program provides Qatar

researchers with training in specialised elds at leadingoverseas institutes. The training, which could not be

obtained locally, is typically needed and applied by thescientists to Qatar research programs.

In 2008/09 the Research Division progressed planning

o training programs with several institutes.

The Research Division also pursues science exchanges

that do not involve ormal training. In March 2008 QatarFoundation ormed an agreement with the Royal Societyo the UK in which the society helps to bring renowned

scientists to Doha through the Distinguished Lecture Series(see next section), ostering international connections orQatar scientists.

The society will also collaborate in organising conerencesin Doha on the science and policy o energy, climate and

the environment.

The Research Administration track of the Qatar ScienceLeadership Program provides young scientists withinternships at Education City Laboratories.

ResearchDivision

ResearchCoordinationOfce

ResearchPartnershipsOfce


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Transorming Qatar into a knowledge-based societymeans not only perorming research, but also osteringa community o scientists and a broad culture o curiosity

and scientic literacy.

Further, the most productive research is oten collaborative

and occurs at the intersection o new areas o scienceand technology. As the scale and breadth o research inQatar grow, ever more opportunities or collaboration are

created but it becomes harder to remain up to date.

To raise science awareness and engagement,

Qatar Foundations Research Division has established

initiatives that promote Qatars research activitiesdomestically and overseas, engage the local communityin the nations research agenda through conerences

and lectures, and communicate that agenda tostakeholders and the public.

7.0OUTREACH

Conerences

International conerences are an important means orscientists to remain abreast o developments in theireld, share their ndings, and identiy opportunitiesor collaboration and dierentiation in their work.

For the host country, conerences also help to buildrecognition and credibility o its science programs.

Hosting and participating in international scienceconerence is a valuable part o Qatar Foundations

research strategy, serving several specic purposes:

Inorming Qatar researchers and researchplanners o the latest developments in theirtargeted elds o science

Raising the awareness and credibility o Qataramong the international science community

Developing partnerships and research programswith targeted international institutes

Fostering collaboration between localand overseas scientists

The Research Division has led or participated in the

organisation o several science conerences since itsinception. In March 2008 it co-organised the FirstInternational Symposium on Applied Nanomedicine

in Doha. During 2008/09 major conerences onbiotechnology and stem cells were arranged.



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BioQatar Symposium 2008,17 18 November 2008

November 2008 saw the rst BioQatar conerence,jointly organised by Qatar Foundations ResearchDivision and Qatar Science & Technology Park.

The event explored new technologies in the ghtagainst cancer and diabetes, with the aim tocommercialise them in Qatar.

Speakers included Nobel Prize winner ProessorSir Martin Evans, and Europes most successul

biotechnology entrepreneur Proessor Sir ChristopherEvans. More than 200 people rom Qatar and overseasattended the event, which by June 2009 had lead to

the establishment o at least one company at the

science park and the proposal o several promisingresearch projects.

Over 200 biomedical experts participated in theBioQatar Symposium.


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Qatar Stem Cell Workshop 2009,15 March 2009

In 2008/09 the Qatar Foundation Research Divisioncommenced planning o several major new conerences:

Forum on Carbon Capture and Storage and AternativeEnergy to be hosted jointly with

Qatar Petroleum and ExxonMobil tentativelyin November 2010.

Stem cells, comprising local and regional eventsleading to an international conerence in 2011.

Environmental mutagens, to be held in 2012.

Organised with the participation o the James A. Baker IIIInstitute or Public Policy and Weill Cornell Medical College

in Qatar, the Qatar Stem Cell Workshop addressed thescience and ethics o stem cells.In particular the workshop looked at stem-cell therapies

or diabetes and cancer, and the religious and ethicalconsiderations or conducting research in Qatar. Speakersincluded two Nobel Laureates, Proessors Sir Martin Evans

and Gnter Blobel.

Dr. Gnter Blobel, Nobel Laureate for Medicine,Qatar Stem Cell Workshop


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Distinguished Lecture Series

The Distinguished Lecture Series is a program that bringsrenowned scientists to Qatar to share their experiences

and allow local scientists to develop research collaborationswith them. Lectures typically consist o a Nobel Laureatedescribing his or her research, ollowed by discussion and

a networking orum.

The Distinguished Lecture Series was launched by Qatar

Foundation Research Division in early 2008. Since thenour lectures have been held:

Proessor Richard Schrock, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry,on olens, March 2008

Proessor Ferid Murad, Nobel Laureate in Medicine,on cell biology, May 2008

Proessor Sir Martin Evans, Nobel Laureate in Medicine,on stem cells, November 2008

Proessor Gnter Blobel, Nobel Laureate in Medicine,on cell biology, March 2009

The lectures have proven to be popular and attractedsizeable audiences rom Qatars research community.The lectures have also drawn signicant media coverage.

Arrangements have already been made or the rst twoDistinguished Lectures o the 2009/10 year:

Proessor Theodor W. Hnsch, Nobel Laureatein Physics, October 2009

Proessor Robert H. Grubbs, Nobel Laureatein Chemistry, January 2010

Distinguished Lectures are oten arranged in collaborationwith Qatar Foundation partners such as Weill CornellMedical College in Qatar and Texas A&M Universityat Qatar.

Professor Sir Martin Evans spoke about stem cellsat the November 2008 Distinguished Lecture Series.


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The World Conference of Science Journalistswas attended by 900 science writers

Dr. Abdelali Al Haoudi addressing the WorldConference of Science Journalists in London


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Media

The Research Division uses the media to enhance the

recognition o research in Qatar and inorm domesticand international audiences o relevant developments.

In 2008/09 signicant local media coverage was achievedor Qatar Foundations scientic conerences chiefyBioQatar and the Stem Cell Workshop as well as the

specic initiatives such as the launch o the 2009 QatarScience Leadership Program.

Achieving a high level o synergy between EducationCity members, a delegation o science leadersrepresented Qatar at the World Conerence o Science

Journalists in London in June 2009. Research heads oQatar Foundation, Sidra Medical and Research Centre,Qatar Science & Technology Park and Weill Cornell

Medical College in Qatar gave a joint presentationat the conerence, which was attended by 900international science writers.

The coordinated presence by Qatar led to meetingswith Nature, Science, New Scientist and other renowned

titles. The success o the event or Qatar Foundation maybe built upon in 2011 when the conerence will be heldin the Middle East.


Science Communication

Qatar Researcher NewsletterTo raise awareness o research at Qatar Foundation by thewider community, the Research Division began work on aregular newsletter in 2008/09.

Titled Qatar Researcher, the newsletter will be publishedthree times a year starting Fall 2009, and will prole the

divisions news, events and major initiatives. It is targetedat the general public and will be available in hard copyand electronically, in English and in Arabic.


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Since its inception in 1995 Qatar Foundation has beengranted the responsibility and authority to invest in

education and science organisations o the higheststandard. This base provides a solid ooting or research,which can only achieve a world-class level when

underpinned by appropriate human, nancial andphysical resources.

With the creation o the Research Division in 2007long-term planning commenced on a dedicatedbuilding that will house Qatar Foundations own

research institutes, and on the organisationalstructure that will manage them.

8.0INFRASTRUCTURE

Multidisciplinary AppliedResearch Center

Current research inrastructure at Education Citycomprises laboratories o the branch campus universities

and proprietary acilities o tenants at the 45,000 m2Qatar Science & Technology Park.

Filling the gap or premises or research conductedby Qatar Foundation itsel which will risemarkedly with the launch o the three Qatar

Research Institutes the Research Division has

undertaken planning or a permanent buildingor multidisciplinary applied research.

The research building will house several researchcentres that will be established by Qatar Foundation

at Education City.

The benets o this will be twoold: Firstly, the building

will bring together the universities and other researchorganisations at Education City in combined andcollaborative programs under the Qatar Research

Institutes. Such a multidisciplinary approach will helpto oster innovative research o the highest calibre.

Secondly, the acility will be a magnet or attractingpremier institutes and scientists to work in Qatar,providing an environment and acilities or applied

research on par with the best laboratories in the world.The presence o 400 new elite researchers will addgreatly to the diversity and global impact o Qatarsresearch agenda.

The research building will be operated with the fexibilityand strategy o enabling scientists rom other countries

to bring their applied research projects to Qatar. Inthis way the centre will act as an incubator or thedevelopment o valuable innovations in biotechnology,

energy, environment and computing.

The Research Division completed the initial phase

o strategic and unctional planning or the researchbuilding in 2008/09. Key eatures o the buildingwill be:

Focused on our research themes- Biotechnology- Energy

- Environment

Computing

Central laboratory supporting all researchprograms in the building

Two and a hal stories

Able to accommodate the target o over 300researchers ater ve years

Located within Education City, potentially tothe east o the main university cluster

Its design osters collaboration and capitalising

on the platorm technologies o each researchinstitute. Each research institute is ormed rom

multiple partner organisations that make a speciccontribution to the institutes overall research plan.

The building will house a central laboratory withcommon acilities and equipment that support thespecialised laboratories o the dierent research

institutes. These core acilities will be built or acquiredover time based on eventual research demands.

The construction timeline o the building hasnot yet been nalised. It is targeted that nalarchitectural designs are completed and

construction commences in 2010/2011.


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Organisation

With the establishment o three Qatar ResearchInstitutes and the marked expansion o the Qatar

Science Leadership Program in 2009, the researchmanagement structure and resources o QatarFoundation are necessarily altered.

During 2008/09 the Research Division prepareda revised organisational plan in which the existing

Oces o Institutional Research, ResearchCoordination & Compliance, and ResearchPartnership will be augmented by the creation o:

As o July 2009, key posts o the Research Division

were held by the ollowing individuals:

Vice President or Research,Qatar Foundation Dr. Abdelali Haoudi

Director, Oce o InstitutionalResearch Dr. Dirar Khoury

Manager, Oce o ResearchPartnerships Dr. Chee Wen Chong

Senior Research Coordinator,Oce o Research Coordination

& Compliance Ms. Pegah Ghiabi

Head, Oce o Research Training& Development Dr. Ayman Bassil

Senior Research Financial(Planning & Budgeting) Analyst, Oceo VP Research - Mr. Johnson P. Thomas

Oce o Research Training & Development

Stang centres or the three Qatar ResearchInstitutes, each o which will comprise

- A director- A number o principal investigators- A proportionate number o junior scientists,

including trainees rom the Qatar ScienceLeadership Program

- Technicians and administrative sta

Ofce o the Vice Presidentor Research

Ofce o InstitutionalResearch

Ofce o ResearchCoordination &Compliance

Ofce o ResearchPartnership

Ofce o ResearchTraining &Development



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Much o the work by Qatar Foundations ResearchDivision during 2008/09 was on planning institutes,

policies, partnerships and inrastructure that will belaunched in 2009/10. With the approval o many othese initiatives in mid 2009, the division will ocus its

eorts in the medium term on their successul launchand development.

In the year ahead Qatar will achieve one o the

most signicant milestones in the development oits capacity or scientic research: the establishmentby Qatar Foundation o three indigenous applied

research institutes.

Those institutes will be supported by orming new

international research partnerships, ostering researchcareers o more young Qatari scientists, and enactingpolicy and assessment measures to ensure the highest

research standards are met.

Key initiatives and milestones planned by the ResearchDivision in 2009/10 include:

Launch o Qatar Research Institutes in biomedicine,energy & environment, and computing by Qatar

Foundation in the second hal o 2009. Directors othe institutes have been identied and are expectedto take up their posts shortly ater the summer

o 2009. Research partnerships with renownedinternational organisations are in the nal stages oplanning; their research programs will be among the

rst activities o the three institutes.

Finalize the planning and possible commencemento construction o a multidisciplinary applied research

building at Education City. The building will becomethe permanent home or many o the Qatar ResearchInstitutes programs; in the meantime their activities

will be carried out in existing acilities at EducationCity. The building will serve as a hub or appliedresearch in Qatar and allow multiple partners

to collaborate on research projects initiated byQatar Foundation.

Expansion o the Qatar Science Leadership Program.Ater successully taking six Qatari science graduates

through its pilot phase, the Research Division willwelcome additional participants to the programin September 2009. Within a ew years these

young scientists will play a signicant role inleading Qatar Foundations research programs.

Implementation o structured programs orassessing and monitoring the work o the QatarResearch Institutes and other Qatar Foundationsponsored research.

Solutions to issues o common need to scientists atEducation City, or example systems or managinghazardous materials, will also be put into place.

Hosting o an international Forum on clean energy,carbon capture, storage and local events on stemcell research and policy. Full plans or a majorinternational conerence on stem cells in 2011 will

be developed and event organisation will commence.

These major initiatives, and the continuation o existing

programs o Qatar Foundations Research Division, willhelp to create the institutes, acilities and scientiststhat will achieve Qatars vision o becoming a truly

knowledge-based society.

9.0OUTLOOK



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Qatar Foundation Research -

Long Term Vision

PHASE 2: POSTION QATAR AS MAJOR REGIONAL

CONTRIBUTOR OF SCIENCE

Advance the national ability to become a major contributor o scienceand technology at regional stage and position among the world leadersin patent flings

PHASE 3: BECOME A MAGNET FOR INNOVATIVE R&D WORLDWIDE

Achieve signifcant advancement in niche areas o research and ensure this steporward becomes the growth sectors o tomorrow

2007

PHASE 1: PURSUIT OF CUTTING EDGE SCIENCE

Enrich people skills and research capabilitiesthrough the pursuit o cutting edge sciencein Qatar:

Specifc programs initiated in year 1

(New programs)

Support other ongoing programs and inititatives

BUILDING QATARS

STRENGTHFROM DAY 1

PROGRESSINGIN PARALLEL

20152011 20192009 20172013 20212008 20162012 20202010 20182014 2022



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Qfrd Final Jan18 2010pdf

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