Tagged with Qatar Genome Programme

From Data to Action: Can the Middle East’s Genome Programmes Deliver on Their Promise?

MEA From Data to Action: Can the Middle East’s Genome Programmes Deliver on Their Promise?

MEA For decades, the Middle East has faced a disproportionately high burden of rare genetic disorders, fuelled both by deep-rooted cultural practices and an overreliance on Western genomic data. Fast forward to 2026, and massive genome projects across the Gulf region are attempting to shift the narrative. Backed by immense sovereign…

Said Ismail – Professor, College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University; Founding Director, Qatar Genome Programme

MEA Said Ismail – Professor, College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University; Founding Director, Qatar Genome Programme

MEA Dr Said Ismail, geneticist and professor of genomics at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, reflects on his role as the founding director and one of the architects of the Qatar Genome Programme (QGP), one of the Middle East’s most established and globally recognised population‑level genomics initiatives. He describes the pivotal decisions…