Sidra Medicine’s Translational Research Programs
At Sidra Medicine, our world-renowned translational research programs are dedicated to advancing healthcare through pioneering research, innovative technologies, and a passionate commitment to improving children’s and women’s lives.
Translational Research Programs are cross-cutting units that support translational research in strategic disease areas. Each program brings together multiple stakeholders, including Sidra Medicine researchers, clinicians, and clinician scientists, working with analogous disease focus and interests.
A primary objective for each program is to guarantee sustainable advancement in their respective field while aligning with Sidra Medicine’s research strategy. Each program has identified a selection of disease groups, referred to as Gold Cohorts, based on strategic and clinical considerations. These Programs serve as umbrella structures that synchronize research efforts within six specific disease areas, carefully selected based on our patients’ needs to ensure synergy and effective use of resources.
Sidra Medicine’s Clinical Research Programs are at the forefront of advancing healthcare through innovative research and a collaborative approach. The establishment of Gold Cohorts ensures that research efforts are strategically aligned with clinical priorities, ultimately contributing to the advancement of healthcare for children and women in Qatar and beyond.
The program is committed to fostering multidisciplinary clinical research to improve healthcare and provide enhanced reproductive options for our patients. RPND’s objectives are aligned with the Qatar National Health Strategy, targeting significant health issues faced by patients with fertility disorders and pregnancy complications. Within the extensive women’s and pediatric services at Sidra Medicine, RPND will concentrate on the following Gold Cohorts:
- Infertility
- Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
- Prematurity
Immune dysregulation poses a significant clinical challenge, manifesting in diverse conditions like allergies, autoimmunity, inflammation, and cancer. These patients often present with unusual symptoms, complicating diagnosis and treatment. Treatment resistance or lack of established protocols further exacerbate the issue. Immune dysregulation disorders range from common, multifactorial conditions to rare monogenic disorders, which are notably prevalent in Qatar and the MENA region. Studying rare monogenic disorders, despite their individual rarity, offers valuable insights into pathogenic mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets applicable to more common polygenic immune dysregulation disorders. The planned Gold Cohorts for this program include:
- Monogenic disorders of immune dysregulation
- Inflammatory bowel disorders
Sidra Medicine’s Metabolic and Mendelian Disorders Program, known as Genome 2 Cure (G2C), represents a groundbreaking endeavor designed specifically to address the distinct healthcare requirements of the Qatari population. Its goal is to revolutionize medical practice and improve the well-being of individuals grappling with metabolic disorders, while also serving as a catchment for other Mendelian and rare conditions not addressed by existing programs, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes. The following are the Gold Cohorts recruited in this program:
- Newborn sequencing for screening
- Type I Diabetes
- Mendelian disorders not captured by other programs
Sidra Medicine’s Pediatric Cancer Program addresses the complexities of childhood cancer by focusing on accurate diagnosis and targeted treatments. Leveraging precision medicine, the program aims to understand the diverse molecular profiles of tumors across histological origins. This approach seeks to transform pediatric oncology by improving patient survival through advanced diagnostics and innovative, tailored therapies. The disease population is represented by pediatric (age birth-18 years old) patients with cancer, including newly nosed malignancies, relapsed and refractory or long-term survivor patients with a focus on the following Gold Cohorts:
- Hematologic malignancies
- Central nervous system tumors
Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders (NPDs) encompass a broad range of conditions impacting the nervous system, leading to sensory, motor, cognitive, or behavioral abnormalities. As the national referral center for pediatric NPDs, Sidra Medicine encounters numerous cases with unresolved diagnoses. The Neuroscience Program is a multidisciplinary clinical and research initiative focused on building a knowledge base on priority NPDs within Middle Eastern populations. This program aims to advance research, enabling improved NPD diagnosis and the development of tailored therapeutic interventions. The Program will build a database/registry of curated electronic health records and clinical data for NPDs focusing on three Gold Cohorts:
- Epilepsy
- Autism
- Cerebral palsy
Congenital malformations (CM) encompass anatomical, physiological, and genetic abnormalities arising during embryonic or fetal development. These include craniofacial, cardiac, renal, and urinary system anomalies. Despite biomedical advancements, the etiology and mechanisms of many CMs remain elusive. The CM-CRP addresses the multifaceted nature of congenital anomalies in Qatar. By investigating genetic, environmental, and developmental factors, the program aims to improve diagnostic accuracy, refine therapeutic interventions and mitigate the impact of CMs on human health. Each of the following Gold Cohort focuses on a specific subset of congenital anomalies prevalent in Qatar and of global interest:
- Craniofacial Malformations
- Heart Malformations
- Kidney and Urinary Tract Malformations
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