MENA Microbiome
From Biomarkers Discovery
to Microbiota-based Therapeutics

MENA Microbiome conference: From Biomarkers Discovery to Microbiota-based Therapeutics

On 28-29 September 2024, the Research branch at Sidra Medicine organized the inaugural cycle of the MENA Microbiome Conference.

Around 800 attendees from clinicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, dieticians, scientists and students, attended the event, showing the growing interest in human microbiome research in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. This event brought together leading microbiome experts, researchers, and stakeholders from around the world, who presented their latest findings, and discussed collaboration and knowledge exchange while offering insights into the specific challenges and opportunities presented by the local environment. The conference was in partnership with MOPH, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia USA, QRDI, QTA and was supported by many local and international sponsors.

Event Chairs:

• Dr. Souhaila Al Khodor, Director of the Reproductive and Perinatal Health division
• Dr. Annalisa Terranegra, Principal Investigator in Precision Nutrition

Selected articles from the Media coverage:

List the type of activities here:

• Pre-event hands-on workshop held on September 26th in the research facility aiming to train attendees on the microbiome sample processing and data analysis. A total of 24 scientists from local institutions including Weill Cornell, Qatar Armed Forces, Qatar University, Primary Healthcare Corporation, and Hamad Medical Corporation, among others, as well as international students from Libya, Sudan, Tunisia and UAE attended the workshop.
• Two-days event that featured 38 speakers, including 11 from the MENA region, plus 11 talks from young scientists (both local and international).
• A panel discussion with eminent experts was held to establish the MENA microbiome consortium.

This event was supported by a CWSP grant from QRDI, along with local and international partners and sponsors.