Building Academic-Industry
Collaborations in Biomedical
Research: A Qatar Perspective
Javaid I. Sheikh, MD
Deputy Dean
INTRODUCTION
• Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMC-Q) at a glance
• Overview of the five year research program
• Integrated strategies and partnership approach
• Setting up core research laboratories
• Academic-industry collaborations: opportunities and challenges
WCMC-Q AT A GLANCE
– Part of Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University in New York
– Teaching by Cornell University/Weill Cornell faculty
– Unique 6-year program (2 years pre-medical, 4 years medical) leading
to Cornell University M.D. degree
– Cutting edge facilities/resources
– Early experience of research
– Interaction with patients from first year
SUMMER STUDENT RESEARCH PROGRAM
– Student experience in Ithaca, New York and Doha
– Annual Medical Student Research Forum
– 40,000 sq feet of laboratory space
INTRODUCTION TO THE FIVE YEAR RESEARCH PROGRAM
Main objectives of the five-year research program at WCMC-Q:
• Develop first-rate basic, translational, and clinical research projects
that establish Qatar as a Center of Excellence in biomedical
research, with a focus on improving the health of the Qatari
population.
• Develop biomedical research infrastructure (labs, cores, vivarium,
compliance and regulatory functions, etc.).
• Create a critical mass of research faculty in Qatar and develop a
regional scientific and technical workforce (i.e., build sustainable
capacity).
• Draw upon the strengths of the existing and future Qatar healthcare
sector (i.e., Hamad Medical Corporation and Sidra Medical &
Research Center).
• Create a conduit for commercialization of discoveries (QSTP).
INTEGRATED STRATEGIES
Research capacity building
and training strategy
Qatar Research Faculty
Program
Clinical Investigators’
Training Program
Training in Translational
Investigation Program
Shared-Use Core
Research Facilities
Graduate School
Specific research projects
strategy
Genetic and molecular
medicine
Personalized medicine for
the lung
Gene therapy for breast and
lung CA
Stem cell research targeting
CVD and diabetes
Women and children's
health
Congenital disorders
Summer Research
Fellowships
Vaccine development
Maternal Fetal Medicine
IN FIVE YEARS…
Approximately 120 people will be engaged in basic, translational, and clinical
research. Thereby, this research program will have established a critical
mass, giving Qatar a vibrant and sustainable scientific research
community.
•
• The physical infrastructure will include research labs for 20 PIs
and two shared-use core facilities (a genomics core and a
vivarium)
• The human infrastructure will be composed of:
–
–
–
–
–
–
13 PIs (with seven more coming online in the next year)
20 postdocs
10 graduate students
25 technicians
24 Clinical and Translational Investigators
30 support clinical research staff
OVERVIEW OF PLANNED WCMC-Q/SIDRA CORE RESEARCH FACILITIES
Shared-Use Core Facilities
Chemistry
Imaging
Proteomics*
• Synthetic Chemistry
• High-throughput small
molecule screening
• PET/CT, MRI, MicroPET,
AnimalMRI, Image Guided Intv.
• Cyclotron, Radiochem. lab
• Optical imaging*
• Imaging and Quantitation
Systems
• Others
Vivarium
Biomedical Informatics
• Research Animal Facility*
•Transgenic Facility
• Link with EMR
systems; Sidra Intranet
Stem Cell*
Gene Therapy*
• Derivation
• Expansion, maintenance
• Developing & assessing
gene transfer vectors
• Validation
• Vector repository
* Housed (in part) at WCMC-Q
Computational Biology &
Biostatistics*
• Computational and
statistical
approaches
• Study design, epidemiology,
data analyses
Genomics*
• Gene expression
• Genotyping
CORE LABORATORIES
Genomics Core: Whole-genome expression profiling, SNP genotyping, copy number
variations, methylation, miRNA, deep sequencing.
Personnel
Recruited a core director: Extensive genomics experience with high impact publications and a
stellar industrial background.
Recruited 4 research assistants: presently undergoing training
Equipment
1.
DNA Sequencers: Large projects (ABI 3730); small projects (ABI 3130)
2.
Affimetrix Microarray Analyzer: gene expression and genome wide genotyping
3.
Qiagen Qiasymphony: extraction of DNA and RNA from various clinical samples
4.
Perkin Elmer Janus: Robot for high-throughput experimental setup
5.
Illumina Genome Analyzer 2: next generation sequencing for gene expression, ChIP-Seq,
etc.
6.
Thermocyclers & Bioanalyzer: PCR, Real Time PCR & Sequencing (BioRad, ABI), RNA
and DNA sample QC
CORE LABORATORIES
Imaging/Microscopy Core: Equipment and expertise to assist investigators in
applying sophisticated optical microscopy techniques to understand cellular physiology.
Capacity to perform high throughput screening
Personnel
Existing Faculty member directs the core
Functionalities
1.
State-of-the-Art fluorescence based cell imaging techniques: Confocal (Zeiss
LSM710), deconvolution (Applied Precision DeltaVision), ratiometric imaging (Intracellular
imaging).
2.
High end Fluorescence Activated cell Sorter: In final negotiations with BD
Biosciences. Molecular characterization and sorting of cells.
3.
High throughput screening: Envision (Perkin Elmer).
4.
Basic Imaging Capabilities: Gel documentation system, and plate readers.
CORE LABORATORIES
Basic Research Core: Provides basic research functionality
Equipment: Centrifuges, Ultrapure Water system, Scintillation Counter, Freezers, incubators, etc.
Facilities: Cell Culture Room, Cold Rooms, Hoods, etc.
Planned Core Labs
• Vivarium
Provide centralized expert services in the design and implementation of biomedical
research studies that involve experimental animals.
• Proteomics Core
–
–
–
–
Capacity to investigate alterations of protein expression/function.
Ability to detect post-translational modifications.
Large scale protein-protein interactions identification screens.
Biomarker identification.
• Computational Biology Core
–
–
Sophisticated computational and statistical approaches to validate high throughput
data from genomics and proteomics studies.
Provide essential input toward building a solid foundation for translational and
clinical research.
FUNCTIONAL RESEARCH LABORATORIES
1. Crystal/Chouchane/Malek: Genomics, pharmacogenetics,
genotyping, etc.
2. Machaca Lab: Calcium signaling & Reproductive Biology
3. Rafii Lab: Human Stem cells & Reproductive Oncology
RESEARCH ADMINISTRATION, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
1.
Recruited a senior Research Administrator from University of Washington with 15 years of
broad based experience in academic settings
2.
Director of Compliance with extensive regulatory and IRB experience recruited from UCLA.
3.
IACUC protocols are presently being approved by the WMC IACUC committee.
4.
IRB
5.
a.
WCMC-Q IRB policies and procedures manual is currently under review by the WMC
Office of Research Integrity.
b.
A software vendor has been selected for the electronic application and review system, and
system configuration is in process.
c.
Membership is finalized, including an ethicist and community members.
Radioactive License approved by the ministry of the environment. Radiation safety officer
and training program established.
6.
Chemicals: obtained pre-clearance from the Supreme council on the environment for ~500
chemicals for research use.
7.
Safety Committee reorganized to include review of proposals involving radiation,
infectious agents and recombinant DNA
ACADEMIC-INDUSTRY COLLABORATIONS:
Opportunities:
1.
Strong commitment at the highest level to creating a knowledge based economy.
2.
Education City already has six branch campuses of world renowned educational
institutions from the U.S.
3.
Qatar Science and Technology Park has already been established.
4.
You are on the ground floor !
Challenges:
1.
You are on the ground floor !!
2.
Research infrastructure remains in the startup phase and not fully established.
3.
Lack of well trained biomedical research personnel.
4.
Cost of recruitment is very high.
PARTNERSHIP APPROACH
Central to this endeavor is a partnership approach: Build bridge between
Industry and institutions in Qatar that have overlapping missions in medical
education, research, and healthcare.
QF
&
QNRF
NHA
Hamad
Medical
Corporation
Sidra
MRC
Academia Biomedical
Industry
research
in
Biomedical
Qatar
Research
Ventures
WCMC-Q
and
WCMC-NY
Qatar
Science and
QSTP
Technology
Park
Other
Qatar
Research
U.
Partners
A GROWING ENTERPRISE
By working together and leveraging each others resources and expertise, the
partners will grow Qatar as a biomedical research enterprise:
In 5 years
Today
Education
Education
Hamad
Medical
Corporation
National
Health
Ministry
of
Authority
Health
Specialty
Teaching
SIDRA
Hospital
MRC
Clinical
Biomedical
research
enterprise
Research
WCMC-Q
and WCMC-NY
Clinical
Qatar
Foundation
Qatar Science and
Technology Park