Said Ismail (PhD)
Qatar Genome Program Manager
Doha – Qatar
Dr. Said Ismail is the Manager of the Qatar Genome programme (QGP), one of the major national programs in the region. QGP is a population-based initiative incubated at Qatar biobank and designed around on a comprehensive strategy involving drafting regulations and policies; forging local research partnerships; establishing national genomic data networks; building local human capacity; and facilitating the integration of genomics into the healthcare system.
Dr Ismail, a Ph.D. graduate from the University of Oxford, has work experience extending into various fields including research, education and consultancy. His research experience is in the field of molecular biology and genetics with focus on cancer genetics and the screening and characterisation of disease related mutations in the Arab population. He is the first president and co-founder of the International Society on Aptamers, and is also an editorial board member in multiple international journals.
As a research fellow at University College London (UCL), Dr. Ismail won the Said Foundation prize for young Arab researchers in the UK. As head of the Biochemistry department at the University of Jordan Medical School, he was awarded the Shoman award for Arab researchers in biomedical sciences in 2013. Dr. Ismail served as a consultant to several regional and international pharma and biotech companies. He also headed the Jordan University Hospital reference lab for molecular diagnostics, was the vice chair for research at the Cell Therapy Centre, and Board Member of the Jordan Advisory Board of the International Consortium for the American Society for Clinical Pathology International (ASCPi).
Dr. Ismail has special interest in promoting research among young students and researchers in the Arab world. He launched one of the largest efforts to enhance the Arabic medical and scientific content on the internet; The “Bel-Arabi” or “In- Arabic” initiative: "بالعربي". (http://www.bel-arabi.com). He is also a Board member of the Phi Science Institute, which aims to spread creative sciences and research among youth (https://www.f6s.com/phiscienceinstitute).
