NewsDetail
Doha, 10 September 2013: Renowned genomics and diabetes expert Professor Philippe Froguel will talk about the latest achievements in diabetes research at an Academic Health System (AHS) Lecture to be held at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) on Thursday, 12 September. The lecture is the fourth in a series that brings the latest medical research to Qatar to improve patient care.
A world-renowned pioneer in the field of genomic medicine (the study of the genetic composition of living organisms), Professor Froguel is Senior Research Director of Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI) – one of the eight partner organizations in the AHS – and Scientific Director of QBRI’s Genomic Medicine and Systems Biology Research Center. He is (co)author of more than 500 publications and has been recognized as the most referred scientist in the diabetes field. Froguel was the first to identify the type 2 diabetes gene, a discovery that prompted him to commence his ongoing study of obesity and the genetic makeup of individuals who suffer from both extreme obesity as well as extreme leanness.
Professor Froguel led a recent study conducted jointly by QBRI, Imperial College London and CNRS-Lille France which made a breakthrough discovery linking certain type 2 diabetes patients with a higher risk for cancer. “We found that patients with type 2 diabetes who carry a certain chromosomal abnormality are four times more likely than non-diabetics to develop cancer, especially blood cancers such as lymphoma and leukemia,” he said.
Diabetes and cancer research are top priorities for Qatar’s National Research Strategy due to the high prevalence of these diseases in the country, making Professor Froguel's expertise particularly relevant for Qatar. According to the International Diabetes Federation, diabetes affects 23 percent of Qataris and more than 90 percent of those have type 2 diabetes.
“Additionally, 20 percent of pregnant women in Qatar are at risk for developing gestational diabetes, which increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Scientific indications show that this may rise to 30 percent over the next ten years. The disease has implications for both the mother and her unborn child,” said Professor Froguel. Cancer is also a leading cause of death among the population.
Professor Froguel’s study may help improve the early detection of diabetics who are at a higher risk for developing cancer, especially in type 2 diabetes, where cancer mortality is higher. The collaborative study also paves the way for QBRI’s vision of establishing a research hub in the region that will bring together top researchers to develop their research and utilize leading research facilities both locally and overseas.
Diabetes is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by high blood glucose levels that result from defects in the body's ability to produce and/or use insulin. There are three main types of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes which results from the body’s failure to produce insulin, type 2 diabetes where cells fail to use insulin properly, and gestational diabetes where pregnant women without a previous diagnosis of diabetes develop a high blood glucose level.
The Academic Health System (AHS) in Qatar is a dynamic network between eight partners: HMC, QBRI, College of the North Atlantic-Qatar, Primary Health Care Corporation, Qatar University, University of Calgary-Qatar, Sidra Medical and Research Center, and Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar.
Academic health systems integrate research, education and clinical care in a unique manner to focus on improving patient care and delivering innovative healthcare solutions. Together, these eight members of the AHS are developing a nationwide academic health system in Qatar: a first within the MENA region.
