The Centre for Arab Genomic Studies (CAGS) endorsed two webinars last week, where a group of specialists shared their findings with more than 500 participants from different countries of the world.

 

The first, held in collaboration with Genpharm was on “Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: The New Era.” which hosted talks by Dr. Mohammad A. Al-Muhaizea,  King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center, KSA, Dr. J. Andoni Urtizberea Institute de myologie, France, Dr. André Mégarbané, Lebanese American University, Lebanon, Dr. Tarek El-Azzabi, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, UAE, Dr. Nahla Alshaikh, King Khalid National Guard Hospital, KSA, and Dr. Maryam Al Shehhi, Royal Hospital, Sultanate of Oman. 

 

The second webinar, on “COVID-19: Immune response towards SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccine”, was conducted in collaboration with the Lebanese American University. The webinar featured talks by Dr. Steve Pascolo, from University of Zurich who discussed mRNA based vaccines, Dr. Alexander Hoischen, Associate Professor at Radboud University, Netherlands who discussed a genetic defect responsible for severe COVID-19 in young men, Dr. Lauren Henderson, Pediatric Rheumatologist at Boston Children’s Hospital and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, who discussed the MIS associated with COVID-19 in children, and Prof Bruno Megarbane, Head of the Medical and Toxicological Intensive Care Unit, Lariboisière Hospital Paris Diderot University, Paris, France, who discussed thrombosis and coagulopathy in COVID-19.

 

In this context, Dr. Mahmoud Taleb Al Ali, Director of CAGS, said, "We are pleased to cooperate with companies such as Genpharm and Arab universities in an effort to combine various experiences and resources in the field of genetic medicine, sharing medical and research results with doctors and researchers."

 

He also stressed that the Centre’s activities follow through on the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and President of the Dubai Health Authority, and are aimed at advancing scientific research and the medical sector in general.