DOHA: Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), a Qatar Foundation Research and Development (QF R&D) entity, and Harvard Medical School (HMS) have signed an agreement to establish Harvard Medical School Cancer Biology and Therapeutics training programme (HMS-CBT).
It is expected to be launched in the fall this year, with the first residential workshop in Doha.
The deal is part of efforts to support specialised training that promotes deeper understanding of cancer biology, cancer screening, diagnosis and personalised treatments.
The programme does not involve clinical care.
Dr Hilal Lashuel, Executive Director, QBRI, said, “It will provide opportunity for clinicians and scientists to gain training and understanding of latest advances in cancer biology and therapies, contributing to Qatar’s efforts to implement and pioneer personalised healthcare in the region.”
QBRI and HMS will contribute to the development and implementation of the course through joint admission and curriculum development committees.
QBRI will offer a limited number of full and partial scholarships to participants from Qatar, GCC and the Middle East and North Africa regions. There will be joint efforts to promote the course in Qatar, GCC and Mena.
HMS-CBT is a one-year, non-clinical blended-learning certificate programme to provide participants with key skills and knowledge in cancer biology to effectively treat patients.
It will develop expertise through an understanding of molecular and cellular events in tumour formation, progression and metastasis. It will also cover topics related to screening, detection, diagnosis, electives in clinical cancer genetics, pathology, and drug development.
The course will be anchored by three residential workshops at the beginning, mid-point and end of the programme, in Doha, London, and Boston, respectively.
The programme will feature 15 interactive webinars with experts in cancer, and 45 pre-recorded lectures.
Participants will have a basic understanding of scientific underpinnings of cancer biology and will have acquired core knowledge in pharmacology, drug development pertaining to cancer.
They will have gained expertise in the general management of cancer therapeutics with a focus on the principles of and targeted therapies for specific cancers.
The programme will enhance understanding of the emerging scope of personalised approaches to cancer and its treatment.
The Peninsula
