Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar (WCMC-Q) has just announced they received 15.2 million USD from the Qatar National Research Program’s (QNRF).

QNRF is a programme from the Qatar Foundation. Set up in 2006, it offers funding for original research that is especially of relevance to the Qatari population. The flagship project through which it provides the funds is the National Priorities Research Fund (NPRF)

“Our researchers have one goal in mind: to improve the lives of the people of Qatar and the world through the providence of new knowledge and cutting-edge approaches to health care across all sectors,” said Javaid Sheikh, dean of WCMC-Q. “With support from QNRF, we are able to put plans into motion, work toward the goal and increasingly draw top-tier researchers to this worthy mission in Qatar.”

The money will go into research areas including cancer, diabetes, stem cells, molecular medicine, genomics, vaccine development and basic health.

Diabetes is pretty common here in Qatar and all over the Arab region. That is the need we are trying to focus on," added Sheikh.

The money comes from the third cycle of funds from QNRF, which amounted to a total of 113.8 million USD. Biomedical research ranked second in the amount of money allocated, outperformed by engineering research. The program ins international and the funds have been allocated to 49 countries worldwide, accepting proposals from Qataris and non-Qataris.

The proposals are peer reviewed by up to five international reviewers. This cycle, 126 proposals won funding from the programme.

The 4th cycle of NPRP grants will start on 14 Septmeber, 2010, with itnerested parties sending in their letters of intent.