The first phase of the Tissue Biobank Service in Qatar has been launched by Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), represented by the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (DLMP), in cooperation with Qatar BioBank (QBB). Tissue biobanking is the process of collecting, processing, storing, and distributing human tissue samples for research purposes. These tissue samples are acquired from surplus tissue after surgical procedures or biopsies, and they are used to study a wide range of diseases and health conditions. It allows researchers to study diseases and health conditions at the cellular and molecular level, and by analyzing tissue samples, researchers can gain a better understanding of how diseases develop and progress, and they can identify potential targets for new treatments.
Chairperson of Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at HMC Dr. Einas Al Kuwari said: "The launch of the program is an exciting achievement and the result of the strong and long-lasting partnership between the two organizations, pointing out that the implications of this feat are numerous and substantive as more than 300,000 diverse surgical pathology samples from 2008 and up to date will be at the disposal of the researchers, and will inevitably lead to further advancement in medicine".
Director of Qatar BioBank Dr. Nahla Afifi said: "Tissue biobanking helps to advance medical research and improve patient care, pointing out that providing researchers with access to high-quality tissue samples, tissue biobanks like this one can support the development of new therapies and diagnostic tests that can benefit patients. Enabling researchers to study human tissue samples directly can provide more accurate and relevant results, and through collaborations on important projects like the Tissue Biobank, we are building capacity in medical research in Qatar which will lead to new insights and advances".
