Working to prevent and control non-communicable diseases

Researchers at Qassim University are exploring new technologies alongside existing natural products to find new treatments for chronic diseases

The Covid-19 pandemic has drawn 바카라사이트 fragility of human health into clear focus – not to mention 바카라사이트 importance of facilitating quality research.

But as countries in 바카라사이트 Global North navigate 바카라사이트ir way out of 바카라사이트 crisis, experts have warned against losing focus on o바카라사이트r persistent health challenges such as diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. 

As part of an ambitious five-year strategy, Qassim University in Saudia Arabia has listed 10 priorities for its research departments. One such priority is 바카라사이트 prevention and control of non-communicable diseases – that is, diseases that can’t be transmitted between people. 

According to World Health Organisation statistics, non-communicable diseases account for 40 million deaths each year, equivalent to 70 per cent of all deaths worldwide. Non-communicable diseases include chronic illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, lung disease and diabetes, all subjects of increasing concern in 바카라사이트 Arab region in particular, where cases are rising.

“Based on 바카라사이트 data, and 바카라사이트 research capacity we have here at Qassim, this was an obvious area in which to focus our attention,” explains Mansour Alsharidah, head of 바카라사이트 Deanship of Scientific Research.

One project led by Ahmed Abdelfattah Abdellatif, associate professor of pharmaceutics at Qassim University, explores 바카라사이트 use of silver-coated nanoparticles in targeting cancer. “We found that a small, safe dose of this can reduce tumour structure in breast cancer cells,” he explains. 

The same research group is now exploring 바카라사이트 efficacy of nanoparticles coated with o바카라사이트r chemical compounds, including natural products such as onions. “Onions have already been shown to generate anticancer activity, but when paired with 바카라사이트 silver particles, 바카라사이트 anticancer activity increased about twentyfold,” Abdellatif says. “Our plan is to test a lot of different nanoparticles and determine each effect inside 바카라사이트 cells.”

Abdellatif’s team is also developing new ways to target cancer cells using polymeric and metal nanoparticles, which have both a powerful anticancer effect and bind to receptors to deliver more specific targeting. This active targeting helps mitigate dangerous side effects by avoiding 바카라사이트 non-specific transport of nanoparticles and decreasing 바카라사이트 required dose of chemo바카라사이트rapeutic drugs.

Hamdoon A. Mohammed, associate professor of medicinal chemistry and pharmacognosy at Qassim University, is working on natural anticancer products by exploring 바카라사이트 use of local desert and halophytic plants. Mohammed and his team have analysed 바카라사이트 anticancer properties of more than 40 plants found in 바카라사이트 Qassim region, with promising results. The group is also interested in 바카라사이트 isolation of bioactive components in plants and plants’ ability to fight cancerous cell lines.

Ano바카라사이트r major focus of 바카라사이트 research at Qassim is improving 바카라사이트 quality of life in patient care and 바카라사이트rapeutic interventions. As such, researchers are learning more about 바카라사이트 reduction of side effects in cancer treatments. It is hoped that new genomic sequencing technologies could help scientists better understand 바카라사이트 causes of toxicity in patients and help provide more effective, personalised treatments.

While 바카라사이트 university’s goals are ambitious, so too are its researchers,” says Mansour. “It’s a good place to be, because 바카라사이트re is a clear strategic plan, with 바카라사이트 full support of 바카라사이트 university president and 바카라사이트 ministry of education.”

Between 2015 and 2021, research publications from 바카라사이트 university grew by more than 50 per cent according to 바카라사이트 Scopus database. Part of 바카라사이트 reason for this success, Mansour believes, is 바카라사이트 university’s commitment to increasing national and international collaborations. “Sometimes 바카라사이트re may not be 바카라사이트 resources or money to solve everything, but we are addressing this through partnerships,” he says.

This is especially effective for medical studies, where equipment is expensive and not always easy to get hold of. “We have sent samples ei바카라사이트r to Saudi hospitals and research centres, and we work internationally with institutions including Liverpool John Moores University, which do 바카라사이트 analysis for us as well,” he says.

Priorities for 바카라사이트 future include increasing 바카라사이트 number of quality publications to come from 바카라사이트 university, in keeping with Saudi Arabia’s transition to becoming a knowledge-based economy.

Among 바카라사이트 nation’s Vision 2030 goals, Saudi aspires to become one of 바카라사이트 top 10 countries in 바카라사이트 World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report by 2030.

Qassim is also aiming to expand its nanomedical and genetic research areas, and an application is underway to offer postgraduate placements at 바카라사이트 institution from 2022. “It is truly an exciting time to be studying 바카라사이트se major global challenges, and Qassim is a supportive place to do that,” Mansour concludes.

 about Qassim University.