The Food Science and Nutrition (FSN) Department of the College of Agricultural & Marine Sciences at SQU, in collaboration with the Middle Eastern Association for Cancer Research, and the College of Medicine at Qatar University organized the eighth Annual Meeting of the Middle-Eastern Association for Cancer Research (MEACR) at SQU on 8 and 9 December 2018.

The meeting addressed the basic understanding of cancer, its risk factors, preventive measures, and possible treatments currently available in the world and the Middle Easter Region. The meeting had three unique features that makes it distinctive. It covered newly updated information in the field of nutrition and cancer; provided a comprehensive link between primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of different types of cancer; and combined basic science approaches with clinical practice in cancer prevention.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Sadi, Dean, College of Agricultural and Marine Sciences at SQU, said that the meeting is an important event to exchange knowledge and the latest research findings on the risk factors, preventive measures, and possible treatments currently available for cancer. “We hope that the meeting will provide a comprehensive link between nutrition, lifestyle and primary prevention of different types of cancer, and combines basic science approaches with clinical practice in cancer treatment”, he said.  Dr. Feras Qasem Alali, Director of Research and Graduate Studies, QU Health, Qatar University, hoped that this event would serve as a venue to strengthen ties between Qatar University and SQU at the same time stimulate a scientific discussion on cutting-edge advances in cancer research.

Dr. Ahmed Al-Alawi, Head of the Department of Food Science and Nutrition, CAMS, SQU, said that this activity is aiming to create an awareness about cancer research and the current strategies for its prevention, as cancer mortality and morbidity are costly and negatively affected human wellbeing. Dr. Ala-Eddin Al Mosutafa, Founder & Director of the Middle Eastern Association for Cancer Research noted that the Association is a non-profit scientific association that aims to build bridges in the Middle East to enhance medical research and collaboration”.