Dr Ammira Sarah Akil, Sidra Medicine Principal Investigator, Founder of CUDOS and Chairperson of CUDOS 2019; Prof Ziyad M Hijazi, Executive Chair of Pediatric Medicine at Sidra Medicine and Co-Chair of CUDOS 2019; Dr Khalid Fakhro, Acting Chief Research O
In a major step in healthcare, Sidra Medicine is set to embark on a journey towards precision medicine in the care and treatment of children with diabetes at an upcoming conference in November.
The third ‘Current Understanding on Diabetes, Obesity, and Related Syndromes,’ (CUDOS) symposium will highlight major findings and success stories of its precision medicine programme and the individualised and preventative strategies for improving prognosis and a patient’s quality of life, said healthcare specialists addressing a press conference held at Sidra Medicine yesterday.
Sidra Medicine will host the CUDOS 2019 symposium under the theme ‘Innovative Concepts in Modern Diabetes Management between November 20 and 26 in Doha.
“The CUDOS scientific and educational series is aimed at improving the lives of children and young people with diabetes, obesity and other related diseases. Our goal is to find solutions impacting both treatment and care for various problems associated with diabetes and its complications. We are looking the impact on various age groups, prevention vs early detection with a special focus on childhood diabetes,” said Dr Ammira-Sarah Akil, Sidra Medicine Principal Investigator, Founder of CUDOS and Chairperson of CUDOS 2019. CUDOS 2019 is collaborating with Hamad Medical Corporation and its Qatar Metabolic Institute Qatar Diabetes Association, Qatar Biobank and Portsmouth Hospitals’ AGP Clinical Academy.
“The Symposium also represents a further step along Qatar’s path to establishing the strategy of Qatar Precision Medicine — which as many of you may recall, was first announced at the grand opening of Sidra Medicine hospital on November 12, 2018 by H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser,” said Dr Khalid Fakhro, Acting Chief Research Officer at Sidra Medicine.
“The Qatar Precision Medicine Strategy is set to transform medical care in Qatar. As a pediatric academic medical center, Sidra Medicine is uniquely positioned to embed precision medicine into patient care. A precision medicine strategy will also support the discovery of the causes of diseases in Qatar, facilitate the development of research at many levels,” he added.
CUDOS 2019 will include some ground breaking sessions with the Gulf Heart Association to highlight the cardiac risk in diabetic patients in respect to type 1 and type 2 and related pathophysiological mechanisms and features.
“Rising rates of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus in children have led to increased cardiovascular disease risks during childhood. Over time, high blood glucose from diabetes can damage blood vessels and the nerves that control the heart and blood vessels. The longer people have diabetes, the higher the chances they have of developing heart disease,” said Prof. Ziyad M. Hijazi, Executive Chair of Pediatric Medicine at Sidra Medicine and Co-Chair of CUDOS 2019.
The symposium will also feature a special segment ‘Our Youth at Risk’ by Sidra Medicine, Qatar Metabolic Institute and the National Obesity Centre. The segment will discuss the prevalence and genetic risk of obesity and the available treatment options for adolescents with type 2 diabetes and obesity.
“Overweight and obesity are major drivers for metabolic diseases like diabetes . Children are not spared from adults problems such as high blood sugar, blood pressure, fatty liver, joint problems. Obese children often suffer from the effects of teasing, bullying and low self-esteem,” said Dr Monica Skarulis, Deputy Director, Qatar Metabolic Institute.
In addition to the main symposium, CUDOS will feature several pre-conference workshops and sessions that will be of interest to students and the public.
