Newswise — Doha, March 14, 2011 -- Scientists, physicians, and other health care practitioners are gathering in Doha to present and share the latest scientific research on the causes and treatment of diabetes, obesity and the metabolic syndrome at the XVII International DALM Symposium hosted by Qatar Foundation and Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar and the Giovanni Lorenzini Medical Foundation in Milan, Italy and Houston, Texas.
More than 100 scientific abstracts were submitted by researchers from all over the world for the three-day symposium, which begins Monday and runs through Wednesday. The symposium is being held outside of the United States and Italy for the first time since it began in 1960.
The program, which features keynote presentations by international experts as well as panel discussions, covers the following topics:
•Risk factors, diagnosis and pharmacological treatment of diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome;•Lifestyle and dietary modifications in patients with or at risk for the disorders;•Applicability of international prevention and treatment guidelines for populations within the Middle East;•Economic and public health challenges of the disorders;•Novel risk factors, emerging biomarkers and genetic testing; and•Clinical information related to treatment of women, young people and the elderly.
"The presentations and discussions at this symposium will advance our understanding of these disorders and our ability to reduce their impact on people's lives," says Mohammad Fathy Saoud, Ph.D., president of Qatar Foundation, which is co-sponsoring the symposium with Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar and the Giovanni Lorenzini Medical Foundation in Milan, Italy and Houston, Texas.
"Diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome are public health challenges that are addressed by the newly developed and approved National Health Strategy. By bringing together experts from around the world, this symposium will help us address these health challenges," says Dr. Saoud. "As Qatar's only medical college, we welcome the opportunity to help bring scientists and physicians together to focus on significant issues in patient care here and around the world," says Javaid Sheikh, M.D., dean of WCMC-Q, who also is co-chairing the symposium.
"Symposia such as this one help broaden our understanding of the genetic, environmental and cultural risk factors related to obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome," says Antonio Gotto, Jr, M.D., dean of Weill Cornell Medical College, who is co-chairing the symposium, along with Drs. Paoletti and Sheikh.
"We are delighted to join with Qatar Foundation and WCMC-Q to bring the DALM Symposium to Qatar, which allows us to share the latest and most significant scientific discoveries related to diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome with physicians and health care practitioners in the Middle East," says Rodolfo Paoletti, M.D., president of the Giovanni Lorenzini Medical Foundation, who is co-chairing the symposium.
Weill Cornell Medical CollegeWeill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University's medical school located in New York City, is committed to excellence in research, teaching, patient care and the advancement of the art and science of medicine, locally, nationally and globally. Physicians and scientists of Weill Cornell Medical College are engaged in cutting-edge research from bench to bedside, aimed at unlocking mysteries of the human body in health and sickness and toward developing new treatments and prevention strategies. In its commitment to global health and education, Weill Cornell has a strong presence in places such as Qatar, Tanzania, Haiti, Brazil, Austria and Turkey. Through the historic Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, the Medical College is the first in the U.S. to offer its M.D. degree overseas. Weill Cornell is the birthplace of many medical advances — including the development of the Pap test for cervical cancer, the synthesis of penicillin, the first successful embryo-biopsy pregnancy and birth in the U.S., the first clinical trial of gene therapy for Parkinson's disease, and most recently, the world's first successful use of deep brain stimulation to treat a minimally conscious brain-injured patient. Weill Cornell Medical College is affiliated with NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, where its faculty provides comprehensive patient care at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. The Medical College is also affiliated with the Methodist Hospital in Houston. For more information, visit weill.cornell.edu.
Weill Cornell Medical College--QatarEstablished in partnership with the Qatar Foundation, Weill Cornell Medical College--Qatar (WCMC-Q) is part of Weill Cornell Medical College (WCMC), the first American institution to offer an M.D. degree overseas. WCMC-Q shares the tripartite mission of WCMC: a dedication to excellence in education, patient care and biomedical research. Weill Cornell Medical College--Qatar offers an innovative program of pre-medical and medical studies leading to an M.D. degree from Cornell University. Teaching is by Cornell and Weill Cornell faculty, including physicians at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) who hold Weill Cornell appointments. Faculty and staff of WCMC-Q and WCMC are building the research capacity of Qatar in partnership with Qatar Foundation, HMC, the Qatar Ministry of Health and other organizations, with a focus on high-quality research in genetic and molecular medicine, women's and children's health, gene therapy and vaccine development. For more information, visit www.qatar-weill.cornell.edu.
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