Metabolism and Inflammation

The Centre of Metabolism and Inflammation aims to investigate diagnostics and therapeutics for Non-Communicable Diseases. We want to improve the health of low/middle-income communities by investigating the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Prof Vidya Mohamed Ali says the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar has provided a catalyst for introducing important improvements in workers鈥� rights, employment conditions and access to healthcare.

A new medical research centre will be presided by Dr Mohamed bin Ghanem Al Ali Al Maadheed, President of Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS).

Our mission聽

Contribute to the health of low / middle-income communities by investigating the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) on them using an omics approach.
Focusing on the inflammatory processes linking NCDs, both as cause and consequence, to metabolic dysfunction.
Tailoring diagnostics and therapeutics based on these findings using camelid antibodies.

Our research

Epidemiology and Omics

We have established a detailed phenotypic database, with DNA and serum samples, of a population of low/middle-income subjects: 25,000 (20,000 males completed) and 5,000 females (ongoing), awaiting whole genome sequencing and metabolomics.

Molecular mechanisms

We are undertaking detailed physiological studies to understand the specific molecular mechanisms that may underlie the abnormalities within these populations, specifically addressing resistance to the actions of insulin. As we accumulate greater volumes of data from these cohorts, we aim to develop more representative norms than those currently used for reference.

Therapeutics/Diagnostics - Generation of VHH Fragments from Immunized Camels

We have established a platform for producing camel VHH fragment antibodies to various neuro-immunomodulatory targets. In addition, unique and novel targets from results obtained in the multi-omics studies in the low/middle-income communities are also being investigated.聽

Research at the Centre of Metabolism & Inflammation: 1st Annual Symposium

The first annual symposium for research at the Centre of Metabolism & Inflammation took place on 12 September 2024 at the Royal College of Physicians.

The keynote address was made by Prof. Dame Carol Black DBE. Other contributions came from members of CoMI, the 果冻影院 Institute of Cardiovascular Science and聽ADLQ.

Download Programme (PDF)

Our experts

Prof. Mohammed Al-Maadheed

Dr Chidambaram Manickam

Dr Konduru Seetharama Sastry

Dr Maneera Al-Jabr

Dr Mark Stuart

PhD students

Fatima Al-Hatimy

Investigation of the strategic decision-making process and assessment of its impact on Qatar鈥檚 healthcare system

Previous work recommended the use of rational decision-making, through strategic planning in order to improve the healthcare system in Qatar, specifying planning as a governance issue, and advocating a need for planning controls and monitoring capacity. This project is conducting a thorough quantitative assessment, using NCDs as a case study of the impact of changes within Qatar鈥檚 healthcare system, and benchmarks it against countries of similar size and government, such as Singapore.

Nada Mohamed-Ali

Investigation of Camel-derived Antibodies & VHH Fragments in Inflammatory Fibrotic Disease 聽

The association between chronic, sub-clinical inflammation and several metabolic diseases is well established. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) has been shown to be an important regulator of fibrosis in insulin-responsive organs, such as the liver, adipose tissue, skeletal muscle and the heart. The cytokine appears to mediate the process leading to permanent scaring that fails to return the tissue to normal function. 聽The therapeutic potential of IL-6 suppression in diabetes-associated tissue fibrosis is an area of intense research activity.

Dr Maryam AlNesf Al Mansouri

Noor Al-Naimi

Ijeoma Ibeawuchi

Master's students

Ibrahim Al-Mohannadi

Interns

Fatima Al-Musleh (Summer 2024)

Selected publications

Elmadhoun S, Mansi M, Kamal R, Al-Kuwari K, Mohamed-Ali V, Al-Maadheed M听(2024). Exploring the Relationship Between Injury, Addiction, and Physical Activity: A Path to Recovery for Athletes. Annals of Clinical and Medical Case Reports. (Accepted.)
Stuart M, Farooq M, Thomas T, Mohamed-Ali N, Al-Maadheed M, Mohamed-Ali V (2024). . Sports Med Open. 2024 Jul 19;10(1): 80.
Siew K, Nestler KA, Nelson C, D'Ambrosio V ...聽Al-Maadheed M, et al (2024). . Nat Commun. 2024 Jun 11;15(1): 4923.
Chamari K, Kamal R, Mohamed-Ali V, Al-Maadheed M (2024). . New Asian Journal of Medicine, 2(1), 27-31.
Mazzarino M, Al-Mohammed H ...聽Mohamed-Ali V, Al-Maadheed M (2024). . J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2024 May 15;242: 116007.
Aboujassoum HM, Mohamed-Ali V, et al (2023). . Nutrients. 2023 Dec;16(1): 115.
Schmidt F, Abdesselem HB ...聽Mohamed-Ali V, Al-Maadheed M, et al聽(2023). . Front Physiol. 2023 Jul 14;14: 1203723.
El-Agnaf O, Bensmail I ...聽Al-Maadheed M, Mohamed-Ali V, et al聽(2023). . Neurobiol Dis. 2023 Jun 15;182: 106147.
Bettahi I, Krishnankutty R 鈥� Mohamed-Ali V, et al (2023). . Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023 Feb 17;13: 1024832.
Voss SC, Yassin M, Grivel JC ...聽Mohamed Ali V, Georgakopoulos C, Al Maadheed M (2022). . Drug Test Anal. 2022 Nov;14(11-12): 1984-1994.

Yu F, Courjaret R, Elmi A, Adap EA ... Mohamed-Ali V, Machaca K (2022). . J Physiol. 2022 Nov;600(22): 4827-4848.
Shen L, Dashwood MR, Casale C ... Mohamed-Ali V (2022). . Life Sci. 2022 Sep 15;305: 120756.
Aljaber MY, Orie NN, Raees A, Kraiem S, Al-Jaber M听...听Mohamed-Ali V, Almaadheed M (2022). . Future Sci OA. 2022 Jul 7;8(6):FSO805.
Ullah E, El-Menyar A, Kunji K ...聽Al-Maadheed M, Mohamed-Ali V, et al聽(2022). . Metabolites. 2022 Jun 3;12(6): 517.
AlJaber M,聽Abushreeda W, Raees A ...聽Mohamed-Ali V, Al Maadheed M, Lund G (2022). .聽Biomedical Journal of Scientific & Technical Research, Biomedical Research Network+, LLC, Vol. 44(1):聽35212-35219, May.
Al-Nesf A, Mohamed-Ali N, Acquaah V, Al-Jaber M ...聽Mohamed-Ali V, Al-Maadheed M (2022). . Metabolites. 2022 May 10;12(5): 425.
Al-Nesf MAY, Abdesselem HB, Bensmail I ...聽Al-Maadheed M听... Mohamed-Ali V, Al-Ejeh F (2022). . Nat Commun. 2022 Feb 17;13(1): 946.
Al-Hatimy F, Farooq A, Al Abiad M, Yerramsetti S ...聽Mohamed-Ali V, Al-Maadheed M (2022). . Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Feb 17;19(4): 2266.
Orie NN, Raees A, Aljaber MY, Mohamed-Ali N 聽鈥� Mohamed-Ali V, Almaadheed M (2021).听.聽Phytomedicine Plus, Vol. 1(3).
Ventura R, Daley-Yates P, Mazzoni I ...聽Stuart M (2021). . Br J Sports Med. 2021 Apr 20.

Funding and partnerships聽

Prof. Vidya Mohamed-Ali is a Scientific Advisor to the Anti-Doping Lab Qatar and a member of the Medical & Scientific Committee of the International Olympic Committee. She has contributed to over 100 conference proceedings and media output for the wider public (such as the British Nutrition Foundation Task Force publications) and attracted funding for several student stipends. She has obtained grant funding of 拢1.95 million and published over 90 peer-reviewed papers, four reviews and contributed chapters to three books. Her work has been cited over 6,000 times, with an H-index of 52.