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Nobel Laureate Professor Zur Hausen reveals cancer treatment developments during Qatar Foundation's Distinguished Lecture Series

Doha, Qatar 13 December 2011: Yesterday's 12thDistinguished Lecture Series, showcased by the Research Division at QatarFoundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) , presented new avenues for advancement in cancer and disease treatments.

The lecture was widely attended by students, localresearchers and members of the public, who subsequently participated in alively Q&A session. Delivered by world-renownedNobel Laureate in Medicine, Professor Zur Hausen, at Weill Cornell MedicalCollege in Qatar (WCMC-Q), the lecture is furthering QF's plan to achieve aknowledge-based economy through its strong commitment to overcoming national healthchallenges.

According to Professor Zur Hausen'sdiscoveries, a large number of infectious agents have been identified whicheither cause, or contribute to, specific human cancers. More than 20 percent ofcases of cancer globally can currently be linked to viruses, bacteria andparasites.

"Some epidemiological observations even suggestthat this percentage will increase in the future. The recognition that nocancer linked to infections develops without additional modifications withinthe host-cell genome permits the speculation that even cancers withwell-established chromosomal modifications deserve careful analysis for anadditional involvement of infectious agents," explained Professor Zur Hausen.

Professor Zur Hausen's fresh medicalknowledge and new outlook on treatment studies will undoubtedly give valuablecontributions to QF's mission to raise the standards of medical care in Qatar. Furthermore, Qatar Biomedical ResearchInstitute (QBRI), a member of QF's Research Division, seeks to add ProfessorZur Hausen's contributions to its own research centers for disease.

"The Qatar Biomedical Research Institute hasset up a number of research centers that are disease-focused, supported by anumber of core platforms addressing challenges facing the State of Qatar andaimed at making global impact. Two of these areas are infectious diseases andcancer which, combined, are the subject of Professor Hausen's lecture," saidDr. Dirar S. Khoury, Ph.D., Director of Institutional Research at QF.

Inviting distinguished academics, NobelLaureates, and top researchers to share the breadth of their knowledge with QF's Education City will allowQatar's medical community to take on a global role in the identification ofapplicable treatments for deadly cancers.

By actively striving to partner with localand international researchers through such events, such as the annual Distinguished Lecture Series , QFis successfully connecting those who are committed to finding successful treatmentpractices for cancer and disease.

Research is an essential component in QF'sstrategy to make Education City a world-class center for innovation. Under the leadership of the Research Division,QF is pursuing cutting-edge research and development that will help buildQataris' innovation and technology capacity for the future.

For more information about QF's Distinguished Lecture Series,please visit http://www.qf-research-division.org/distinguished/.

-Ends-

Qatar Foundation - Unlocking Human Potential

Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development is a private,non-profit organization that is supporting Qatar on its journey from carboneconomy to knowledge economy by unlocking human potential for the benefit ofnot only Qatar, but the world. Founded in 1995 by His Highness SheikhHamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Amir of Qatar, QF is chaired by Her HighnessSheikha Moza bint Nasser.

QFcarries out its mission through three strategic pillars: education, science andresearch, and community development. QF's education pillar bringsworld-class universities to Qatar to help create an education sector in which young people candevelop the attitudes and skills required for a knowledge economy. Meanwhile, its science and research pillar builds Qatar's innovation andtechnology capacity by developing and commercialising solutions through keysciences. Finally, its community development pillar helps foster aprogressive society while also enhancing cultural life, protecting Qatar'sheritage and addressing immediate social needs in the community.

Fora complete list of QF's initiatives and projects, visit http://www.qf.org.qa

For further information about this release, please contact:
Mouni Chouban, Brown Lloyd James
Tel: +974 5584 4146
Email: mounic@brownlloydjames.com

Grace Wittenberg, Brown Lloyd James
Tel: +974 6601 2961
Email: gracew@brownlloydjames.com

For more information about Qatar Foundation , please contact:
Tariq Al Sada
Press Office Unit Head
Qatar Foundation
Tel: +974 4454 0991
Email: talsada@qf.org.qa

Anwar El-Shamy
Press Office Coordinator
Qatar Foundation
Tel: +974 55904407
Email: aelshamy@qf.org.qa

© Press Release 2011