São Paulo – A scientist from Qatar, Isra Yousef Marei (pictured above), won a prize from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and L’Oreal. Chosen for her postdoctoral work in biotechnology, Marei accepted the prize from the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Middle East Regional Young Talents Program last month.
Marei’s work at the Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar is entitled “Towards the development of 3D vascular drug screening platforms based on endothelial progenitor cells.” Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar is the Qatari branch of a United States-based university.
In accepting the prize, Marei said she felt proud of winning and representing her country. Qatar attached great importance to the development of scientific research through its schools and universities,” she said before going on to mention that the Qatar Foundation, the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) and her own university provided great support to her research work.
Marei’s work focuses on the use of primary endothelial blood cells to study diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, and the possibility of using these cells to repair damage to blood vessels because of its effective regenerative power and restorative functions. This research will also mean added knowledge when it comes to primary endothelial blood cells and the role they play in disease, as well as their use in drug development and therapies.
The prize is USD 100,000. She was announced the winner during a press conference hosted by the Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science (QNCECS), at the seat of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. The information is from Qatar’s The Peninsula daily.
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
