Dr. Isra Yousef Marei from Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar has won $100,000 L’Oreal-Unesco for women in science prize for Middle East Young Talent Programme 2020. She was awarded for her post-doctoral research in the field of health and biotechnology: “towards the development of 3D vascular drug screening platforms based on endothelial progenitor cells.” 

Her research 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. 

It was announced in the yesterday’s press conference that was organized by Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture and Science (QNCECS) at the headquarters of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. At the press conference, Dr. Hamda Al Sulati, Secretary-General of QNCECS, Dr. Anna Paolini, the Director of Unesco Regional Office in Doha, and Dr. Khald Machaca, Senior Associate Dean at Weill Cornell Medicine Qatar. 

The L’Oreal-Unesco Programme for Women, according to Dr. Hamda that it is due to the partnership between WCM-Q and Unesco. She said; “We encourage qualified candidates to apply for Unesco prizes and other regional and international organisations in order to highlight and raise the name of our beloved country, Qatar”

Furthermore, Dr.Anna Paolini said: “Dr. Isra Yousef Marei has become amongst the six winners of the 2020 L’Oréal-Unesco Middle East Regional Young Talent Programme,” and that the Dr. Isra is the second winner of this program since its inauguration 7 years ago. “The L’Oréal-Unesco For Women in Science Middle East Young Talents, in partnership with Khalifa University of Science and Technology in UAE, continues to recognise Arab female scientists for their outstanding research in the fields of life sciences, physics, mathematics and computer science. Each year, three Post-doctorate Researchers each receive €20,000 and three PhD Students each receive €8,000 to assist them with their progress in their career,” she added. 

The achievement of Dr. Isra reflects the maturity of scientific research in Qatar after it was launched more than ten years ago thanks to the tireless efforts of the Qatar Foundation, and the generous research funding from the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF), as well as the training and support provided by WCM-Q,” added Dr. Machaca.

“Qatar attached great importance in the development of scientific research through its schools and universities notably Qatar Foundation and QNRF and WCM-Q which provided great support in my research work,” said Dr. Isra while expressing her honour for winning the prize and to be representing Qatar.