3 days ago
‘Tanawwo' sparks int'l collaboration in precision health and genomics
Tribune News Network
Doha
'Tanawwo', a newly launched global network by the Qatar Precision Health Institute (QPHI), seeks to revolutionise the field of precision health and genomics. Named after the Arabic word for 'diversity', the initiative reflects its mission to unite researchers, clinicians, and experts from around the world to advance collaborative genomics research.
Launched in December 2024 following a two-day workshop in Doha titled 'Setting up Large-scale Programmes to Empower Precision Health', Tanawwo' brought together participants from over 17 countries to explore innovations in biobanking and predictive genomics for public health.
As a regional leader in genomics, Qatar is playing a key role in shaping the global dialogue. 'This workshop shows how different perspectives can come together for something bigger,' said Dima Darwish, Genomics Education Expert at QPHI. 'Qatar is proud to lead in genomics, and we are excited to invite scientists and policymakers from around the world to join us on this journey.'
Tanawwo' aims to ensure long-term collaboration beyond workshops. It offers members a platform to share resources, co-develop research, and collectively tackle pressing global health challenges. Its inclusive nature brings together professionals from diverse backgrounds—across disciplines, sectors, and nations—enabling ethical data integration, protecting patient privacy, and driving real-world clinical applications.
Following its debut in Doha, a second Tanawwo' workshop was hosted in Algeria in May 2025. This session introduced participants to advanced computational techniques for genomic sequence analysis, gene prediction, variant calling, and data visualisation. It also offered a foundational overview of bioinformatics and its applications in clinical genomics and pharmacogenomics.
Darwish emphasised that Tanawwo' is just beginning. 'We are already planning what's next—looking deeper into molecular analysis and expanding what we can achieve together.' Darwish emphasised that Tanawwo' is just beginning. 'We are already planning what's next—looking deeper into molecular analysis and expanding what we can achieve together.'
