HBKU advancing future of medicine and public health

Doha, Qatar: Over the years, science has made remarkable advancements in understanding the complex mechanisms that control human health and the body....

Doha, Qatar: Over the years, science has made remarkable advancements in understanding the complex mechanisms that control human health and the body. 

One of the most groundbreaking discoveries is the realization that factors such as diet, stress, exposure to toxins, and even childhood experiences can profoundly impact gene expression, influencing long-term health outcomes.

This emerging field of research, known as epigenetics, has become a focal point at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), which is making significant strides in advancing this cutting-edge discipline. 

In alignment with its mission to drive transformative scientific research, HBKU is exploring how a combination of environmental, lifestyle, behavioral, and genetic factors interact to influence gene expression.

An Associate Professor at the College of Health and Life Sciences at HBKU, Dr. Nady El Hajj said, “Epigenetics is the study of how external factors, such as diet, lifestyle, and environment, affect the way our genes function.