Qatar University's College of Pharmacy (QU-CPH) and the QU-Health cluster have marked the graduation of their first PhD student,
Dr Islam Eljilany, who has completed his doctorate in Pharmaceutical Sciences.
Dr Eljilany successfully completed the oral defence of his PhD thesis on May 5.
His thesis, titled 'Clinical and economic impact of genetic and non-genetic factors on INR normalisation in preoperative management of warfarin patients', compared the clinical and economic impact of genetically guided versus non-genetically guided management of anti-coagulant warfarin among Arab patients undergoing surgery.
The PhD project of Dr Islam was supervised by Dr Hazem Elewa (QU-CPH associate professor of Pharmacogenetics), Dr Daoud al-Badriyeh (QU-CPH associate professor of Health Economics), Prof Abdel Naser Elzouki (chief of General Internal Medicine at Hamad General Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation), and Dr Larisa Cavallari (associate professor at the Department of Pharmacotherapy and Translation Research, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, US).
Dr Eljilany said: “The project is innovative in different aspects, nationally and internationally, incorporating surveys, clinical evaluation and genetic association studies, as well as health economic analyses. Regionally, the work established the first-time optimisation of the duration of preprocedural warfarin (a blood-thinning drug) interruption by examining the effect of genetic mutations of enzymes that regulate warfarin action, and other non-genetic factors on the elimination of warfarin effect.
"Here, in the Arab population living in Qatar, the study demonstrated that mutations in the gene responsible for warfarin metabolism might indeed affect the patient response to warfarin and, hence, this can be used to define the required warfarin discontinuation period before surgery.
"Internationally, when looking at the difference between the cost of genetic testing and the generated benefit of accurate estimation of warfarin interruption duration before surgery. Within this context, we are the first to report the cost-effectiveness of genetic testing. We reported that, based on local practices; the incidence of bleeding was generally higher when heparin is added during periprocedural warfarin management, this management approach (bridging) is associated with an overall cost-saving."
Dr Elewa, the main superviser for Dr Eljilany and an expert in pharmacogenomics, said: “The insights provided for the first time by the PhD project about the influence of genetic polymorphisms on warfarin effect in the Arab population could personalise warfarin periprocedural management."
Dr al-Badriyeh noted: “Islam was most successful and has put his heart, mind, and soul into even the smallest details in this project. Islam loved the area of his research, which is very important. He finished in the minimum required duration for the PhD completion, and he generated eight research articles in international peer-reviewed journals. His resolution to succeed is impressive and will surely take him places."
Dr Abdelali Agouni, associate professor at CPH and founding co-ordinator of the PhD programme in Pharmaceutical Sciences, added: “Graduating the first PhD student in Pharmaceutical Sciences in Qatar and the first PhD in health disciplines at QU is a historic moment and a matter of great pride. It has been a privilege to be part of this unique journey. This achievement reflects the major advancements of Qatar University in the fields of health in general and Pharmacy in particular."
Prof Feras Alali, professor and director of Research and Graduate Studies at QU-Health, said: “We are proud at QU-Health for this historic achievement. Our relatively new collaborative research-based PhD programme is already making strides and impact. The significance and outcome of the PhD thesis research of Dr Eljilany was impressive and aligned with Qatar’s national health strategy in addressing national health needs."
CPH dean Dr Mohamed Diab added: “It is such a huge milestone to watch the first graduate for our PhD programme under the umbrella of QU-Health. This is a turning point for the College of Pharmacy, of course, proving that its capabilities and advancement goes above the beyond graduating undergraduate students and excelling in graduating highly qualified PhD students ready to advance healthcare in Qatar."
Dr Eljilany successfully completed the oral defence of his PhD thesis on May 5.
His thesis, titled 'Clinical and economic impact of genetic and non-genetic factors on INR normalisation in preoperative management of warfarin patients', compared the clinical and economic impact of genetically guided versus non-genetically guided management of anti-coagulant warfarin among Arab patients undergoing surgery.
The PhD project of Dr Islam was supervised by Dr Hazem Elewa (QU-CPH associate professor of Pharmacogenetics), Dr Daoud al-Badriyeh (QU-CPH associate professor of Health Economics), Prof Abdel Naser Elzouki (chief of General Internal Medicine at Hamad General Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation), and Dr Larisa Cavallari (associate professor at the Department of Pharmacotherapy and Translation Research, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, US).
Dr Eljilany said: “The project is innovative in different aspects, nationally and internationally, incorporating surveys, clinical evaluation and genetic association studies, as well as health economic analyses. Regionally, the work established the first-time optimisation of the duration of preprocedural warfarin (a blood-thinning drug) interruption by examining the effect of genetic mutations of enzymes that regulate warfarin action, and other non-genetic factors on the elimination of warfarin effect.
"Here, in the Arab population living in Qatar, the study demonstrated that mutations in the gene responsible for warfarin metabolism might indeed affect the patient response to warfarin and, hence, this can be used to define the required warfarin discontinuation period before surgery.
"Internationally, when looking at the difference between the cost of genetic testing and the generated benefit of accurate estimation of warfarin interruption duration before surgery. Within this context, we are the first to report the cost-effectiveness of genetic testing. We reported that, based on local practices; the incidence of bleeding was generally higher when heparin is added during periprocedural warfarin management, this management approach (bridging) is associated with an overall cost-saving."
Dr Elewa, the main superviser for Dr Eljilany and an expert in pharmacogenomics, said: “The insights provided for the first time by the PhD project about the influence of genetic polymorphisms on warfarin effect in the Arab population could personalise warfarin periprocedural management."
Dr al-Badriyeh noted: “Islam was most successful and has put his heart, mind, and soul into even the smallest details in this project. Islam loved the area of his research, which is very important. He finished in the minimum required duration for the PhD completion, and he generated eight research articles in international peer-reviewed journals. His resolution to succeed is impressive and will surely take him places."
Dr Abdelali Agouni, associate professor at CPH and founding co-ordinator of the PhD programme in Pharmaceutical Sciences, added: “Graduating the first PhD student in Pharmaceutical Sciences in Qatar and the first PhD in health disciplines at QU is a historic moment and a matter of great pride. It has been a privilege to be part of this unique journey. This achievement reflects the major advancements of Qatar University in the fields of health in general and Pharmacy in particular."
Prof Feras Alali, professor and director of Research and Graduate Studies at QU-Health, said: “We are proud at QU-Health for this historic achievement. Our relatively new collaborative research-based PhD programme is already making strides and impact. The significance and outcome of the PhD thesis research of Dr Eljilany was impressive and aligned with Qatar’s national health strategy in addressing national health needs."
CPH dean Dr Mohamed Diab added: “It is such a huge milestone to watch the first graduate for our PhD programme under the umbrella of QU-Health. This is a turning point for the College of Pharmacy, of course, proving that its capabilities and advancement goes above the beyond graduating undergraduate students and excelling in graduating highly qualified PhD students ready to advance healthcare in Qatar."