Organization and History
In 2020, NIAID launched an effort to focus on strengthening scientific collaboration between the United States and the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey (MENAT) scientific community. Dr. Mohamed H. Sayegh joined NIAID as the Senior Advisor on Research in the Middle East and North Africa, Office of the Principal Deputy Director. To accomplish this goal, NIAID is coordinating targeted scientific interactions between MENAT and U.S. scientists. A Regional Advisory Panel (RAP) was established to advise on MENAT scientific priorities and research excellence in the region, with members representing Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Turkey. The NIAID-MENAT Strategy for Enhanced Research will engage scientists through focus groups and workshops to highlight NIAID-relevant research in the MENAT region.
Mandate
Planning and executing the road map to promote NIH-funded research in the MENAT region
- Create a strategic plan or roadmap for biomedical research-focused interactions involving U.S. and MENAT scientists
- Focus on strengthening scientific collaboration between U.S. and MENAT researchers in relevant focus areas
- Conduct focus group meetings in the MENAT region with the objectives to promote scientific exchange, build networks, explore opportunities for collaboration, and foster relationships between scientists from the United States, the MENAT region, and other countries
- Conduct scientific workshops in areas of
- Antimicrobial resistance
- Asthma, Immunology, and Autoimmunity
- Infections in migrant populations
- Viral infections, pandemics, etc.
- Attribute potential publications arising from scientific workshops (white papers)
- Provide scientific leadership and coordination to develop scientific workshops in the MENAT region focused on high-priority infectious diseases and immunology programs
- Identify MENAT scientists in relevant areas and disciplines to present at scientific workshops and potentially engage in collaborative research
- Identify and interface with appropriate local co-hosts to help plan scientific workshops, and assist with meeting costs
- Identify opportunities for research-oriented site visits to occur over a ½-1-day period after the conclusion of the scientific workshops
Regional Advisory Panel (RAP)
RAP Chair
Dr. Mohamed H. Sayegh
Senior Scientific Advisor to the Director
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH
mohamed.sayegh@nih.gov
RAP Members
Dr. Murat Akova
Professor of Medicine
Hacettepe University School of Medicine
Department of Infectious Diseases, Ankara, Turkey
makova@hacettepe.edu.tr
Dr. Fahd Al-Mulla
Chief Scientific Officer
Dasman Institute, Kuwait
fahd.almulla@dasmaninstitute.org
Dr. Abeer Nizar Al Shukairi
Professor of Medicine
Alfaisal University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
abeer.alshukairi@gmail.com
Dr. Mohamed-Ridha Barbouche
Professor in Immunology
Medical School, University of Tunis, Tunisia
medridha.barbouche@pasteur.tn
Dr. Mohamed Chakroun
Head of Department of Infectious Diseases
Faculty of Medicine, University of Monastir, Tunisia
chakrounme@gmail.com
Dr. Ghassan Dbaibo
Professor
Pediatric Infectious Diseases, AUB, Lebanon
gdbaibo@aub.edu.lb
Dr. Gamal Esmat
Professor of Hepatology and Endemic Medicine
Cairo University, Egypt
g_esmat@yahoo.com
Dr. Qutayba Hamid
Dean of College of Medicine
University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
qalheialy@sharjah.ac.ae
Dr. Souha Kanj Shararah
Professor
Center for Infectious Diseases Research, AUB, Lebanon
sk11@aub.edu.lb
Dr. Gulfaraz Khan
Professor of Viral Pathology & Chair of Department of Microbiology & Immunology
College of Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, United Arab Emirates
g_khan@uaeu.ac.ae
Dr. Bernice Lo
Principal Investigator
Precision Medicine Program
Sidra Medicine, Qatar
blo@sidra.org
Dr. Ziad Memish
Senior Infectious Disease Consultant and Director, Research & Innovation Centre
King Saud Medical City, Ministry of Health, College of Medicine, AlFaisal University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
zmemish@yahoo.com
Dr. Ahmet Ozen
Professor
Marmara University, Turkey
ahmet.ozen@marmara.edu.tr
Dr. Shadi Saleh
Founding Director
Global Health Institute, American University of Beirut (AUB), Lebanon
ss117@aub.edu.lb
Ongoing Efforts
Focus Group Meetings
U.S.-MENAT Focus Group on Emerging Viral Infections, November 10, 2020
This focus group brought together NIAID and MENAT scientists virtually to discuss current MENAT research efforts on emerging viral infections, including SARS-CoV-2. The group included 50 research experts from the MENAT region; NIAID-supported extramural scientists, intramural researchers, and administrative staff; and members of the NIAID MENAT RAP. It featured 18 presentations on genetics and genomics, immunology and immune responses, screening and risk factors, and therapies and vaccines.
U.S.-MENAT Focus Group on Antimicrobial Resistance Research, December 8, 2020
This focus group brought together NIAID and MENAT scientists virtually to discuss current MENAT research efforts on antimicrobial resistance research. The group included 33 research experts from the MENAT region; NIAID-supported extramural scientists, intramural researchers, and administrative staff; and members of the NIAID MENAT RAP. It featured 16 presentations on antimicrobial resistance.
U.S.-MENAT Focus Group on Immunologic Diseases, March 9, 17, and 22, 2021
This focus group brought together NIAID and MENAT scientists virtually to discuss current MENAT research efforts on antimicrobial resistance research. The group included 30 research experts from the MENAT region; NIAID-supported extramural scientists, intramural researchers, and administrative staff; and members of the NIAID MENAT RAP. It featured 37 presentations on autoimmune and immune diseases; asthma, allergies, and hypersensitivities; and genetics and immunodeficiencies.
U.S.-MENAT Focus Group on Opportunities for Research in Displaced, Migrant, and Mass Gatherings Populations, May 18, 2021
This focus group brought together NIAID and MENAT scientists virtually to discuss current MENAT research efforts on opportunities for research in displaced, migrant and mass gatherings populations. The group included 28 research experts from the MENAT region; NIAID-supported extramural scientists, intramural researchers, and administrative staff; and members of the NIAID MENAT RAP. It featured 6 presentations on opportunities for research in displaced, migrant and mass gatherings populations.
U.S.-MENAT Focus Group on Challenges and Opportunities for Research in HIV and TB, October 13, 2021
U.S.-MENAT Focus Group discussed challenges and opportunities for research in HIV and TB, on October 13, 2021. This focus group brought together NIAID and MENAT scientists virtually to discuss current MENAT research efforts in HIV and TB. The group included 37 research experts from the MENAT region; NIAID-supported extramural scientists, intramural researchers, and administrative staff and members of the NIAID MENAT RAP. It featured 16 presentations which propose programs and strategies to help reduce the burden of HIV and TB.
U.S.-MENAT Focus Group on Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Infections, March 1 and 3, 2022
This focus group brought together NIAID and MENAT scientists virtually to discuss current MENAT research efforts on vector-borne and zoonotic infections. There were 46 participants in Session I and 40 participants in Session II. It featured 13 presentations on vector biology and control, disease prevention, and zoonotic infections relevant to the MENAT region.
U.S.-MENAT Focus Group on Revisiting Emerging Viral Infections, July 28, 2022
This focus group brought together NIAID and MENAT scientists virtually to discuss current MENAT research efforts on emerging viral infections. The group included 20 research experts from the MENAT region; NIAID-supported extramural scientists, intramural researchers, and administrative staff; and members of the NIAID MENAT RAP. It featured nine presentations on the evolution and advancements in managing emerging viral infections and how the lessons learned over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic could be applied to other viruses. Presenters also followed up on research projects that were initially discussed during the first focus group session held in November 2020. Dr. Daniel Douek, Chief of the Genome Analysis Core and Human Immunology Section at NIAID, gave a presentation on the Pandemic Response Repository through Microbial and Immunological Surveillance and Epidemiology (PREMISE) program.
U.S.-MENAT Focus Group on Infections in the Immunocompromised Host Including Fungal Infections, Feb 7, 2023
This focus group brought together NIAID and MENAT scientists virtually to discuss current MENAT research efforts on infections in the immunocompromised host, including fungal infections. The group included 18 research experts from the MENAT region; NIAID-supported extramural scientists, intramural researchers, and administrative staff; and members of the NIAID MENAT RAP. It featured nine presentations on infections in the immunocompromised.
Scientific Workshops
At the conclusion of the focus groups, NIAID, with scientific advice from the RAP, will convene workshops in the same scientific areas. The objectives of these workshops are to promote scientific exchange, build networks, explore opportunities for collaboration, and foster relationships between scientists from the United States, the MENAT region, and other countries. The workshops will be hosted in the region.
The Joint Işil Berat Barlan Symposium on Immunologic Disorders and the History of Medicine Meeting
November 10-12, 2021
To strengthen scientific research in the MENAT region and to foster collaboration between MENAT and U.S. scientists, NIAID and Marmara University co-sponsored a hybrid symposium on immunologic disorders in Istanbul, Turkey on November 10-12, 2021. The objectives of the symposium included scientific exchange, building networks, fostering relationships with scientists from the United States and MENAT region, and exploring opportunities for collaboration. The symposium enhanced and expanded knowledge of immunodeficiencies and immunologic disorders in MENAT countries. Discussions and presentations were conducted through plenary and panel breakout sessions led by MENAT and U.S. researchers.