WCM-Q Research

Congratulations to colleagues for their new single-cell transcriptomics work on kidney transplant rejection: Titled “Urinary Single-Cell Transcriptomics in Kidney Transplantation: Elucidation of Donor–Recipient Cellular Dynamics and Fibrogenic Stress”, this research just got published in the American Journal of Transplantation
This impressive study, led by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators across New York and Qatar, demonstrates how urinary scRNA-seq can serve as a noninvasive window into allograft biology.
🔬 Key highlights:
-Urine predominantly reflects the recipient immune environment (~79% recipient-derived cells)
- Accurate donor vs. recipient cell assignment without reference genotypes
- Urinary podocytes show fibrogenic stress and EMT-like signatures
- Activated recipient T cells vs. quiescent donor-derived T cells with tissue-associated features
-Detection of functional donor-derived macrophages, suggesting persistent graft-resident activity

🏥 Led by Dr. Manikkam Suthanthiran and Dr. Thangamani Muthukumar (Weill Cornell Medicine, New York), with key contributions from WCM-Qatar colleagues (Dr. Hamda Al Mansoori, Dr. Mai Al Subai) and collaborators in genomics and computational biology (Dr. Aziz Belkadi and Dr. Karsten Suhre).
💡 A great example of NY–Qatar collaboration, advancing noninvasive, mechanistic, and scalable monitoring of kidney transplant health.
📄 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajt.2026.05.007

A powerful example of research making a real difference 🌍
Professor Rayaz Malik has dedicated decades to developing a non-invasive eye scan that can reveal signs of brain disorders, transforming how we detect and monitor disease. 👁️🧠
Watch his inspiring journey and impact:
https://youtu.be/flDDjJnuYgU?si=rnPMbpKORZzbNYYi

🔬 Advancing diabetes research, care, and collaboration in Qatar and beyond:
With diabetes affecting nearly 1 in every 5 people in Qatar, and prevalence expected to rise, research, prevention, and early intervention have never been more critical. Weill Cornell Medicine–Qatar (WCM-Q) continues to lead efforts addressing this growing public health challenge through impactful, multidisciplinary research.
Recognized as an International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Center of Excellence, is advancing understanding of the genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors underlying diabetes and its complications. Research at WCM-Q spans basic science, clinical and translational studies, and community-focused initiatives, contributing to improved diagnosis, management, and patient outcomes.
Beyond the laboratory, WCM-Q plays a key role in convening global expertise. Through conferences and symposia, WCM-Q brings together leading scientists, clinicians, and healthcare professionals from Qatar and around the world to share knowledge and advance best practices in diabetes prevention and care. One example is the CONNECT‑DPN (CONNecting Experts for Clinical best practice in Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy) meeting, endorsed by the IDF, which united international specialists to address challenges in early diagnosis and management of diabetic neuropathy.
Combined with community outreach, education campaigns, and strong global partnerships, these efforts reflect WCM-Q’s commitment to improving quality of life in Qatar while contributing to global solutions for diabetes and its complications.

🔬 A major study led by Dr. Lotfi Chouchane , published in The Lancet Oncology, highlights Qatar’s comprehensive and forward-looking national cancer care and research strategy, underscoring the country’s journey toward global health excellence.
The research examines Qatar’s sustained investments over the past two decades in advanced clinical and research infrastructure, workforce development, and cutting-edge technologies. These efforts have translated into measurable progress in cancer prevention, early detection, precision and personalized medicine, and evidence-based cancer management, contributing to improved patient outcomes and survival rates.
The article also emphasizes the importance of strong governance frameworks, such as the National Cancer Strategy and the Qatar Cancer Plan, alongside regional and international collaborations that enable shared expertise, data, and innovation. Together, these elements position Qatar as a regional leader in cancer care and a growing contributor to global oncology research.
📖 Read the full article in The Lancet Oncology:
🔗 https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(25)00132-9/fulltext

🤖🔬 From skepticism to surprise: what agentic AI can now do for science
Until recently, handing complex scientific tasks to agentic AI felt risky, even for experienced researchers. That perception is changing rapidly.
In a compelling experiment, Dr. Karsten Suhre revisited his first bioinformatics paper from 2003, Genomic Correlates of Hyperthermostability, which showed that thermophilic bacteria tend to replace polar with charged amino acids in their proteomes (the CvP bias).
📄 Original paper (Journal of Biological Chemistry):
https://www.jbc.org/article/S0021-9258(19)58450-2/fulltext
This time around, he asked an AI agent to repeat and update the analysis using today’s vastly larger genomic datasets.
The outcome was remarkable. With only high‑level guidance, the AI:
-Downloaded and curated genomes
-Addressed redundancy through down‑sampling
-Identified thermophile annotations
-Performed the full statistical analysis
-Generated figures
-Reviewed relevant literature
-Drafted the complete manuscript
-Even mirrored the original acknowledgment of Jean‑Michel Claverie
The updated study is now available on bioRxiv (https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.04.18.719035v1), offering a striking comparison between human‑led research two decades ago and AI‑assisted science today.
This work raises a big question for all of us in research:
💭 Where is this heading and how will this reshape the role of scientists?

We’re excited to share a $1.6M Michael J. Fox Foundation–funded collaboration between the Lashuel Lab and Nautilus Biotechnology aimed at advancing single-molecule proteomics for Parkinson’s disease. 🧠
This high-impact project brings together the Lashuel Lab’s expertise in the molecular and chemical biology of neurodegeneration with Nautilus’ next-generation platform for measuring proteins-and their functional variants (proteoforms)-at single-molecule resolution.
Together, this collaboration has the potential to unlock new insights into Parkinson’s disease and accelerate the development of more precise diagnostics and therapies.
🔗 Learn more:
https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/01/28/3227564/0/en/Nautilus-Biotechnology-and-Weill-Cornell-Medicine-Qatar-Collaborate-with-The-Michael-J-Fox-Foundation-to-Advance-Single-Molecule-Proteomics-Research-in-Parkinson-s-Disease.html

Research Study Invitation | Healthy Aging in Qatar
We are inviting adults living in Qatar to participate in a research study titled “Functional and Molecular Assessment of Aging Biomarkers in Adults Residing in Qatar,” led by Weill Cornell Medicine–Qatar (WCM-Q) in collaboration with Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC). The study is led by Dr. Thurayya Arayssi (PI) with Dr. Hadeel Zaghloul (Co-Investigator) and aims to better understand the biological and lifestyle factors that promote healthy aging.
✅ What’s involved?
• Health & lifestyle questionnaire
• Physical measurements
• Blood sample collection
• Cognitive assessment
🎯 Who can participate?
• Adults (18+) of Arab ethnicity
• Residing in Qatar and in good general health
• Willing to attend one in-person visit at HMC’s Clinical Trials Unit (CTU)
• Able to provide informed consent (Arabic or English)
🚫 Who cannot participate?
• Pregnant or breastfeeding individuals
• Those with chronic diseases requiring ongoing treatment (e.g., diabetes, hypertension)
• Individuals with significant mobility limitations or cognitive impairment
💡 Why participate?
Your involvement will help advance research on healthy aging and contribute to future scientific discoveries.
📍 Location: Clinical Trials Unit (CTU), Hamad Medical Corporation
📲 Interested?
Scan the QR code or sign up here:
🔗 https://weillcornell.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5cAnrOqGNinMR7g
The research team will contact you to schedule your visit.
IRB-approved study ( #25-00042). For questions, contact the WCM-Q IRB at +974 4492 8960 or [email protected].
📢 Feel free to share and invite eligible friends or family!
For study-related questions: Dr. Hadeel Zaghloul
📧 [email protected]