23-10-2025
Dr. Nagham Hendi delivered a distinguished oral presentation titled “Ancestry Shapes Polygenic Risk Beyond Environment” at the 2nd Advances in Precision Medicine Conference (APM2025), co-organized by Hamad Bin Khalifa University and the Qatar Precision Health Institute under Qatar Foundation.
Her presentation showcased findings from her large-scale genomic studies conducted across the Middle East, which examined genetic determinants of complex diseases and ancestry-specific variation in predicting disease risk. These studies represent the first comprehensive assessment of their kind in the region, highlighting the unique genetic landscape of Arab populations.
Dr. Hendi emphasized the importance of developing ancestry-informed polygenic risk models that reflect population diversity, underscoring the limited applicability of Eurocentric models and the need for inclusive approaches to achieve equity in precision medicine.
She was the only selected oral presenter representing the Arab region at this international event and received the Academic Travel Award from the Academic Research Grant (ARG) Program, funded by the Qatar Research, Development and Innovation (QRDI) Council and Hamad Bin Khalifa University, in recognition of her outstanding research contribution and scientific achievement in precision medicine.