12-06-2025
Breast cancer study earns top prize at CMU-Q symposium
Tribune News Network
DOHA
At Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar's (CMU-Q) annual Meeting of the Minds symposium, a student investigation into metastatic breast cancer was awarded the top prize in the Extensive Research category. Majed Alnama, who graduated in May with a Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences, explored the impact of different extracellular environments on cancer cells. Mohamed Bouaouina served as the project's faculty advisor. CMU-Q is a Qatar Foundation partner university.
Meeting of the Minds is CMU-Q's annual undergraduate symposium that showcases student inquiry and discovery. This year's event featured 52 research posters, including the work of 13 graduating seniors who successfully completed honours theses. A panel of 57 judges, including 37 external experts, reviewed and evaluated the submissions.
Michael Trick, dean of CMU-Q, said: 'Meeting of the Minds is a celebration of ingenuity, hard work, scientific exploration and intellectual curiosity. It is a highlight of the academic year, and we are exceptionally proud of the fine body of work produced by our students.'
For the third consecutive year, Al Rayan Bank generously provided the cash prizes for Meeting of the Minds winners. Hassan Al-Jaidah, AGM Premier Banking, represented the Bank at the award ceremony.
Eman Al Naemi, AGM, Corporate Communications from Al Rayan Bank said: 'It is our continued privilege to support undergraduate research at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar. Research and innovation is at the heart of a thriving Qatar economy, and we are pleased to encourage and celebrate students for their creativity and hard work.'
Jennifer Bruder, associate dean for research, stated, 'We are deeply grateful for Al Rayan Bank's continued partnership, which celebrates and recognizes the exceptional research of our students.'
This year, the Meeting of the Minds organisers introduced a refined structure for the awards to recognise excellence across various stages and impacts of student research. A total of nine awards were given in four categories. Nasser Alansari and Hamad Al-Thani took first place in the Early Research category for promising projects in their initial stages. Alanoud Al Thani won Best Poster Design for the most impactful visual presentation. Abdulrahman Shaar became the first award winner in the new category of Social and Environmental Impact.
Meeting of the Minds began at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh in 1995 as a unique type of symposium. Unlike events where researchers primarily present to their peers, Meeting of the Minds is open to the wider community, encouraging students to communicate complex, technical projects to a general audience.
Carnegie Mellon's distinctive approach emphasises the connection between research and its impact on people.
