{
  "id": 9012561,
  "title": "QPHI expert joins WHO director-general’s science council",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/qphi-expert-joins-who-director-generals-science-council",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-21T21:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf Times",
    "slug": "gulf-times",
    "url": "https://www.gulf-times.com/article/733865/qatar/qphi-expert-joins-who-director-generals-science-council"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Dr Hamdi Mbarek, the director of research and data analytics at Qatar Precision Health Institute (QPHI), a Qatari-affiliated organization, has been selected to join the esteemed World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General’s Science Council. This appointment marks his addition to a group of 21 globally recognized scientists and experts who provide top-level scientific guidance to the WHO chief. The council, which focuses on emerging scientific and technological innovations, helps inform important priorities that are relevant to the future of global public health.\n\nMbarek's selection is a testament to his scientific accomplishments and international contributions in the fields of human genomics, population genetics, precision health, and large-scale health data science. As the head of the Research and Data Analytics Directorate at QPHI, he leads initiatives that involve large-scale genomic discovery and analytics, development of population-specific genomic resources, fostering of national and international research collaborations, and translating genomic and health data into knowledge that can advance precision health.\n\nMbarek's appointment further highlights the growing international recognition of scientific expertise and capabilities developed within Qatar's research ecosystem. He expressed his enthusiasm for joining the WHO Director-General’s Science Council, stating, \"It is a tremendous honor to join the WHO Director-General’s Science Council and to contribute alongside distinguished scientists from around the world.\" He further added, \"I look forward to bringing my experience in genomics, precision health and population diversity to the council's discussions, and to helping advance science in ways that benefit populations globally.\"",
  "summary": "Dr Hamdi Mbarek, director of research and data analytics at the Qatar Precision Health Institute (QPHI), a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), has been appointed to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Di...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}