An ethical committee, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) at the Equine Veterinary Medical Center (EVMC), a member of Qatar Foundation, was established after receiving approval and authorisation from the Ministry of Public Health.
EVMC comprises state-of-the-art equine referral hospital, veterinary diagnostic laboratory and a research department. It is located within Al Shaqab’s world-class equine facilities.
A group of board-certified veterinarians offer various services including surgery, internal medicine, diagnostic imaging, reproduction, and sports medicine, among others. While clinicians dedicate majority of their time to patients, they are also involved in research and educational activities.
Members of the IACUC include veterinarians, researchers, and members of EVMC, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Sidra Medicine, and Weil Cornell Medicine – Qatar. The IACUC will oversee research, including review and approval of animal-use activities and inspection of animal facilities.
Dr Edward Stuenkel, Dean of the College of Health and Life Sciences at HBKU, said they are extremely proud of this achievement, made possible because of joint efforts by EVMC, HBKU and the Qatar Biomedical Research Institute, also under HBKU.
Dr Tatiana Vinardell, Head of Research and Education at EVMC, added that they now have an ethical committee that is recognised as an official research institution in Qatar.
The recognition of the ethical committe was followed by the completion of the first IACUC-approved research project: Oxygen Consumption, Physiological Response and Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage in Swimming Horses. The study was a collaboration between EVMC, the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Calgary, and the Al Shaqab Endurance Department.
Three other projects were also approved by the IACUC and are underway. They include work on regenerative medicine, internal medicine and neonatology.
Visit evmc.qa for updates and more information about the Equine Veterinary Medical Center.
