On Behalf of the Qatar Foundation Follow up Committee and the James Baker Stem Cell Science and Policy Program Advisory Panel, I would like to welcome you to attend the First International Stem Cell Workshop, to be held in Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar at Education City, Doha, on March 15th, 2009.

The Qatar Stem Cell Workshop is a collaborative program between the Qatar Foundation Research Division, the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy at Rice University and Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar. This program aims at bringing together leading scholars, scientists, and medical researchers from around the world to discuss the latest discoveries and promises of stem cell research, the applications for the development of new therapeutic approaches for a variety of diseases, in particular diabetes and cancer, as well as the major ethical considerations for conducting research in this field.

Because of the controversy surrounding this field, the First International Stem Cell Workshop in Qatar will also seek to develop policy recommendations that account for cultural and religious factors influencing science policy in this area.

I look forward to welcoming you to this important international event and to an insightful and rewarding program on one of the most important issues for the scientific community and the public.

Abdelali Haoudi, Ph.D.
Vice President for Research
Qatar Foundation