Research to improve accessibility of recombinant proteins wins top Carnegie Mellon Qatar award

A research project into an accessible way to make recombinant proteins won the top prize at Meeting of the Minds 2023. The annual research symposium showcases student work at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q), a Qatar Foundation partner university. The project was conducted by Martin Minenhle Sikhondze, a graduating student at CMU-Q, with faculty advisors Ihab Younis, Mazen Sidani, and Ravichandra Bachu. 

Recombinant proteins are used in a number of therapeutic applications, including the treatment of diabetes, cancer, infectious diseases, hemophilia, and anemia. Sikhondze’s research could make producing these proteins more accessible for developing countries with limited resources for health care.

Dean Michael Trick welcomes the students, judges and guests to Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar.

Michael Trick, dean of CMU-Q, said: “At Carnegie Mellon, our mission is to investigate questions that will have a real impact on the world. Martin, and all of our award winners and presenters, have done exactly this with their research projects. We are exceptionally proud of them.”

Sikhondze commented on the project after the award was announced. “I feel amazing and surprised but it is nice to be recognized for the work I put into this project,” he said. “I aim to eventually move on to graduate school where I plan to better learn how to harness genome editing technologies to treat patients in a more global context.”

Winning the most promising research award was a project that explores how knowledge, beliefs and willingness to change behavior for climate change differ across genders. The authors of the poster were Rafay Ur Rehman Khan and Uzair Ahmed, and the faculty advisors were Jennifer Bruder and Taeyong Park.

The event was supported by the Planning and Statistics Authority, who provided special awards to the posters best representing Qatar Vision 2030, which covers the four pillars of human development, social development, economic development, and environmental development. The Planning and Statistics Authority has been a strong supporter of Meeting of the Minds for many years.

The event prizes were sponsored by Masraf Al Rayan bank, including cash prizes for all six of the winners. As top prize winner, Sikhondze received 15,000 QAR from Masraf Al Rayan bank. Masraf Al Rayan has been serving the Qatar community for more than 16 years. The bank is renowned for its strong focus on social responsibility, supporting numerous initiatives aimed at promoting education, health, and the environment in Qatar.

This was the largest Meeting of the Minds symposium held in campus history, with 51 posters submitted by students and researchers. 

The judges included CMU-Q faculty, as well as representatives from organizations around Qatar.

Judges included Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar faculty members, as well as representatives from organizations around Qatar: ​Georgetown University in Qatar, Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Mada Assistive Technology Center Qatar, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI), Qatar University, Sidra Medicine, TASMU, Texas A&M University at Qatar, University of Doha for Science and Technology, VCUarts Qatar, Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar (WCM-Q), and World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH).

Meeting of the Minds 2023 winners

Planning and Statistics Authority

Presented by H.E. Mr. Mohammed Abdulaziz Al Nuaimi, Vice-President, Planning and Statistics Authority 

The PSA awards are given to the best posters representing the Qatar Vision 2030, which covers the four pillars of human development, social development, economic development, and environmental development.

• Amal Taymour, “Factors influencing sensitivities of online privacy: The case of e-learning in Qatar.” Faculty advisor: Selma Limam Mansar
• Fatma Al Hammadi, “Effect of various extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins on prostate cancer cell behavior.” Faculty advisor: Mohamed Bouaouina
• Premices Irakoze and Malak Annan, “Breaking barriers and building bridges: A literature review on the importance of representation for women in STEM fields.” Faculty advisor: Ezzohra Moufid
• Mariam Ali Fakhroo, “Exploring obesity factors: A GIS analysis of Qatar.” Faculty advisor:  Chadi Aoun
• Sara Al Emadi, How hosting the FIFA World Cup affected the way people see Qatar? Faculty advisor: Taeyong Park

CMU-Q Awards

Presented by Dean Michael Trick with Mr. Hassan Al Jaidah, Head of Premium Banking,  Masraf Al Rayan Bank, and Ms. Wadha Al Jassim, Marketing and Branding Officer, Masraf Al Rayan Bank

Best research project

1. Martin Minenhle Sikhondze, “Establishing a stable recombinant protein production cell line using CRISPR-Cas9 mediated genome editing of HEK293 cells. Faculty advisors: Ihab Younis, Mazen Sidani, Ravichandra Bachu
2. Jade D Mello, “Investigating the link between mitochondrial dysfunction in the brain and habituation in the Ube3a drosophila ASD model.” Faculty advisors: Annette Vincent, Mohammad Farhan 
3. Noor Sadiah, “Virtual reality eSports and eFitness adoption in Qatar.” Faculty advisors: Nui Vatanasakdakul, Chadi Aoun 

Best poster

• Niamah Ayisha Nishan, “Assessing the role of the integrin αVβ6 in triple negative breast cancer phenotypes.” Faculty advisor: Mohamed Bouaouina

Most promising research

1. Rafay Ur Rehman Khan, Uzair Ahmed, “Does knowledge about climate change and willingness to change behavior for climate change differ across genders?” Faculty advisors: Jennifer Bruder, Taeyong Park
2. Erin Susan Thomas, “Exploring perceptions of social movements in social media during COVID-19.” Faculty advisors: Houda Bouamor, Gabriela Gongora-Svartzman