JEDDAH, 16 April 2007 — A special prize has been instituted to encourage young Saudi oncologists to conduct cancer research in the Kingdom. The research project has won the support of Princess Aliaa bint Abdullah, chairperson of the Disabled Children’s Association’s Social Service Program.
“Full details of the project will be announced at a public forum on cancer to be held at Inter.Continental Hotel on May 1,” said Dr. Ezzeldin M. Ibrahim, chief medical officer at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center in Jeddah. The public forum has been organized by the hospital.
Dr. Ibrahim emphasized the significant role of research in understanding the biology of cancer, recognizing effective preventive strategies, revolutionizing comprehensive cancer management and supporting cancer patients and their relatives.
Dr. Ibrahim commended Princess Aliaa and Roche Pharmaceuticals for their support to the research project, which aims at improving “our understanding of cancer and finding out how to prevent, diagnose and treat different kinds of cancer.”
Research projects submitted for the prize must be either published or completed; must have been conducted either entirely or partially in the Kingdom; and must be published or completed within 12 months of submission.
A six-member advisory board of leading oncologists in the Kingdom has been set up to launch the project. It includes Dr. Ibrahim, Dr. Dahish Ajarim and Dr. Taher Al-Twaigeri of King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center in Riyadh, Dr. Yassir Bahadur of King Abdul Aziz University, Dr. Abdul Wahab Andijani of King Abdul Aziz Medical Center in Jeddah and Dr. Ahmed Saadeldin of RKH Project, Riyadh.
“Those winning first, second and third prizes will receive an honorary certificate signed by Princess Aliaa,” Ibrahim said, adding that financial rewards offered by Roche to the winning projects would be presented in a ceremony. “Evaluation of the projects will be based on their scientific merit.”
He also spoke about the significance of the May 1 public forum, saying it is part of the hospital’s efforts to increase public awareness of cancer in order to achieve early detection and treatment of the disease. “People should know that cancer is no longer an incurable disease. It is curable and preventable,” he said.
At the forum that begins at 8.30 p.m., Dr. Ibrahim will speak on “Information Resources Useful for Cancer Patients”; Dr. Mouhammed Kelta, acting chairman of the Department of Oncology, on “Cancer and Genetics”; and Dr. Abbas Zagnoon, consultant gastroenterologist, on “Alternative Medicine.” A number of specialists and surgeons will be present to answer questions from the audience.
“There are valuable resources on the Internet, useful for both patients and their families,” Ibrahim said. “The Internet is the second most important information provider for patients and relatives, after doctors and medical personnel,” he said. “There is technical and scientific information for doctors and simple information for the public,” he explained. Most of the medical websites have been established by highly reputable institutions and organizations.
“According to one study, only 13 percent of patients and their families make use of these information resources,” he pointed out. He favored the idea of setting up a special website to increase the Saudi public’s awareness of cancer.
