Sidra Medicine opens MENA Microbiome Conference 2026 in Doha

QATAR—Sidra Medicine has opened the second MENA Microbiome Conference in Doha, Qatar, bringing researchers, clinicians and industry experts together to explore microbiome research and its potential applications in healthcare.

Held under the theme “From Biomarker Discovery to Microbiota-Based Therapeutics,” the conference focuses on women’s and children’s health, precision nutrition and emerging microbiome-based treatments.

Maternal and child health research

The first day examined how microbial communities influence reproductive health, pregnancy outcomes and infant development.

Conference co-chairs Dr. Souhaila Al Khodor and Dr. Annalisa Terranegra presented research on maternal microbial genomics, breast milk microbiota and the development of the infant microbiome during the first 1,000 days of life.

Discussions also explored links between pregnancy complications, immune system development and microbial interactions, as well as the potential of precision nutrition to influence the gut microbiome and placental gene expression.

Other sessions addressed hormonal influences on microbial communities and reproductive conditions.

Dr. Nikhil Pai discussed the clinical applications and safety requirements of paediatric donor stool banks, while Prof. Mamoun Elawad examined how nutrition and the gut microbiome may affect outcomes following paediatric organ transplantation.

Qatar launches paediatric microbiome research initiative

A key announcement was the launch of QMicrobe, a programme designed to establish Qatar’s first dedicated paediatric donor stool bank for therapeutic research.

Led by Dr. Al Khodor and Dr. Elawad, the initiative will combine donor screening, clinical assessments, metagenomic sequencing and computational analysis to identify microorganisms with potential therapeutic applications.

Supported by a joint funding programme involving the Qatar Research, Development and Innovation Council and the Ministry of Public Health, QMicrobe aims to strengthen national research infrastructure, standardise research protocols and support collaboration between healthcare institutions, universities and biotechnology companies.

The programme will work with Dr. Majdi Osman, a physician-scientist from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, whose conference presentation covered faecal microbiota transplantation and emerging microbial therapies.

Initial work will establish the research infrastructure and assess feasibility, with longer-term plans to support therapeutic development and clinical studies.

Study investigates maternal nutrition and infant brain development

Sidra Medicine also presented a study investigating how maternal fatty acid intake during pregnancy may affect infant neurodevelopment and the risk of conditions such as autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

Led by Dr. Terranegra in collaboration with the University of Oxford’s Wellcome-Shoklo Malaria Research Unit, the project received funding from the UK-based Waterloo Foundation.

Researchers will follow a mother-infant cohort, examining maternal fatty acid intake, placental epigenetic changes, cord blood fatty acid levels, gut microbiota and infant development at birth and at one, six, 12 and 18 months.

The team will also use zebrafish models to investigate how different fatty acid diets affect neurodevelopment.

The research aims to provide more precise dietary guidance for pregnant women and identify fatty acids to investigate for their potential to reduce neurodevelopmental risks.

The findings may also inform research across the Gulf region and other populations.

Day two to address clinical implementation

The second day will feature opening remarks from Sidra Medicine leadership, a panel on translating microbiome and metagenomics research into clinical practice, and a keynote by Dr. Jacques Ravel on vaginal microbiome innovations in women’s health.

Sessions will also cover gut-organ interactions, rapid metagenomics, antimicrobial resistance and the potential role of emerging diagnostic approaches in sepsis management.

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