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Agenda of Meeting with PNU Students prepared by Prof Omar Hasan Kasule MB ChB (MUK), MPH (Harvard), DrPH (Harvard).
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Time |
Sunday Jan 5, 2025 |
Monday Jan 6, 2025 |
Tuesday Jan 7, 2025 |
Wednesday Jan 8, 2025 |
Thursday Jan 9, 2025 |
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7.00pm – 7.55pm |
Group 1 |
Group 4 |
Group 7 |
Group 10 |
Group 13 |
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8.00pm – 8.55pm |
Group 2 |
Group 5 |
Group 8 |
Group 11 |
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|
9.00pm – 9.55pm |
Group 3 |
Group 6 |
Group 9 |
Group 12 |
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AGENDA
- Know one another: self-introductions – 5 minutes
- The way forward – 5 minutes
- Presentation of the proposed research program -5 minutes
- Q&A and open discussion – 30 minutes
WAY
FORWARD
- Vision: publish at least 2 papers; the first a review within 6 months and the second based on laboratory or data analysis within 1-3 years.
- First step: We shall start by brainstorming about the assigned topic, then the group will review the literature to narrow down the topic and develop keywords.
- Second step: Systematic literature review within the group and 1-hour presentation to Prof Omar once a week or once every two weeks.
- Third step: familiarization with available laboratory equipment and procedures to prepare one or more research proposals from each group. Faculty will be appointed as supervisors or principal investigators. Students will be co-authors.
- Some of the research will be new and innovative. Some of it will be attempts at validating research carried out outside the Kingdom.
RESEARCH
PROGRAM FOR THE BASIC SCIENCE GRANTS (BSG) INVESTIGATION OF POTENTIALLY
PATHOGENIC CHEMICALS IN THE FOOD CHAINS OF URBAN RESIDENTS-1
- Physical and social development results in pollution of the water, soil, and air environments by chemicals that are potentially pathogenic.
- According to SFDA, Common chemical contaminants include pesticides from agriculture, heavy metals absorbed by plants via the soil, residues from veterinary drugs, and mycotoxins from improper storage. Emerging pollutants are microplastics and nanoplastics[1].
- Microplastics: microplastics have been detected in the human body. Microplastics have been found in GIT of fish along the Red Sea coast. Human activity disposes microplastics into the environment for example disposal of PPEs throws a lot of microplastics in the environment.
- Heavy metals: Lead and zinc concentration is affected by traffic conditions. Particulate matter in the air contains heavy metals. Agricultural irrigation with waste-water transfers heavy metals into food chains where they concentrate. Heavy metals have been found fodder, animals, fish, and seafood. Heavy metals have adverse health effects. Organic trace elements are emerging in ambient air and can be transferred from fish to humans.
- Chemicals: Contaminants may be anthropogenic. PAH were found in food chains, PAEs in treated water, and PFASs in the Red Sea fish. Pesticide residues have health effects.
RESEARCH
PROGRAM FOR THE BASIC SCIENCE GRANTS (BSG) INVESTIGATION OF POTENTIALLY
PATHOGENIC CHEMICALS IN THE FOOD CHAINS OF URBAN RESIDENTS-2
- Search for common environmental pollutants (microplastics, heavy metals, chemicals, etc.) in Saudi Arabia.
- Search in the literature for pollutants suspected to be pathogenic and concentrate your research on them.
- Decide on the type of research. The simplest may be determining prevalence in air, water and soil samples. The more complex is looking for causal relations between chemical contamination and human disease.
NOTE:
[1]
https://www.sfda.gov.sa/en/node/87603