Oman- Princess Ghida Talal said that she looks at the future of cancer research in the Arab world with optimism and confidence, praising the spread of medical and scientific awareness among the Arab world due to the growing awareness campaigns about the dangers of cancer.
In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera Seha on the occasion of honoring the winners of the Hussein Award for Cancer Research, Princess Ghida stressed the need for Arab researchers to continue to focus on studying Arab genes.
On Thursday, November 14, and on behalf of King Abdullah II of Jordan, Prince Talal bin Muhammad honored the researchers who won the Hussein Cancer Research Award for the years 2023 and 2024, in the presence of the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the King Hussein Cancer Foundation and Center, Princess Ghida Talal.
The honor included 13 Arab research scientists residing in various parts of the world, out of 472 researchers who applied for the award from more than 20 countries, in recognition of their influential contributions to cancer research.
In her speech at the ceremony, Princess Ghida Talal said, “We established the Hussein Prize for Cancer Research for a specific goal, which is to launch Arab scientific initiatives that will be the basic basis for our progress and not be satisfied with Western research, and tonight, we celebrate Arab scientists and researchers who have distinguished themselves in cancer research, and we honor them as symbols of perseverance.” Creativity and innovation.”
I am proud of the distinguished Arab researchers who are leading innovation in the field of cancer research around the world.
These scientists devote their efforts to achieving their lofty primary goal: defeating cancer through scientific research.#Scientific_research #JordanIncredibly proud to celebrate distinguished Arab… pic.twitter.com/kRosjwi7Qx
— Ghida Talal (@GhidaTalal) November 15, 2024
The future of cancer research in the Arab world
We asked Princess Ghida about her vision for the future of cancer research in the Arab world, and she answered, “I look at the future of cancer research in the Arab world with optimism and confidence. The source of my optimism is that, in the course of 4 years, that is, since the establishment of the Hussein Prize for Cancer Research, we have been able to bring together Arab minds and scientists from All over the world, we worked to achieve intense cooperation between Arab scientists, who devoted all efforts to a common goal and one goal: defeating cancer through diligent scientific research.”
Princess Ghida added, “The source of optimism stems from the spread of medical and scientific awareness among the Arab world due to the growing awareness campaigns about the dangers of cancer. But we have more work and effort and we will continue to work by devoting all the necessary efforts to raise the level of research.”
Aspects need more work
Regarding the aspects that Arab researchers need to focus on in the next decade, Princess Ghida said, “Arab researchers need to continue to focus on studying Arab genes, and expand the scope of studies to include larger numbers of patients until we reach more accurate and specialized results. For example: King Hussein Cancer Center established the “Cancer-Causing Genetic Disorders Programme,” which aims to prevent some types of cancer, such as breast and ovarian cancer.
She stressed, “This research program has so far included 9,000 participants, and this is considered a record number in the Arab region, and even on a global scale. We hope that the rest of the cancer centers in the Arab world will establish special research programs in the hope that there will be a joint Arab research center.” For the Arab world, global cancer research is consistent with our focus at the center on the genetic origins of cancer inheritance.”
Today, we are honored to celebrate these Arab achievements in the field of cancer research, and we look forward to the next session of #Al-Hussein_Award_for_Cancer_Research.
Today, we were honored to celebrate achievements in the field of cancer research, and we look forward to the next round of the King Hussein Cancer…
— King Hussein Cancer Foundation and Center (@KHCFKHCC) November 14, 2024
The role of the Hussein Award for Cancer Research
Regarding the role that the Hussein Award for Cancer Research plays in encouraging and developing Arab scientific research, Princess Ghida said, “The Hussein Cancer Award plays an important and fundamental role in bringing together Arab minds and creating research work opportunities among them through conferences, lectures, and exchanging the results of studies and research. The award also provides Incentives for several categories of researchers in order to encourage them and support their research.
She added, “The award contributes to shedding light on Arab research production around the world because Arab culture needs to keep pace more with scientific developments related to cancer research. The Hussein Prize for Cancer Research comes in the context of global cooperation between the King Hussein Center and international centers related to cancer.”
Princess Ghida concluded her special speech to Al Jazeera Seha by stressing the continuation of diligent efforts, and said, “We at the Hussein Center are determined to contribute to increasing Arab research production related to the environmental and genetic specificity of the Arab world in the spread of cancer.”
Princess Ghida Talal is the President of the King Hussein Cancer Foundation and Center in Jordan. She is married to Prince Talal bin Mohammed.
Princess Ghida graduated from the School of International Relations at Georgetown University in the United States with a summa cum laude degree and a joint bachelor’s and master’s degree.
In 2001, King Abdullah II appointed Princess Ghida Talal as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the King Hussein Cancer Foundation and Center. At that time, the cancer care landscape in the Arab world was very bleak, and there was a strong stigma associated with cancer.
Fight against cancer
The beginning of Princess Ghida’s fight against cancer began after her husband, Prince Talal bin Mohammed, was diagnosed with cancer. They faced cancer together and became one of its survivors.
During her treatment, Princess Ghida witnessed up close the psychological and physical challenges of cancer patients, which affect not only the patient, but also his entire family. Hence, she pledged to herself to devote her life to humanitarian work in the fight against cancer.
Princess Ghida is the mother of three children: Prince Hussein (born in 1999) and twins Princess Rajaa and Prince Mohammed (born in 2001). She is fluent in 4 languages: Arabic, English, French and Spanish.