Roche Pharmaceuticals S.A.R.L recently held a ceremony to announce the winners of its innovative Real World Data/Evidence (RWD/E) Award. The event marked the culmination of a months-long initiative that engaged Lebanon’s leading academic institutions in developing advanced healthcare research proposals focused on generating locally-relevant evidence.
The RWD/E Award Project was kicked off for the second time in November 2024 as a cornerstone of Roche’s strategic partnership with Lebanon’s academic community. The initiative challenged fellows from the Lebanese University, Université Saint Joseph, American University of Beirut and the Lebanese American University, to design proposals addressing healthcare data gaps within the Lebanese context. Each proposal underwent thorough evaluation by independent international reviewers to ensure objective assessment, based on the selection criteria and scoring system that has been set by the national steering committee representing each Lebanese academic institution.
The RWD/E Award Project is a pioneering step in embedding real-world evidence thinking into Lebanon’s academic and clinical ecosystem,” said Dr. Ali Taher, the Associate Vice President for Medical Advancement and Communications at the American University of Beirut Medical Center and Director of the Naef Basile Cancer Institute “This initiative empowers young fellows to develop high-quality data-driven insights that are critical for shaping tomorrow’s healthcare decisions.”
This initiative strengthens Roche’s dedication to fostering meaningful collaboration between pharmaceutical industry and academia while generating evidence that directly informs Lebanese healthcare systems and policies. Key benefits of this initiative include cultivating expertise in RWE among emerging healthcare professionals, addressing critical evidence gaps in local healthcare, providing data-backed insights for national reimbursement decisions, enhancing standards of care for Lebanese patients, and reinforcing Roche’s position as a leader in advancing healthcare through evidence-based approaches.
“At Roche, improving health outcomes is at the heart of everything we do,” stated Carole Hassoun, General Manager, Roche Levant. “By building trusted partnerships with academia and empowering the next generation of healthcare professionals, we are shaping a future where real-world data is a cornerstone of scientific and clinical progress. This project not only highlights Lebanon’s healthcare talent but also accelerates our vision of more inclusive, evidence-based research and innovation.”
The award ceremony recognized 4 outstanding research proposals that demonstrated exceptional scientific merit and potential impact on local healthcare. The 4 winning teams will contribute valuable insights to Lebanon’s growing body of healthcare evidence.
The first-place winner, Dr. Mohamad Hadi El Charif from the American University of Beirut, mentored by Dr. Nour Moukalled, will receive funding to continue his proposal: “Investigating Cancer Care Access and Outcomes in Lebanon Under Social Determinants of Health in Adolescent and Young Adult: A Single-Center Ambispective Real-World Evidence Registry & Study,” contingent on Institutional Review Board approval.
Second place was awarded to Dr. Jacqueline Youssef Najjar from the Lebanese University, mentored by Dr. Bassam Matar, for her innovative approach to “Real-World Data on the Prevalence of Malignancies and Subsequent Genetic Screening in Young Adult Patients in Lebanon”. Third place was shared between 2 candidates: Dr. Karl Rizk from Université Saint Joseph, mentored by Dr. Joseph Kattan, for his “Awareness of Lung Cancer Screening Among Lebanese Smokers” proposal; and Dr. Osama Zein Deen from the Lebanese American University, mentored by Dr. Rita Khoury, for his “Impact of Lebanese Crises on the Rate of Breast Cancer Screening All Over Lebanon: A Multi-Centered Retrospective Study” proposal.
The RWD/E Award Project exemplifies Roche’s ongoing commitment to Lebanon’s healthcare ecosystem and represents a concrete step in the company’s Memorandum of Understanding with the American University of Beirut and its Medical Center, as well as Hotel Dieu de France and Université Saint Joseph. By investing in local research capabilities and fostering evidence-generation, Roche continues to demonstrate its dedication to improving patient outcomes through scientific excellence, collaborative partnerships, and data-driven healthcare solutions tailored to Lebanon’s unique needs.
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