Newborn haemoglobinopathy carrier screening: Towards comprehensive
and improved patient care of Sickle Cell Disease in Oman
Project Code:
Funds:
Funding Source:
Start Date:
Duration:
Team Members:
Researchers
(SR/MED/HAEM/05/01)
93,700 OMR
His Majesty’s Trust Fund
02 May 2005
3 years
Research Assistants
Dr. Salam Salim Al-kindi (P.I.)
Ms.Fakhriya Khamis Harith Tobi
Dr. Anil Pathare (Co-P.I.)
Ms.Yusra Yousef Al Balushi
Dr. Ali Ahmed Al Madhani
Ms. Rhea Misquith
Dr. Shahina Daar
Dr. David Dennison
Dr. Mariam Mathew
Dr. Mathew Zachariah
Dr. Rajagopal Krishnamoorthy
Mr. Shoaib Abdulrahman Al Zadjali
Mr. Hamood Mohammed Al Haddabi
Ms.Qamaria Nasser Al Abri
Mr. David Gravell
Ms.Sahima Salim Al Mamaari
Graduate Students
Mr. Ahmed Salim Al-Ofi
Mr. Sultan Mohamed Al-Lawati
Mr. Ibrahim Mohammed Al-Nabhani
Executive Summary
Objectives:
To establish a systematic and accurate statistical estimate of hemoglobin disorders in the country and
contribute to the control and prevention programs for Sickle Cell Disease and thereby to reduce the
infant morbidity and mortality, which in turn will have tremendous positive impact on national health
and human resources of the country. In addition our aim was to forecast the future hemoglobinopathy
burden on health resources in order to provide a framework to the planning authorities.
Methods:
Hemoglobinopathies are quite common in ethnically diverse Omani subjects and represent a major
public health concern. In such context, disease-oriented specific prevention and control programs are
mandatory and particularly relevant in the context of high consanguinity rate in this population. So far,
no systematic screening has been carried out in this population to evaluate the rate of incidence of
hemoglobinopathies. At this end, we initiated a pilot prospective neonatal screening over a period of 2
years in two major cities of Oman. This study was conducted under the auspices of the National
Neonatal screening programme initiated in 2005. The study was approved by the Institutional review
board and conformed to the Universal code of Helsinki.
Results:
Consecutive cord blood samples from a total of 7837 neonates (encompassing 6317 neonates in a
period of one year from the selected two centers) were analyzed for complete blood counts [CBC] and
for hemoglobin profile by high performance liquid chromatography [HPLC]. There were 3633 samples
(46.3%) with normal HPLC profile [with only HbA (above 10%) and HbF] and 3433 samples with Hb
Barts in addition to HbA and HbF. A total of 206 samples (130 without Hb Barts and 76 with Hb Barts)
had HbA less than 10% suggesting the possibility of an associated β-thalassemia. The remaining 565
samples (277 without Hb Barts and 288 with Hb Barts) showed the presence of one of the βhemoglobin variants namely HbS, HbD, HbE and HbC. No case with HbH was detected.
Conclusions:
We observed that the overall incidence of α-thalassemia was 48.5% with 9.8% [n= 771] of beta globinrelated abnormality, of which 4.8% had sickle cell trait, 0.3% had Sickle cell disease and 2.6%
showed β-thalassemic trait. In addition to assessing the rate of incidence and pattern of
hemoglobinopathies, this is the first large neonatal screening to establish reference ranges of cord red
blood cell indices for the Omani neonates.
Value-Added Marine Raw Materials and Health
Project Code:
Funds:
Funding Source:
Start Date:
Duration:
Team Members:
(SR/AGR/FOOD/05/01)
150,000 OMR
His Majesty’s Trust Fund
02 May 2005
4 years
Researchers
Prof. Bassam Harry Soussi (P.I.)
Prof. Lamk Mohammed Al-Lamki
Dr. Nadiya Abubakar Al-Saady
Dr. Mohammed Shafiur Rahman
Dr. Stephen James Goddard
Dr. Nejib Saleh Guizani
Dr. Amanat Ali
Dr. Ahmed Hareb Al-Hosni
Dr. Ahmed Ali Al-Alawi
Dr. Rajeev Jain
Dr. Sergey Dobretsov
Dr. Mostafa Ibrahim Waly
Post Doc
Dr. Ahmed Abbas Khan
Research Assistants
Mr. Nabil Mohammed Al-Mohtasib
Mr. Mohammed Hamad Al-Rizeiqi
Mr. Jamal Nasser Al-Sabahi
Mrs. Aisha Ahmed Ambu Ali
Mrs. Insaaf Mohammed Al-Marhubi
Mrs. Raya Nasser Al-Malki
Mr. Sulaiman Salim Al-Shuaily
Mr. Khamis Ahmed Al-Riyami
Mr. Nasar Khalfan Al-Jardani
Mr. Ali Masoud Al-Subhi
Graduate Students
Mr. Mohammed Said Al-Belushi
Mrs. Fatma Mohammed Al-Hinai
Ms. Betsy Merin Joseph
Mrs. Nisha Sharma
Ms. Mahfoudah Mousa Al-Belushi
Ms. Eiman Salim Al-Haajri
Ms. Ibtisam Abdullah Al-Nofli
M.Sc. Students
Mr. Ahmed Said Al-Souti
Ms. Aisha Salim Al-Wahaibi
Mr. Said Sultan Al-Busaidi
Ms. Ruqaya Moosa Al-Belushi
Ms. Laila Salim Al-Naamani
Mrs. Dalilah Homood Al-Bahri
Executive Summary
Objectives:
This multidisciplinary research project is performed at Sultan Qaboos University, in collaboration
with the Ministry of Fisheries Wealth. It links food science and medical science, with marine
biotechnology. An already established international collaboration facilitates and ensures
technology transfer. The overall objective is to create an integrated research program in valueadded marine raw materials for health in Oman. The aims of the program, that consists of eight
subprojects, are to study bioactive compounds in marine raw materials from molecule to man with
focus on health.
Methods:
Traditional and new tools for measurements are used. In vivo studies are based on mouse
models combined with state-of-the-art whole body high resolution Magnetic Resonance
Spectroscopy and Imaging, MRS/MRI investigations. Marine organisms ranging from bacteria,
algae, corals, sea cucumber and sponges to fish were collected and extracted. In brief, screening
for bioactive compounds was performed using HPLC, GC-MS, NMR, spectrophotometry,
bioassays and human cell culture models. Samples of invertebrates were collected from Bandar
Khayran, Diminiyat and Salalah. Tanks for small scale aquaculture experiments were built. A
dedicated laboratory infrastructure was developed and new techniques were implemented.
Key issues: (1) Quality, (2) Safety, (3) Human nutrition (4) Evaluation of novel candidate
substances and their mechanisms of action.
Results:
 Development of a new model system for detection of antioxidant activity of marine
extracts in human monocytes.
 Investigation of kingfish and hamour, by in vivo Magnetic Resonance Imaging noninvasively, yielded clear images separating fat components from muscle and non-fat
components.
 Development of strategies for manipulation of the quantity and quality of fatty acid
content in farmed tilapia. Development of a method for extraction of high grade
carrageenan from Omani seaweeds.
 Determination of thermal transition behaviour and water sorption behaviour of whole
Omani kingfish muscles and its protein fractions. The results obtained are fundamental
information that allows studying the stability of fatty acids and other active nutritional
components present in fish.
 Discovery of a potential antioxidant component in the aqueous phase of a fish species.
This experimental evidence is published in the prestigious Journal of the American
Chemical Society: Journal of Agricultural and Food Science.
 Discovery that Singlet Oxygen Energy laser irradiation of human monocytes decreases
the generation of harmful reactive oxygen species and releases Nitric Oxide. This
important finding is published in Lasers in Medical Science.
 Development and application of a non-invasive determination of fish fat composition
using in vivo Magnetic Resonance Imaging and image analysis techniques.
 Bacteria isolated from seawater collected from different places in Oman showed high salt
tolerance. One bacterial strain could be a potential source of bioremediation.
 Screening of soft coral marine natural products in Bandar Al-Khayran area showed
potential of Omani soft corals as a source of biologically active natural compounds. Some
extracts showed considerable antifouling and antimicrobial activity that can be used in the
industry.
 The results are published in International scientific journals and have been presented at
conferences and are subject of a number of M.Sc. theses.
 Dissemination of information to the public was made through articles in local bilingual
newspapers and forums.
 As a whole: increased awareness about Marine Biotechnology and Functional Foods in
the Sultanate as key areas for socio-economical growth.
Conclusions:
This project has provided an integrated research program in marine biotechnology for the first
time at SQU with substantial technology transfer, capacity building and training. An important
outcome of the project for the Sultanate of Oman: A major feasibility study has been carried out
for the establishment of a National Center for Marine Biotechnology dedicated to value added
marine raw materials and health. The initiative is in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce
and Industry, the Ministry of Fisheries Wealth, The Research Council and international investors.
The latter are ready to invest in Oman in the very topics of this project.
Postharvest Technology to Reduce Losses and Improve Quality and
Supply of Fresh Produce in Oman
Project Code:
Funds:
Funding Source:
Start Date:
Duration:
Team Members:
(SR/AGR/BIOR/05/01)
80,950 OMR
His Majesty’s Trust Fund
02 May 2005
4 years
Researchers
Dr. Linus Opara
Prof. Shafiur Rahman
HH Dr. Fahad AlJulanda Al-Said
Dr. Rashid Abdullah Al-Yahyai
Dr. Nadiya Abubaker Al-Saadi
Mr. Mohamed Ali Al-Farsi
Prof. Atsu Dorvlo
Dr. Salam Salim Al-Kindi
Research Assistants
Mr. Adel Abdullah Al-Mahdoury
Mr. Mohd Hassan Mansour
Mr. Ahmed Said Al-Ghafri
Ms. Johka Ali Al-Issai
Ms. Yusra Salim Al-Shuaibi
Ms. Rabea Khair Al-Busaidi
Graduate Students
Ms. Nadia Mohammed Al-Rahbi
Ms. Nafla Saim Al-Wailli
Ms. Najma Mansoor Al-Kindi
Ms. Muna Humaid Al-Harthi
Ms. Fathiya Mohammed Al-Belushi
Ms. Fatma Darwish Al-Jabri
Executive Summary
Objectives
Oman has high incidence of losses, inconsistent quality and low economic value of local
agricultural products compared with similar imported goods. There is a need to apply innovative
postharvest technologies to address these problems. This project aimed to evaluate the
postharvest losses in the supply chain, and to determine its nutritional and genetic characteristics.
Methods
In the first phase, a supply chain analysis was applied to the preliminary survey data on fresh
produce losses at different handling stages in the food supply chain. In the second phase the
critical sensory quality attributes of selected fresh products, which are important to the omani
consumers, were determined thru questionnaire. The third phase was conducted by determining
nutritional contents and health functionality of selected local products. In addition, DNA fingerprint
of banana varieties grown in the southern areas of Oman was determined using Amplified
Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP).
Results
Total postharvest loss in Oman is high and varied from 32 to 46%, depending on the specific
supply chain. The most influential quality attributes affecting consumer purchase were flavor,
sweetness, and color for banana and date; and flavor, sweetness, and firmness for apple, mango
and orange. Selected health beneficial nutrients contents in the local banana, tomato and
pomegranate were significantly higher than imported ones. The unique alleles obtained by DNA
fingerprint for each of local banana variety can be used for variety identification and matching
between the mother and tissue cultured plants.
Conclusions
Incidence of postharvest loss is high in Oman and occurs at all stages in the supply chain.
Integrated efforts are required to develop improved postharvest handling infrastructure near
production areas (farms) and markets. The nutritional and health functionality of local products
should be publicized to secure competitive price.