College of Science and Engineering CSE Hamad Bin Khalifa University Hamad Bin Khalifa University

In line with its mission to advance knowledge that serves societal needs, the College of Science and Engineering (CSE) at Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) has conducted computational research on proposed treatment options for COVID-19.

Leveraging state-of-the-art Artificial Intelligence (AI) and deep learning techniques, CSE faculty staff analyzed the largest collection of scientific evidence concerning the efficacy of medicines earmarked for the treatment of COVID-19 and other coronaviruses. Their findings indicate that statins, antivirals such as Remdesivir, the corticosteroid Dexamethasone, and anti-parasite medicine Ivermectin improve clinical status and lower mortality in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Conversely, the efficacy of Hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial once touted as a promising treatment option, could not be established.

The project was developed by Dr. Tanvir Alam, an assistant professor in the CSE’s Information and Computing Technology Division, and PhD student Hamada R. H. Al-Absi. Their research was recently accepted in the Journal of Medical Internet Research Medical Informatics. The resulting knowledgebase has also been made available as an open-source tool for scientists, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders engaged in the fight against COVID-19 to interrogate.  

Regarding the project, Prof. Mounir Hamdi, Dean of the College of Science and Engineering, said: “As the recent upsurge of cases in Europe demonstrates, COVID-19 remains a formidable public health concern. Until a vaccine becomes readily available, interest in pharmacological treatments using existing drugs will remain high. Unfortunately, conventional research regarding the efficacy of already-available medicines is a relatively slow process. Our project nevertheless demonstrates that faster in silico (computational) methods can be applied to enable a comprehensive exploration of potential therapeutic treatments.

“We are proud of Dr. Tanvir’s and Hamada’s unique contribution to efforts to tackle a shared global health challenge. Thanks to their research, relevant stakeholders are now able to explore existing drugs and therapeutic options for other respiratory diseases. This raises the prospect of more efficient and targeted research into the causes, effects and treatment of COVID-19.”

COVID-19Base 2.0: A Comprehensive Knowledgebase for Coronaviruses can be accessed at https://covid-19base.hbku.edu.qa/search 

For more information on the work of the College of Science and Engineering, please visit cse.hbku.edu.qa