The University of Kurdistan Hewlêr (UKH) is glad to announce that UKH and Mayo Clinic researchers are collaborating on a study focused on chronic disease in Iraq. The researchers have recently agreed to collaborate to advance research on chronic diseases in low- and middle-income countries. This collaboration will utilize Mayo Clinic researchers’ expertise in clinical study design and UKH’s access to valuable health data to improve understanding and treatment of chronic diseases in Iraq.
The collaboration will focus on analyzing a de-identified dataset provided by the Iraqi Kurdistan Region Ministry of Health, which includes nearly 30,000 patient records from chronic disease departments across the Erbil governorate. The dataset contains critical information such as patient demographics, diagnoses, prescribed medications, and regional census data. The research will be led by Dr. Thomas D. Thacher from Mayo Clinic and Dr. Samuel Grant Porter from UKH.
Key Objectives of the Collaboration:
- Study Design: Mayo Clinic researchers will provide input on study design considerations relevant to low- and middle-income countries.
- Statistical Analysis: The team will analyze the de-identified dataset to identify trends and insights related to chronic diseases such as hypertension, thyroid disorders, chronic lung disease and heart failure.
- Manuscript Development: The findings will be compiled into a joint publication, with both institutions contributing to the writing and critical review of the manuscript.
