Dr. Ammira Akil

Sidra Medicine

Dr. Ammira Akil is Principal Investigator and the lead of the Metabolic and Mendelian Clinical-Translational Research Programs, as well as Head of the Precision Genomics and Translational Omics Lab at Sidra Medicine. Since joining Sidra in 2015, she has played a pivotal role in establishing national genomics initiatives for rare diseases and diabetes, including NOOR-QATAR—the country’s first large-scale newborn genome screening initiative; the DANNA cohort—the first regional well-characterized clinical cohort for type 1 diabetes involving children, adults, and their families; and the Qatar Mendelian Disorders (MND) Cohort. Dr. Akil holds a PhD in Molecular Biology and Genetics and an Executive MBA, which she applies toward advancing scientific business development and strategic research translation. She previously served in academic and research roles at the University of New South Wales and the NSW Organ & Tissue Donation Service in Australia. Her work bridges whole genome sequencing, polygenic risk modeling, early prediction, population screening, and clinical implementation. She is the lead investigator for DIA-MENA, a national initiative focused on genomics and islet autoantibody-based screening for type 1 diabetes, and actively leads multiple clinical research studies. Dr. Akil collaborates with major international initiatives including ICoNS (International Consortium on Newborn Sequencing), and INNODIA and has secured over $6 million in competitive research funding, and has published widely in the fields of genomics, diabetes, rare diseases, and cancer. Her areas of expertise include population genomics and precision health, large-scale whole genome sequencing programs, polygenic and genetic risk score development, and national and international strategy design, stakeholder engagement, and scientific business development.