Approaching two decades of cystic fibrosis research in Qatar: a historical perspective and future directions

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease caused by a defect of CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. CF affects multiple systems, predominantly with respiratory involvement. In Qatar, researchers have been exploring various aspects of the disease for almost 20 years. PubMed and Google Scholar were reviewed for articles related to CF in Qatar. The first publication appeared in the year 2000. Since then, several studies have been conducted on CF patients in Qatar considering a variety of topics. The presence of the CFTR I1234V mutation in a certain Arab tribe stands out as a distinguishing characteristic of CF patients in Qatar when compared to the larger Arab region or even worldwide. We aim here to summarize the existing CF research conducted in Qatar over the years as well as to introduce topics for future research.