Crown Prince commends Jordanian winner of regional science competition

AMMAN — Jordanian genetics researcher Sadeem Qdaisat on Saturday won the “Stars of Science” talent competition show’s eighth season on MBC4 satellite channel, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

HRH Crown Prince Hussein on Sunday posted a photo of Qdaisat on his Instagram account. 

“Sadeem Qdaisat wins Stars of Science Season 8! #ProudJordanian #OurJordan,” the Crown Prince wrote as caption.

In the final episode, Qdaisat was selected as the winner over three other competitors from Algeria, Lebanon and Bahrain.

The 28-year-old researcher gained the highest number of votes from Jordan and other Arab countries.

Qdaisat, who lives in Irbid’s Soum, 70km north of Amman, expressed pleasure over the win and said that he is proud to be the first Jordanian to win the TV talent competition.

He thanked all those who voted for him from Arab countries, especially Jordanians “without whom” he would not have won. 

The young scientist said that the time has come to “realise” his dream, on which he said he has worked for years, voicing hope that his invention will become available at hospitals around the world.

Qdaisat has invented a device (GenomiQ) that automates some processes related to genetic therapy at laboratories, which saves time, cost and effort.

He expressed keenness to seek the support of the private sector for the manufacturing of five devices in Jordan and deploying one at the King Hussein Cancer Centre, one at Hamad Medical Corporation in Qatar and the rest to be distributed to hospitals around the world.

The researcher said he is hopeful that he will receive support for the manufacturing of the first five devices, which will cost $3.5 million, in cooperation with a specialised German company, noting that he has received several phone calls from international institutions and individuals expressing their readiness to fund the invention.

The scientist explained that the invention represents a great addition to the efforts of fighting cancer as it will shorten the time of preparing and genetically testing cancer samples from 33 to 1.25 minutes.

He dedicated his win to cancer patients who are “bravely fighting the disease”.

Qdaisat, a PhD candidate, is a graduate of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centre and has a bachelor’s degree in medicine from the Jordan University of Science and Technology.