The first neuromuscular diagnostic lab in the Arab world is inaugurated at AUBMC

Named after her father, businessman Muhieddine Al-Ahdab, the lab will offer Lebanon and the region some of the most sophisticated diagnostic tools in the world of neuromuscular pathology, thus sparing doctors and patients the trouble of sending samples to Europe or the United States.

Diseases such as muscular dystrophy, peripheral neuropathy, and all genetic neuromuscular diseases that show up in young children can now be diagnosed at the new Muhieddine M. Ahdab Neuromuscular Diagnostic Laboratory.

The lab will be dedicated to the study and full diagnostic evaluation of muscle and nerve biopsies through the most up-to-date diagnostic protocols and equipment.

"This lab is the first of its kind in the Arab countries and will undoubtedly contribute to better healthcare for the people of Lebanon and the region," said Dr. Ghazi Zaatari, chairman of pathology and laboratory medicine, during an inaugural reception for the new lab, which took place in the afternoon of May 28 at AUBMC.

Zaatari added that the lab will help expand research and academic work at AUB.

"This laboratory is a fulfillment of a daughter to honor her father in a very exquisite and memorable way that shall serve fellow human beings through means that she knows best," he said.

He was referring to Dr. Mamdouha Al-Ahdab Barmada, who joined the AUB Medical Center in 2006, after holding several academic appointments at the University of Pittsburgh in the U.S. for decades.

Dr Al-Ahdab-Barmada will be the director of the Muhieddine M. Ahdab Neuromuscular Diagnostic Laboratory.

"My father constantly tried to get us back to come back to Lebanon while he was still alive. Now that he left this world, I'd like to think he'd be happy that my husband and I are finally giving something back to Lebanon in his memory," she said, adding: "We are excited to start something new here that is not available in the region."

Dr. Nadim Cortas, the vice president of Medical Affairs and the Raja N. Khuri Dean of Medicine and the Medical Center, praised Al-Ahdab-Barmada for her perseverance, patience, and hard work to make this "dream come true for all of us at AUB, and more importantly to people in Lebanon and the region."

Drs. Zaatari and Al-Ahdab-Barmada thanked everyone that made the establishment of the new lab possible, including AUBMC staff, anatomic pathologist, Dr. Jean Rbeiz, Dr. Cortas and AUB President John Waterbury.