Ms. Alyaa Qari
Chairman of the Association and Board of Directors
SSMG 2026 · 30 Sept – 1 Oct · Jeddah
Meet Our Speakers
Leading experts in medical genetics, genomic medicine, precision therapies and AI genomics.
Board Members
Saudi Society of Medical Genetics
Prof. Zuhair Rahbeeni
Vice President of the Association
Dr. Mohammad Khalid Alwasiyah
Conference Director & Chairman of the Scientific Committee
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Prof. Ahmed Alfares
Executive, Centre for Genomic Medicine — KFSH&RC, Riyadh
Prof. Ahmed Alfares is a distinguished medical geneticist with extensive international training and experience. He completed medical school in Saudi Arabia, followed by a medical genetics residency at McGill University, Canada. He further specialised through two fellowships at Harvard Medical School, in Clinical Molecular Genetics and in Clinical Biochemical Genetics. Prof. Alfares currently serves as the executive of the Centre for Genomic Medicine at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, where he leads national efforts to integrate genomic diagnostics into routine clinical practice and to build capacity in clinical and laboratory genetics across the Kingdom.
Prof. Bruno Reversade
Professor of Bioscience, Biomedical Sciences — King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
Prof. Bruno Reversade is a Professor of Bioscience at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, where he leads the Laboratory of Human Genetics and Therapeutics. His group leverages the power of human Mendelian genetics for target validation and preclinical drug development in the context of larger unmet medical needs. The breadth and depth of the research carried out in the laboratory relies on causation and mechanism-based investigations.
Prof. Malak Alghamdi
Professor of Pediatrics and Medical Genetics, King Saud University; Director, College of Medicine Research Center
Prof. Malak Ali Alghamdi, MD, FCCMG, is a Professor of Pediatrics and Medical Genetics at King Saud University (KSU) and Director of its College of Medicine Research Center. Board-certified in Pediatrics with advanced Canadian fellowship training in Medical Genetics and Biochemical Genetics from British Columbia Children's Hospital, she is a leading consultant geneticist in Saudi Arabia who founded KSU's Division of Medical Genetics and serves as Medical Director at Curagenex Medical Lab. An author of over 70 scientific publications, her clinical and research expertise spans genomic medicine, inborn errors of metabolism, neurometabolic disorders, and pediatric genetic epilepsy.
Prof. Moeenaldeen AlSayed
Consultant Clinical Geneticist & Metabolic Diseases, KFSH&RC; Professor of Genetics, Alfaisal University
Professor Moeenaldeen AlSayed, MD, FACMG, MBA, is a Consultant Clinical Geneticist, Clinical Biochemical Genetics and Metabolic Diseases at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre in Riyadh, and a Professor of Genetics at Alfaisal University, where he established and directs the MSc Genetic Counselling Programme. He is the ex-chair of the Department of Medical Genetics at KFSH&RC, a position he held for 11 years, during which he established a new clinical Adult Genetics & Metabolic Diseases service, a Cancer Genetics service and a fully dedicated Genetic Counselling service. Most practicing genetic counsellors in Saudi Arabia are graduates of the MSc programme he established in 2014. He obtained his MBBS from King Saud University, completed his paediatric residency at Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital, USA, and his fellowship in clinical genetics and clinical biochemical genetics at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, and holds an MBA from the University of Tennessee. His interests include founder mutations in the Saudi population, screening and treatment of lysosomal storage diseases and management of organic acidurias. He is a founding member of MEMG, MELSDEC, MEGMA, MENA-MGA and the Saudi Society of Medical Genetics, has published more than 100 scientific papers, and has been principal investigator and co-investigator in over 40 research projects including several FDA-approved clinical trials.
Prof. Mohamed H Al-Hamed
Consultant Molecular Genetics & Clinical Scientist, Precision Medicine Laboratory, Genomic Medicine Center of Excellence, KFSH&RC, Riyadh
Dr. Mohamed H. Al-Hamed, PhD, ErCLG, is a Consultant Molecular Genetics and Clinical Scientist at the Precision Medicine Laboratory Department, Genomic Medicine Center of Excellence, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSH&RC), Riyadh. He is a European Clinical Laboratory Geneticist certified by the European Board of Medical Genetics (2021) and holds a PhD in Human Genetics from Newcastle University, UK. A previous Board member of the Saudi Society of Medical Genetics (SSMG), his diagnostic work focuses on prenatal testing and molecular diagnosis of genetic diseases, and his research on the detection of genes causing inherited kidney disease. He has more than 60 publications in peer-reviewed journals and serves on editorial boards and as an ad-hoc reviewer for many journals.
Prof. Mohammed Almuhaizea
Professor, Alfaisal University; Consultant Pediatric Neurologist, Neuroscience Center of Excellence, KFSH&RC, Riyadh
Prof. Almuhaizea graduated from King Saud university, faculty of medicine in 1994. He then completed residency in pediatrics at KFSH&RC and fellowship in child neurology at the cleveland clinic foundation, cleveland, Ohio, USA. He spent additional training in pediatric neuromuscular field at Dubowitz neuromuscular center, Hammersmith hospital, London, UK in 2005. He has been practicing as pediatric neurologist with expertise in pediatric neuromuscular disorders, neuro-disability, and movement disorders. He contributes to training medical students, residents and fellows and is the founding chair of the national Saudi pediatric neurology residency program. He serves currently, as the chair of the examination committee under the Saudi commission for health specialties in Saudi Arabia. He is also a founding member of the Saudi pediatric neurology society and served on its executive board for three periods. He is actively involved in training and advocacy through several commitments as task force or committee member. Over nearly two decades, prof. Almuhaizea served as physician collaborator and executive board member of the children with disability society serving children with disabilities throughout the country. This broadened his perspective and experience with disability nationwide. Prof. Al-Muhaizea is active in clinical observational and interventional research in the field of child neurology. He is currently participating in multiple trials in the field of spinal muscular atrophy. He has 90+ publications and has participated in many national and international conferences.
Prof. Mostafa Abolfotouh
Senior Research Scientist, KAIMRC / KSAU-HS, Riyadh — Professor of Family Health, Alexandria University
Prof. Mostafa Abolfotouh is a Senior Research Scientist at King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC) and King Saud Bin-Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, and Professor of Family Health at the High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, Egypt. He is a WHO Regional Consultant in Adolescent and School Health (EMRO) and former Chairperson of the Research Council of the American School Health Association, USA. He has authored around 300 peer-reviewed publications, books and book chapters, and has been featured among the world's top 2% highly cited scientists for the last five years. He received the Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs Senior Research Award in 2011 and the Alexandria University Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award in 2006, and leads KAIMRC's training programmes in research methodology and scientific writing.
Prof. Muhammad Imran Naseer
Professor, Institute of Genomic Medicine Sciences — King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah
Professor Muhammad Imran Naseer, PhD, has been a Professor at the Institute of Genomic Medicine Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, since 2011. He obtained his PhD in Neuroscience from Gyeongsang National University, South Korea, followed by postdoctoral training in molecular, cellular and developmental neurobiology. His research focuses on human genetics, neurogenetics, genomics, rare genetic disorders, epilepsy, autism, intellectual disability and neurodevelopmental disease. With over 18 years of research and academic experience, he has contributed to the identification of novel disease-causing genes and variants using next-generation sequencing. He has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications, holds four patents and has received over 5,000 citations with an h-index of 36. He also serves as a Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory Scientist.
Prof. Yousef M. Hawsawi
Consultant & Scientist, Molecular Genetics, KFSH&RC, Jeddah — Adjunct Professor, Alfaisal University
Prof. Yousef M. Hawsawi is an internationally trained scientist and consultant specialising in molecular genomics, multi-omics and precision medicine, with academic, clinical and translational research experience across the United Kingdom, Australia and the United States. He earned his M.Sc. with distinction from the University of Wales, Bangor, and a PhD in Molecular Medicine from the University of Leeds, where he received the BACR Hamilton-Fairley Young Investigator Award. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, within the Tamoxifen Research Group. He serves as Consultant and Scientist in Molecular Genomics at KFSH&RC, Jeddah, Adjunct Professor at Alfaisal University, and a member of the BioGravity Community Practice at the Saudi Space Agency. He has authored more than 75 publications.
Prof. Zuhair Rahbeeni
Consultant, Medical Genetics — Professor of Paediatrics and Clinical Genetics, KFSH&RC, Riyadh
Prof. Zuhair Rahbeeni, MD, is a Consultant in Medical Genetics and Professor of Paediatrics and Clinical Genetics at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh. He is certified by the American Board of Clinical Genetics and the American Board of Clinical Biochemical Genetics, and has extensive experience in newborn screening programmes and the prevention of genetic disorders. Prof. Rahbeeni has authored more than 100 scientific publications and delivered over 100 international presentations. He served as President of the Saudi Society of Medical Genetics from 2012 to 2019 and has held several leadership positions at KFSH&RC, including Chairman of the Department of Medical Genetics. He continues to contribute actively to national and international scientific organisations advancing medical genetics in Saudi Arabia and beyond.
Dr. Abdullah Alfalah
Physician, Medical and Molecular Genetics
Dr. Abdullah Alfalah is a physician specialising in medical and molecular genetics, with a particular interest in rare diseases, genomic diagnostics and clinical genomics. He is actively involved in genomic research and multidisciplinary rare disease initiatives, with work focusing on advanced genomic interpretation, reanalysis strategies and improving diagnostic yield in complex genetic disorders. Dr. Alfalah has contributed to several research projects and presentations in the fields of pediatric genetics, neurogenetics and precision medicine, and is passionate about integrating genomics into clinical care and medical education.
Dr. Ahmed AlOdaib
Consultant Clinical Scientist & Head, Biochemical Genetics Unit, KFSH&RC
Dr. Alodaib is a Consultant Clinical Scientist in Clinical Biochemistry and Biochemical Genetics and Head of the Biochemical Genetics Unit & Metabolomics Section within the Precision Medicine Laboratory Department at the Genomic Medicine Center of Excellence, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSHRC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He is also an Adjunct Ass. Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine & Alfaisal University. Dr. Alodaib received his Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from King Saud University, followed by a Bachelor of Health Science (Honours) from the University of Melbourne and a Master’s degree and PhD in Human Genetics from the University of Sydney. During his doctoral research, he applied next-generation sequencing technologies to the discovery of disease-causing genes underlying rare Mendelian disorders. He subsequently completed an American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ABMGG) Clinical Fellowship in Biochemical Genetics in 2019. He is the Founder and Director of the Clinical Biochemical Genetics Fellowship Training Program (Laboratory-Based) at KFSHRC and has been actively involved in clinical practice, administration, education, and research at the national and regional levels. Dr. Alodaib has published many articles in peer-reviewed journals and has presented his work at numerous national and international conferences, seminars, and workshops. His research interests focus on the biochemical characterization and diagnosis of inborn errors of metabolism, with particular emphasis on emerging next-generation metabolic screening platforms, advanced biochemical technologies, and their application to precision medicine.
Dr. Allison Faber
Director of Clinical Applications, CuraGenex
Allison Faber, PhD, is Director of Clinical Applications at CuraGenex, where she leads product development and initiatives to strengthen the customer experience in genomic diagnostics. She earned her PhD in Physiology from the Medical College of Wisconsin and brings a strong research foundation to her work at the intersection of science and patient-centered innovation. She has contributed to research in translational regulation, renal disease, and hypertension, as well as tools for the molecular diagnosis of rare disease. With expertise spanning clinical genetics, rare disease, digital health products, and commercial strategy, she specializes in turning complex scientific advances into clear, high-impact solutions.
Dr. Amr Shigaa Addin
Senior Specialist, Molecular Genetics — Genalive
Dr. Amr Shigaa Addin, PhD, is a Senior Specialist in Molecular Genetics with expertise in variant interpretation, genomic data analysis, and clinical genomics. He has been working at Genalive as a Senior Specialist for the past six months, where he is involved in the analysis and interpretation of Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) and Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) data, clinical correlation of genetic findings, and review of diagnostic genetic reports. Dr. Amr also plays an active role in training junior staff in genomic data analysis and variant interpretation, contributing to high-quality genetic diagnostics and patient care. Short Version Dr. Amr Shigaa Addin, PhD, is a Senior Specialist in Molecular Genetics currently working at GenAlive. With expertise in variant interpretation, genetic data analysis, and clinical reporting of WES and WGS results, he reviews genomic findings, supports clinical diagnostics, and mentors junior professionals in genomic medicine.
Dr. Babajan Banaganapalli
Associate Professor, Department of Genetic Medicine — King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah
Dr. Babajan Banaganapalli is a scientist, educator and bioinformatician specialising in human genetics, genomics and artificial intelligence-driven computational biology. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Genetic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, where he contributes to research and education in clinical bioinformatics, AI and precision genomics. His research integrates next-generation sequencing, multi-omics technologies, machine learning and generative AI to develop computational pipelines for genomic variant interpretation, biomarker discovery and precision medicine. His work spans rare genetic disorders, cancer genomics, inflammatory diseases, metabolomics and population genetics. He has authored more than 120 peer-reviewed publications and contributed to books and book chapters in bioinformatics.
Dr. Basma Ali Abadel
Consultant, Pediatric & Medical Genomic Medicine and Metabolic Disorders — King Fahd Armed Forces Hospital, Jeddah
Dr. Basma Ali Abadel is a Consultant in Pediatric and Medical Genomic Medicine and Metabolic Disorders at King Fahd Armed Forces Hospital, Jeddah. She completed fellowship training in Clinical Genetics and Metabolic Disorders at King Abdullah Specialist Children's Hospital, Riyadh, in 2021, and holds Saudi Board Certification in Pediatrics as well as a Professional Diploma in Clinical Leadership from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. Her clinical interests encompass inborn errors of metabolism, genomic medicine and the application of artificial intelligence in healthcare. She is committed to continuous quality improvement in clinical care and to the training and mentorship of the next generation of physicians, and is a member of the Saudi Society of Medical Genetics and SSIEM.
Dr. Carlos Trujillo
Professor, Facultad de Medicina — Escuela de Ingeniería de Antioquia (EIA), Colombia
Dr. Carlos Trujillo is a Professor at the Facultad de Medicina, Escuela de Ingeniería de Antioquia, Colombia. He earned his medical degree at Universidad CES, Medellín, and trained in cytogenetics, molecular genetics and prenatal genetics at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, and in clinical genetics at Boston Children's Hospital and Boston University. He directed the genetics laboratory at Dr. Erfan & Bagedo General Hospital, Jeddah, for over two decades and supervised molecular and cytogenetics laboratories at King Fahd Research Center, KAU. With more than 30 years of experience, his expertise spans precision medicine and pharmacogenetics, clinical sequencing, reproductive and prenatal genomics, and onco-genomics. He established the first prenatal diagnosis and biochemical screening programme in Colombia.
Dr. Dana Bakheet
Clinical Scientist, Pharmacogenomics — King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh
Dr. Dana Bakheet is a clinical scientist with many years of experience at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSH&RC), Alfaisal University, and King Saud University. She is a pharmacist by profession and a researcher and academician by practice. Dr. Bakheet holds and has held multiple influential positions throughout her career. She currently leads a dynamic group at KFSH&RC that initiated and is driving the clinical implementation of pharmacogenomic testing, in a first-of-a-kind initiative in the GCC and Middle East. Pharmacogenomics promises to pave the road to personalized patient medicine and proactive disease management, and Dr. Bakheet and her group are at the forefront of this field.
Dr. David Gómez-Cabrero
Associate Professor of Bioscience — King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
Dr. David Gómez-Cabrero is a bioinformatician and computational biologist, and Associate Professor of Bioscience at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. His research focuses on systems biology, translational bioinformatics and the integrative analysis of multi-omics, single-cell and spatial molecular data. His work centres on developing computational methods, statistical frameworks and bioinformatics tools that extract biologically meaningful insight from complex biomedical datasets, with applications in precision medicine, immune-mediated diseases and cancer research, including hematological malignancies and the bone marrow microenvironment. He has contributed to several open-source resources within the Bioconductor ecosystem. Before joining KAUST he held research and academic positions at Karolinska Institutet, King's College London and Navarrabiomed in Spain.
Dr. Ebtihaj Alshihri
Pediatric Radiologist & Fellowship Programme Director, Pediatric Radiology — King Abdullah Specialized Children's Hospital, MNGHA, Jeddah
Dr. Ebtihaj Alshihri is a Pediatric Radiologist and Pediatric Radiology Fellowship Programme Director at King Abdullah Specialized Children's Hospital, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Jeddah. She is actively engaged in postgraduate medical education, fellowship training, mentorship and the advancement of pediatric radiology practice. Her primary area of expertise and academic interest is pediatric neuroradiology, with particular interests in pediatric neuro-oncology, metabolic and inherited disorders, neuroinflammatory and demyelinating diseases, congenital and developmental abnormalities, and advanced neuroimaging techniques. She is committed to advancing pediatric imaging through multidisciplinary collaboration, education and the development of evidence-based imaging protocols and clinical pathways.
Dr. Fahd Alhakami
Consultant Molecular Geneticist & Assistant Professor — Head, Molecular Medicine Department, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah
Dr. Fahd Alhakami is a Consultant Molecular Geneticist and Assistant Professor whose career bridges cutting-edge diagnostics with rare disease discovery. He is board-certified by the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics (DABMGG) and a Fellow of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (FACMG), trained through the Harvard Medical School Genetics Programme and earned his PhD in Cancer Genetics. He currently leads the Molecular Medicine Department at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah, directs the Molecular Genetics and Cytogenetics Units at Alborg Medical Laboratories and serves as a laboratory consultant at Genalive. His work centres on whole exome and whole genome analysis, with extensive experience implementing and validating NGS-based diagnostic tests, alongside oversight of cytogenetics and molecular oncology services. A published researcher in rare genetic disorders and precision medicine, he is equally committed to advancing diagnostic testing and genetics education throughout Saudi Arabia.
Dr. Hazem Najjar
Consultant, Clinical Molecular Genetics, Clinical Pathology & Molecular Pathology, Saudi Arabia
Dr. Hazem Najjar, MD(hon), DABMGG, FACMG, is certified by the American Board of Medical Genetics & Genomics (ABMGG). He led Pathology & Lab Medicine in several Medical institutes in KSA & UAE and was a Director of Medical Affairs at INVITAE Genomic labs from US in the EMEA region. Currently involved in Precision Medicine national implementation projects.
Dr. Heba Alkhatabi
Associate Professor, Molecular Genetics Consultant; Vice Dean for Postgraduate Studies and Scientific Research, IGMS, King Abdulaziz University
Dr. Heba A. Alkhatabi is an Associate Professor and Molecular Genetics Consultant whose career bridges genomic research, diagnostic laboratory science, and academic leadership. A King's College London graduate, her PhD research explored the role of microRNAs in hematological disorders. She currently serves as Vice Dean for Postgraduate Studies and Scientific Research at IGMS and Principal Investigator at the Hematology Research Unit, KFMRC. Her experience includes leading Genati Diagnostic Genomics Laboratory and clinical and central laboratory services, with expertise in molecular diagnostics, laboratory quality, and research development.
Dr. Hisham Shams
Consultant Clinical Pathology — Chief Scientific Officer — Delta Medical Laboratories
Dr. Hisham Shams is a Consultant in Clinical Pathology and Chief Scientific Officer at Delta Medical Laboratories.
Dr. Khalidah Khalid Nasser
Associate Professor, Molecular Biology Division — King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah
Dr. Khalidah Khalid Nasser is an Associate Professor in the Molecular Biology Division, Medical Laboratory Sciences Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah. She serves as Advisor in International Collaboration Affairs and Head of the Partnership and Collaboration Unit at KAU, and is a researcher at the Institute of Genomic Medical Sciences and at the Princess Aljawhara Center of Excellence in Research of Hereditary Disorders. She is a member of the Saudi Society of Molecular Biology & Biotechnology and an advisor in the Postgraduate Research Lab of the PhD Joint Supervision Program. Her current research focuses on discovering therapeutic and diagnostic biomarkers using computational biology and AI-guided approaches for diagnostic panel development, drug discovery and precision medicine.
Dr. Maha Faden
Head of Medical Genetics Department, Consultant of Clinical Genetics & Skeletal Dysplasia, King Saud Medical City, Riyadh
Dr. Maha Faden is the Head of the Medical Genetics Department at King Saud Medical City (KSMC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. She serves as an Assistant Professor at the College of Medicine, Al Faisal University, and as a Consultant in Clinical Genetics and Skeletal Dysplasia at KSMC. In addition to her clinical and academic roles, Dr. Faden is a member of the National Strategic Committee for Genetic Diseases at the Saudi Health Council. Dr. Maha Faden is a pediatrician and medical geneticist with specialized fellowship training in clinical genetics, dysmorphology, and skeletal dysplasia. She established the Genetics Unit at King Saud Medical City in 2012 and has played a leading role in developing genetic counseling, newborn screening, and rare-disease services within the Saudi Ministry of Health. Her principal areas of expertise include skeletal dysplasia and achondroplasia. She contributed to the description of spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia, Faden-Alkuraya type, associated with RSPRY1, published in the American Journal of Human Genetics in 2015. She has also played a pioneering role in the clinical introduction of vosoritide for achondroplasia in Saudi Arabia and the region. Dr. Faden is an active researcher, educator, and advocate for patients with rare diseases and has participated as a speaker and moderator at numerous national and international scientific meetings, with a particular focus on achondroplasia and skeletal dysplasia.
Dr. Mo Li
Associate Professor of Bioscience — Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regeneration, KAUST
Dr. Mo Li is an Associate Professor of Bioscience at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, where he leads the Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regeneration. He earned his B.S. in Cell Biology and Genetics from Peking University and his Ph.D. in Cellular Biology from the University of Georgia, and completed postdoctoral training at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. His laboratory integrates pluripotent stem cell models, genome editing and nanopore sequencing to study human development, disease, regeneration and ageing, and develops CRISPR-based technologies to improve the safety, precision and efficacy of genome editing. He has published more than 90 papers in journals including Nature, Science and NEJM, and serves on several international editorial boards.
Dr. Mohammad Khalid Alwasiyah
Conference Director & Chairman of the Scientific Committee — SSMG Annual Meeting 2026
Dr. Mohammad Khalid Alwasiyah is a distinguished geneticist with over 20 years of leadership in clinical genetics, genomic advocacy and public health education. He holds a Ph.D. in Human Genetics from a joint programme between Ain Shams University, Cairo, and King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, and an M.S. in Molecular Genetics and DNA Manipulation from Portland State University, USA. He founded the first public health cytogenetics laboratory in Saudi Arabia's Western Region and designed the genetic counselling clinic at Aziziyah Maternity and Children Hospital, developing regional frameworks for counselling consanguineous families. His research spans neurodevelopmental genomics, consanguinity, cellular ageing and rare syndromic disorders. He has served as a WHO representative and panellist on inherited conditions and was an invited expert at the WHO International Workshop on Consanguinity in Geneva.
Dr. Mohammed Almaney
Medical Genetics Consultant, Genetics and Precision Medicine Department, King AbdulAziz Medical City, Riyadh
Medical Genetics Consultant, Genetics and Precision Medicine Department Program Director for Clinical Genetics and Genomics Fellowship Program, King AbdulAziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Dr. Najim Ameziane
Clinical and Translational Genomics Scientist
Najim Ameziane, PhD, is a clinical and translational genomics scientist with extensive expertise in rare-disease diagnostics, medical bioinformatics, and the clinical implementation of next-generation sequencing. His work focuses on translating complex genomic data into clinically meaningful insights through robust bioinformatic analysis, variant prioritization, and evidence-based interpretation. He has contributed to research in hereditary bone-marrow-failure and DNA-repair disorders, including Fanconi anemia, as well as cancer genomics, transcriptomics, and the diagnostic investigation of complex and previously unresolved rare-disease cases. His experience bridges molecular genetics, genomic technology, computational analysis, and the practical challenges of delivering accurate, clinically useful genomic findings.
Dr. Nasser Alsaedi
Consultant Ophthalmologist — Head, Medical Retina Unit, King Abdullah Medical City, Makkah
Dr. Nasser Alsaedi, MD, is a Consultant Ophthalmologist subspecialised in vitreoretinal diseases and surgery. He is Head of the Medical Retina Unit at King Abdullah Medical City, Makkah, where his practice covers the medical and surgical management of retinal disease, including inherited and genetically determined retinal disorders that increasingly benefit from genomic diagnosis and emerging targeted therapies.
Dr. Nouf Alghanimi
Associate Professor of AI and Bioinformatics — Head, Bioinformatics Unit, IGMS, KAU, Jeddah
Dr. Nouf Alghanimi is an Associate Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Bioinformatics at King Abdulaziz University and Head of the Bioinformatics Unit at the Institute of Genomic Medicine Sciences. Her expertise spans artificial intelligence, clinical bioinformatics and precision medicine, with a particular focus on applying advanced AI and data-driven approaches to genomic analysis and healthcare. She leads and supports clinical bioinformatics activities including next-generation sequencing data analysis, genomic variant interpretation and the integration of multi-omics data for research and diagnostic applications. She is actively engaged in research at the intersection of AI, multi-omics and precision medicine, and collaborates extensively with national and international research and clinical partners.
Dr. Noura Alhusseini
Chair, Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health — Alfaisal University, Riyadh
Dr. Noura Alhusseini is the Chair of the Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health at the College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh. She is Director of the Master of Public Health Programme and an Associate Professor of Public Health, teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students at both the College of Medicine and the College of Business. She has published extensively on public health in peer-reviewed journals. She serves as Chairperson of the Public Health Saudi licensing examination committee and as a writer at the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties, sits on the editorial boards of several international journals, and serves on the Lifestyle Committee at the Public Health Authority.
Dr. Nourah AlQahtani
Associate Professor & Chairperson, Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University
Nourah Al Qahtani received MB BS degree from King Faisal University, KSA, in 1991. She started her training in obstetrics and gynecology in Saudi Arabia. She received MRCOG certificate in 1997 from Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, London, UK after training in Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham University. She joined Imam Bin Abdulrahman University in 2002 and is currently an associate Professor in Obstetrics and gynecology department. She was awarded FRCOG certificate in 2016. She has outstanding services to improve women’s health. She published more than 40 indexed publications. She also received a Master of Science degree in obstetric ultrasound in 1998 from the University of Nottingham. She is currently the chairperson of the obstetrics and gynecology department. She Received a Diploma in Academic leadership from king Abdul-Aziz University, KSA, in 2021. She is involved heavily in teaching undergraduate medical students and training postgraduate doctors.
Dr. Razan Jawdat
Clinical Scientist, Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT), KFSH&RC
Dr. Razan Jawdat is a clinical scientist specializing in preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), with almost 19 years of experience, combining clinical insight with cutting-edge genetic technologies. She began her career at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSHRC), earned her Master’s and PhD in Genetics from University College London (UCL), and also gained valuable experience in the private healthcare sector. At KFSHRC, Dr. Jawdat focuses on helping families navigate genetic challenges and make informed choices to select healthy embryos, translating cutting-edge science into practical solutions. Her expertise and dedication have established her as a leading voice in genetic medicine, with a particular focus on reproductive genetics.
Dr. Reem Alsulami
Assistant Professor of Hematology, King Abdulaziz University
Dr. Reem Alsolami is an Assistant Professor of Hematology in the Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University. Her research focuses on cancer genomics, hematological malignancies, and next-generation sequencing (NGS), with particular expertise in whole-genome sequencing, developed during her DPhil at the University of Oxford and her participation in the 100,000 Genomes Project. She remains actively involved in NGS and genomics research at King Abdulaziz University through multidisciplinary research collaborations and memberships, including the Institute of Genomic Medicine Sciences and King Fahd Medical Research Center.
Dr. Sahar Qazi
Clinical Scientist, Bioinformatics — Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Jeddah
Dr. Sahar Qazi is a Clinical Scientist and bioinformatics specialist at the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Jeddah. She holds a PhD in Bioinformatics from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, and brings more than seven years of experience spanning next-generation sequencing bioinformatics, computational genomics, AI-driven oncology and translational research. Her work covers multi-omics analysis across genomics, proteomics, epigenomics and single-cell transcriptomics, together with pipeline development and molecular modelling. She has an extensive record in peer-reviewed publishing with more than 27 journal articles and 32 book chapters, and holds editorial roles with Wiley Publishing and Frontiers in Bioinformatics. Her honours include the DST-AWSAR Award and a Gold Medal in M.Sc. Bioinformatics.
Dr. Samira Sugati
Pediatrician, Genetic Diseases
Dr. Samira Sugati is a pediatrician specializing in genetic diseases, with extensive experience in the field of medical genetics. She is dedicated to raising public awareness and promoting education to help reduce the burden of genetic disorders. She has participated in numerous genetics conferences and has contributed to several medical articles and research publications. Her current area of interest focuses on hereditary hearing loss, including its prevention, early detection, and the latest advances in gene therapy for genetic deafness.
Dr. Sultanah Alshammari
Associate Professor of Computer Science & Director, Center for Research Excellence in AI and Data Science, King Abdulaziz University
Dr. Sultanah M. Alshammari is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at King Abdulaziz University and Director of the Center for Research Excellence in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science. Her research focuses on AI applications in public health and mass gatherings, spanning computational epidemiology, modeling and simulation, and AI-driven decision support. She leads multidisciplinary AI initiatives that connect research, capacity building, and applied innovation across several areas, including healthcare. Her current work also addresses AI ethics and governance, including explainable AI and evaluation frameworks for AI-generated decision systems in healthcare, with an emphasis on responsible and human-centered AI adoption.
Dr. Wed Sameer Almajdali
Consultant Clinical Geneticist, Dr Samir Abbas & Dr Sulaiman Al Habib Hospitals, Jeddah — Head of Medical Genetics & Assistant Professor, College of Medicine, University of Jeddah
Dr. Wed Sameer Almajdali is a Clinical Genetics Consultant at Dr Samir Abbas Hospital and Dr Sulaiman Al Habib Hospital in Jeddah, and Head of the Medical Genetics Department and Assistant Professor in the College of Medicine at the University of Jeddah. She is French Board certified (D.E.S.) in medical genetics, covering clinical, cytogenetic and molecular practice, from the University of Paris, and completed a fellowship in Prenatal Genetics at the Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital in Paris, France. She also holds a University Diploma in Oncogenetics from University Paris Descartes and a University Diploma in Dysmorphology from University Paris Diderot.
Dr. Xabier Martínez-de-Morentin
Senior Postdoctoral Researcher, Biomedical Sciences — KAUST
Dr. Xabier Martínez-de-Morentin is a senior computational biologist and researcher bridging computational innovation and translational medicine at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. He has been a key contributor to major single-cell multi-omics integration studies and to microenvironmental tissue mapping. His work centres on developing and applying deep learning frameworks, including LIBRA and scAEGAN, to integrate multi-omic datasets and resolve spatial cellular organisation. He is also exploring the application of foundation models and large language models within spatial omics pipelines and clinical research workflows, and works on mapping complex tissue structures such as the hematopoietic stem cell microenvironment and cardiac single-cell atlases.
Ms. Aljoharah Alaskar
Certified Genetic Counselor — Genomic Medicine Center of Excellence, KFSH&RC
Aljoharah Alaskar is an American Board of Genetic Counseling certified genetic counselor at the Genomic Medicine Center of Excellence at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre. She earned her master's degree in Genetic Counseling from the University of California, Los Angeles. Her work focuses on reproductive genetics, precision medicine and the integration of genomic medicine into primary care. She co-founded the Premarital Genetic Counseling Clinic, which incorporates whole exome sequencing-based carrier screening, as well as the region's first Precision Medicine Clinic in collaboration with Family Medicine. Alongside her clinical practice she is actively involved in education and mentorship and has presented nationally and internationally on the intersection of genetics, culture and religion.
Ms. Alyaa Qari
President, Saudi Society of Medical Genetics — Senior Genetic Counselor, KFSH&RC, Riyadh
Ms. Alyaa Qari is the President of the Saudi Society of Medical Genetics and a senior genetic counselor at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre in Riyadh. She is also a senior lecturer at Alfaisal University. She has been practising as a genetic counselor since 2007, and over that time has helped shape genetic counselling practice, education and professional standards in the Kingdom, supporting families across a broad spectrum of inherited conditions and contributing to the growth of the national genetics community.
Ms. Eman Mohammed Megdad
Senior Metabolic Dietitian — King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh
Eman Mohammed Megdad is a Senior Metabolic Dietitian specialising in the dietetic treatment of inherited metabolic disorders at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre in Riyadh, where she has worked since 2006. She earned her bachelor's degree in Clinical Nutrition from the College of Applied Medical Sciences at King Saud University in 2005, and a master's degree in Hospital and Health Administration, health care quality track, from King Saud University in 2016. She has spoken at several national and international events and taken part in numerous metabolic workshops and awareness days. She has developed instructional materials and booklets for patients with inherited metabolic disorders and participates in quality improvement activities, protocols and clinical research.
Ms. Yara Alqahtani
Certified Genetic Counselor — King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre
Yara Alqahtani is a Certified Genetic Counselor at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, specialising in prenatal genetics, general genetic counselling and genomic data analysis. She provides comprehensive genetic counselling services to individuals and families, facilitates informed decision-making regarding genetic testing, and collaborates with multidisciplinary healthcare teams to deliver evidence-based patient care. Ms. Alqahtani has played a key role in the transformation of prenatal genetic services at KFSH&RC, contributing to the development of clinical workflows, prenatal protocols, multidisciplinary care pathways and the integration of genomic testing into prenatal practice.