KAUST and Oxford Nanopore Technologies have signed an MoU to collaborate on multi-omics research, building on previous work such as the NanoRanger technique developed by KAUST's Mo Li. KAUST will gain early access to Oxford Nanopore’s sequencing technology, while Oxford Nanopore will access KAUST's Core Labs. Why it matters: This partnership enhances KAUST's research capabilities in areas like rare diseases and desert agriculture, and provides Oxford Nanopore with a launchpad to engage with Saudi Arabia's research community.
Jysoo Lee, Facilities Director of Research Computing Core Labs at KAUST, received the SCA HPC Leadership/Achievement Award at SupercomputingAsia 2022 in Singapore. The award recognizes Lee's leadership in developing South Korea's HPC community and advancing international cooperation. Lee led the legislation of the “National Supercomputing Promotion Act” and founded the National Institute of Supercomputing and Networking (NISN) in South Korea. Why it matters: This award highlights KAUST's role in attracting top global talent in HPC and showcases the increasing importance of supercomputing infrastructure in the region.
KAUST's Bioscience Core Lab (BCL) supports regional and global health initiatives through industry partnerships, offering expertise and technology access to organizations like SaudiVax. BCL aids SaudiVax in developing vaccines and monoclonal antibodies tailored to the needs of Saudi Arabia and the MENA region, focusing on respiratory diseases like MERS and COVID-19. SaudiVax is also collaborating with KAUST to research a new preventative drug targeting SARS-CoV-2. Why it matters: This strengthens Saudi Arabia's capabilities in vaccine development and biomanufacturing, addressing critical healthcare needs in the region and reducing reliance on external sources.
KAUST's Workshops Core Lab launched the first scientific glassblowing apprenticeship program in Saudi Arabia. The program trains Saudi apprentices in the specialized skills of scientific glassblowing, essential for creating and repairing glassware used in research. Apprentices Faisal Nour and Mohammed Al-Amri began training in 2020 and will undergo 7,000 hours of mentorship. Why it matters: This initiative addresses a critical gap in scientific infrastructure and expertise within Saudi Arabia, fostering self-sufficiency in research support and potentially establishing KAUST as a regional center for glassblowing consultation.
In July 2020, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) became a corporate tenant in the KAUST Research and Technology Park (KRTP). HPE will strengthen the KAUST Core Labs team, providing day-to-day support for the Shaheen II supercomputer, which has supported over 1,000 users and 650 publications. Future collaborations between HPE and KAUST will include projects in genomics, linear algebra, combustion computational fluid dynamics, and density-functional theory codes. Why it matters: This partnership enhances KAUST's research capabilities, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030 to drive scientific, economic, and social advances through high-performance computing.
KAUST's Core Labs provide engineering simulation services and training using state-of-the-art technology. The Supercomputing Core Lab (KSL) at KAUST conducts training workshops in partnership with ANSYS, a market leader in engineering and simulation design software. Since 2017, KSL has conducted five training workshops related to engineering software in partnership with ANSYS, with 230 attendees, including 138 individuals from in-Kingdom institutions outside of KAUST. Why it matters: These workshops strengthen Saudi Arabia's engineering capabilities by providing access to simulation software and training, facilitating collaboration between KAUST, Saudi Aramco, and SABIC.
Air Products has joined the KAUST Industry Collaboration Program (KICP) as a strategic partner. This collaboration grants Air Products access to KAUST's research, technologies, talent pool, and infrastructure, including the KAUST Core Labs. The partnership will focus on areas like carbon capture, gas separation, and hydrogen production. Why it matters: This partnership strengthens KAUST's role as a hub for industry collaboration and provides Air Products with access to cutting-edge research and expertise in sustainable technologies.
A KAUST-led team mapped the genome of the orange clownfish using the university's Supercomputing and Bioscience Core Labs. The genome contains 26,597 protein-coding genes and is available via the Nemo Genome DB database. The clownfish genome is one of the most complete fish genomes ever produced, comprising approximately 939 million nucleotides. Why it matters: This genomic map provides a crucial resource for understanding reef fish biology and responses to environmental changes like climate change.