KAUST ·
KAUST researchers suggest antibody testing can complement PCR tests to reduce false negatives in COVID-19 diagnosis. PCR tests can produce false negative results. Immunodiagnostic tests could help identify unknowingly spreading the disease. Why it matters: Improving diagnostic accuracy is critical for effective pandemic control and public health management in Saudi Arabia and globally.
KAUST ·
SaudiVax, located in the KAUST Research & Technology Park, is collaborating with the University of Pittsburgh and Merck France to develop a COVID-19 antibody injection. The antibody both protects against potential infection and neutralizes the virus in those already infected. SaudiVax is utilizing KAUST expertise and has contracted with Merck France for manufacturing since suitable facilities are not yet available in Saudi Arabia. Why it matters: This partnership highlights the growing biopharmaceutical capabilities in Saudi Arabia and the potential for KAUST to serve as a hub for medical innovation in the region.
MBZUAI ·
The Russian Immune Diversity Atlas project aims to profile immune cells from people of different ancestries at a multiomics level. The goal is to reconstruct a reference atlas of the healthy immune system and investigate its perturbations in Type II Diabetes (T2D). The project seeks to identify novel mechanisms and genetic/epigenetic markers for early T2D diagnostics, prognosis, and therapy as part of the international Human Cell Atlas. Why it matters: Addressing genetic diversity in biomedical research, particularly in the context of the Human Cell Atlas, is crucial for personalized medicine and ensuring that treatments are effective across diverse populations in the Middle East and globally.
KAUST ·
KAUST researchers have identified a protein complex of HuR and YB1 that stabilizes messenger RNA during muscle-fiber formation. The complex protects RNA as it carries muscle-forming code through the cell. Further research aims to elucidate the individual roles of each protein in the stabilization process. Why it matters: Understanding this RNA-stabilizing complex could lead to new therapies for muscle recovery and the prevention of muscle-related pathologies.
KAUST ·
KAUST Discovery Associate Professor Stefan Arold has established KAUST's first structural biology lab specializing in determining the atomic 3D structure of proteins and other biological macromolecules. The lab setup involved challenges such as assembling instruments and continuing research, but the Bioscience Core Lab at KAUST and support from colleagues aided in the process. Arold's research focuses on understanding protein function through an integrated 'hybrid' approach to analyze 3D structure and function of proteins. Why it matters: This new lab enhances KAUST's capabilities in molecular biophysics and structural biology, enabling advanced research into the functions of proteins and their implications for health and disease.
MBZUAI ·
Xiao Wang from Purdue University presented research on Adversarial Contrastive Learning (AdCo) and Cooperative-adversarial Contrastive Learning (CaCo) for improved self-supervised learning. He also discussed CryoREAD, a framework for building DNA/RNA structures from cryo-EM maps, and future work in deep learning for drug discovery. Wang's algorithms have impacted molecular biology, leading to new structure discoveries published in journals like Cell and Nature Microbiology. Why it matters: The research advances AI techniques for crucial tasks in molecular biology and drug discovery, with potential applications for institutions in the GCC region focused on healthcare and biotechnology.
KAUST ·
Jasmeen Merzaban, a KAUST assistant professor of bioscience, received a L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Rising Talents award at a ceremony in Paris on March 24. Merzaban's research focuses on immunology and stem cell research. The award recognizes her contributions to science and potential for future impact. Why it matters: This award highlights the growing scientific expertise and recognition of researchers at KAUST and in Saudi Arabia.
MBZUAI ·
A talk discusses the challenges of single-cell data analysis, such as feature sparsity and the effects of rare cells. AI/ML strategies are uniquely positioned to model this data. ImYoo, a startup founded in 2021, is applying single-cell model architectures for unsupervised discovery of patient groupings and predicting sample-level phenotypical data in autoimmune disease. Why it matters: This highlights the growing application of AI/ML in analyzing single-cell data for population-scale human health studies, an area ripe for innovation and improvement in the Middle East's growing biotech sector.