Technology Innovation Institute (TII) and Burjeel Medical City (BMC) are partnering to develop novel immunotherapy solutions for cancer treatment, focusing on T-cell based therapeutics like CAR-T and TIL therapy. In the first phase, TII will construct a computational platform to identify patient-specific antigens from single-cell transcriptomics data, enabling the design of CAR-T cells. The two-year partnership aims to boost the body's immune system to fight cancer and personalize cancer therapies using TII's technologies. Why it matters: This collaboration signifies the UAE's commitment to advancing cancer care through collaborative research and innovative solutions, potentially establishing the country as a leader in personalized oncology treatments.
KAUST researchers organized a week-long workshop on bioinformatics, covering genomics and transcriptomics data analysis. The workshop targeted students, postdocs, and senior researchers, providing hands-on training in coding and analysis using tools like R, Python, and shell scripts. Attendees with little prior computational biology experience were introduced to fundamental concepts and tools for handling large sequencing datasets. Why it matters: The workshop addresses the increasing need for bioinformatics expertise at KAUST and in the region, crucial for advancing research in fields like evolution and complex diseases.
Dr. Min Xu joins MBZUAI as Affiliated Assistant Professor in Computer Vision to advance AI-based biomedical image analysis. His research focuses on cellular cryo-electron tomography (Cryo-ET) 3D image analysis, spatial transcriptomics, digital pathology, and automated science. Xu will collaborate with MBZUAI faculty and advise master’s students, leveraging his expertise in computational biology and bioinformatics. Why it matters: This appointment strengthens MBZUAI's capabilities in applying AI to critical areas of biomedical research, potentially leading to breakthroughs in disease understanding and treatment.