GENETIC FRONTIERS
EMPOWERING CLINICAL PRACTICE CONFERENCE
Under the Patronage and Presence of His Excellency, Minister of Health
Dr. Ahmad Abdulwahab Al-Awadhi
Under the Patronage and Presence of His Excellency, Minister of Health
Dr. Ahmad Abdulwahab Al-Awadhi
WELCOME MESSAGE
WELCOME TO GENETIC FRONTIERS CONFERENCE
Dear Colleagues,
On behalf of the organising committee, I would like to welcome you to our 9th Kuwait International Medical Genetics Conference titled: “Genetics Frontiers: Empowering Clinical practice.”
Medical genetics is a field that is attracting a huge amount of attention, both in terms of research and clinical practice, because of the dramatic technical revolution in genome analysis worldwide and due to the rapid development of novel gene-specific therapies. The kuwait Medical Genetics Centre prides itself in organising The biennial Kuwait International Medical Genetics conference. This year, our conference will focus on utilising knowledge from research and experience in medical genetics to empower clinical practice. As the chairman of this incredible event, I couldn’t be more excited to have you join us for what promises to be an unforgettable experience.We have curated an exceptional lineup of speakers, researchers, and experts who will be sharing their experiences in the world of clinical genetics. From the latest groundbreaking discoveries to innovative approaches in diagnosis and treatment. But this conference is about more than just knowledge-sharing. It’s about fostering connections, building networks, and sparking collaborations that will shape the future of clinical genetics. We have dedicated a whole session to show you how we have benefited from and contributed to international collaborations in clinical genetics. We’ve created ample opportunities for you to engage with your peers, exchange ideas, and form lasting relationships that will extend far beyond the conference walls. Whether you’re a physician, a budding scientist, or simply someone with a keen interest in genetics, this conference has something for everyone. We’ve carefully crafted a diverse program that caters to a wide range of interests and expertise, ensuring that each and every attendee feels inspired, motivated, and empowered to make a difference in the field. So, be prepared to have your mind expanded as you listen to captivating presentations and engage in stimulating conversations with our esteemed speakers and fellow attendees. I would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to all the individuals and organizations who have contributed to the success of this conference. Without your unwavering support and dedication, none of this would have been possible. Thank you once again for being a part of this extraordinary gathering. Together, let’s explore the frontiers of clinical genetics. See you at the conference !
Join the event
Target Audience
All healthcare professionals interested in prevention, diagnosis and management of genetic disorders, including, but not limited to:
Objectives
Describe advances in genetic diagnosis, preventative genetics, bioinformatics, genetic counselling and introduce novel therapies for genetic disorders and provide a platform for clinicians and researchers regionally and globally to share their experiences using these therapies.
Provide opportunities for clinicians to discuss puzzling cases with other experts in their field and offer a platform for research collaboration and publication to improve patient care.
Clinical Geneticist at Guys Hospital (London, United Kingdom)
Dr Wafik works as a Clinical Geneticist at Guys Hospital (London, United Kingdom). He has over 10 years experience in medical genetics and laboratory genomics, including a 6-year experience working as a clinical genetics registrar in Oxford and London (Guys and St. Georges Hospitals). He trained in Paediatric and Neonatal Medicine at the Royal Manchester Childrens Hospital. He holds both the UK and European certification and accreditation in Medical Genetics and Genomics (DipRCPath and ECMGG respectively). He also has a postgraduate certificate (PGCert) in the Interpretation and Clinical Application of Genomic Data (St Georges University of London), membership of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (MRCPCH), and Master of Science (MSc) in Medical Genetics (University of Glasgow) with a distinction award. His interests include: Genetics and dysmorphology, prenatal diagnosis and fetal dysmorphology, Genetics of complex disease. Inherited Cardiac Conditions, clinical applications of Next-Generation Sequencing, and novel therapies for Genetic diseases.
Acting Vice Dean of Academic Affairs, Research and Graduate Studies - Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Kuwait University
Suzanne A. Al-Bustan obtained her B.Sc degree in Zoology in 1988 and in 1992 was awarded the PhD degree in Medical Genetics from Glasgow University, Scotland, UK. She is a member of the Molecular Biology Program in the Department of Biological Sciences. She is currently a Professor of Human and Molecular Genetics involved in teaching advanced molecular genetics courses. She has published numerous papers in reputed journals stemming from her scientific research and supervision of numerous graduate students in the areas of human and molecular genetics focusing on the genetic makeup of the Kuwaiti Population and association studies with complex traits including metabolic disorders. Her research facilitated the establishment of a human DNA banks representative of the Kuwaiti population. She has assumed several administrative responsibilities including the Director of the Molecular Biology graduate program, Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences and currently is the Acting Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, Research and Graduate studies.
Consultant Developmental Pediatrician
AlSabah Hospital, Kuwait
Dr. Nahed Alateeqi is a Consultant Developmental Pediatrician and a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada. She is currently the Chair of the Developmental Pediatrics Unit at the Pediatric Department in Al-Sabah Hospital, Kuwait. Dr. Alateeqi is a former Program Director for the
Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics Fellowship Program at Sidra Medicine in Qatar.
Dr. Alateeqi is passionate about teaching and raising awareness on child development and
disability. She is a mentor and tutor to Pediatric Residents of the Kuwait Board of Pediatrics.
She has participated in many workshops and teaching activities for medical professionals,
educators and parents related to child development and developmental disorders in Kuwait and the GCC. Dr. Alateeqi is the author of an Arabic book titled “Together I Learn” emphasizing the importance of responsive parenting in neurodevelopment and promoting interaction between the child and their caregiver.
Senior specialist - KMGC
Head of NBS laboratory, KMGC
MBBS, MBBCh, FACC UCSF
Senior Specialist in Clinical Chemistry
Clinical and Molecular Geneticist
Kuwait Medical Genetics Center and Kuwait Cancer Control Center
Shakir is a specialist in clinical as well as molecular genetics. He is also a board certified clinical and anatomical pathologist. He achieved his MBBS from Kuwait University and went on to AP/CP at University of Saskatchewan, Canada, and then genetics at McMaster University, Ontario, Canada. He is currently working at the Kuwait Medical Genetics Center running a general, hemato-, and cancer genetics clinics and the unit head of the Molecular Pathology lab at Kuwait Cancer Control Center, Ministry of Health, State of Kuwait. He is a tutor and board member of the Kuwait Institute of Medical Specializations’ Pediatrics, Pathology, and Clinical Chemistry residency programs.
Consultant Clinical Molecular Geneticist
Kuwait Medical Genetic Center
Doctor Alaa Eldin Abdel Hakeim Elshafey is a consultant of clinical molecular genetics at Kuwait Medical Genetic center (KMGC) and a former associate professor of medical genetics in Egypt. He graduated from the faculty of medicine and finished his training in pediatrics where he got master degree in pediatrics from Egypt. He got his PhD in clinical molecular genetics from the faculty of medicine, the university of Glasgow, UK. He worked as a university member in the pediatric departments in Egyptian universities till 2003. He joined KMGC in the year 2003 till now. He is one of the members who developed the molecular genetic laboratories at KMGC. Now, these laboratories are the leading diagnostic genetic laboratories in Kuwait. He established the prenatal diagnostic and bioinformatic analysis units. He is responsible for NGS-database at KMGC. He is involved in establishing premarital and newborn screening programs for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). He got many publications in pediatrics and clinical molecular genetics.
Senior Molecular Genetics - Kuwait Medical Genetics Centre
Dr Ahmad Alahmad is a Senior Molecular Geneticist who specialises in the genetic diagnosis of Mitochondrial Disorders.
He graduated from Newcastle University after focusing on diagnosing patients suspected of Mitochondrial Disorders in Kuwait.
Dr Ahmad is interested in the identification and testing of target Founder Mutations within the population to provide a rapid diagnosis for patients and help reduce the incidence of Genetic Disorders, especially Mitochondrial disorders, in Kuwait.
Clinical and medical geneticist
Kuwait Medical Genetics Center
Tarek Mostafa Kamal
(M.D. Human Medical Genetics)
• Clinical and Medical Geneticist (Kuwait Medical Genetics Centre - Kuwait)
• Consultant Professor (Ain Shams University Hospitals- Egypt)
• Shared as a member of the committee for implementation of the national programs for Genetics, congenital anomaly registry, and premarital counseling-UAE.
• Handling editor and Reviewer for the Egyptian Journal of Medical Human Genetics- Springer Nature.
• Supervised many master and MD theses and has many internationally published researches in the field of Human Genetics and Pediatrics.
Tarif joined Olink Proteomics in 2022 and serves as Head of Scientific Market Development, with a focus on emerging geographies. His responsibilities include facilitating strategic partnerships and collaborations between regional and global thought leaders in population health, translational research, and precision medicine. Prior to entering proteomics, Tarif spent over 20 years in the genomics field, leading scientific support and managing strategic collaborations in biomarker discovery, pharmaceutical development, and reproductive health. Tarif obtained his PhD from the University of Washington and completed postdoctoral training at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, both in Seattle, Washington. He lives in San Francisco, California.
College of Medicine, Kuwait University. Farwaniya Hospital and Kuwait Medical Genetics Center, Ministry of Health, Kuwait
Position:
- Clinical and Biochemical Geneticist,
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Pediatric Department, College of Medicine
Kuwait University, Kuwait
- Consultant of Genetics and Metabolism,
Farwaniya Hospital, Ministry of Health, Kuwait
- Consultant of Genetics and Metabolism,
Kuwait Medical Genetics Center, Ministry of Health, Kuwait
- Adjunct Assistant Professor of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Maryland, USA
Board Certification
- American Board of Pediatrics Certified, 2016-2025
- American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ABMG) certified in Medical Genetics and Genomics, 2019
- ABMG certified in Medical Biochemical Genetics, 2019
- ABMG certified in Clinical Biochemical Genetics, 2021
Fellowship
- Medical Genetics Fellowship at Johns Hopkins University, MD, USA (2016-2018).
- Medical Biochemical Genetics Fellowship at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), PA, USA (2018-2019).
- Clinical Biochemical Genetics Fellowship at CHOP, PA, USA (2019-2020).
Residency
- Pediatric Residency training at Kuwait Institution of Medical Specializations (KIMS), Kuwait 2010-2013
- Pediatric Residency training at Miami Children’s Hospital, FL, USA 2013-2016
Medical School
- Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University (2008)- Honors
Dr. Nandu Thalange is a Consultant in Paediatric Endocrinology and Professor at MBRU, Dubai. After graduating from King’s College London in 1988, he pioneered paediatric endocrinology research, contributing to the approval of Levemir and Tresiba. With extensive experience in clinical practice, research, and teaching, he has led advances in diabetes, genetics, and rare pediatric disorders. Dr. Nandu Thalange is a sought-after speaker across the Gulf region, Europe, and beyond, dedicated to improving paediatric endocrinology care and making a lasting impact on children's health.
Consultant Dermatologist, Head of Unit, Pediatric Dermatology
As'ad Al-Hamad Dermatology Center, Kuwait
Dr. Arti Nanda has 30 years of experience in Pediatric Dermatology. She is Secretary General of the International Society of Pediatric Dermatology (ISPD) since 2021 (https://www.ispedderm.com/). She is also an Executive Board Director, Chair of the Communication Committee & Chief Editor, Online Education of the ISPD since 2017.
She is a member of the EADV Task Force, Pediatric Dermatology & Autoimmune Blistering Disorders, a Member of the Editorial Board of the Pediatric Dermatology Journal, and a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of the IJDVL; IDOJ; IJPD journals. She has published more than 160 research papers in Peer Reviewed Journals.
She has been an invited Speaker/Chair or Co-chair in the International/National Conferences in Dermatology/Pediatric Dermatology since 2003.
In recognition of her achievements, she was honored to be the recipient of the 2022 ILDS (International League of Dermatology Societies) Certificate of Appreciation for her international Leadership in Pediatric Dermatology.
Dr. Daboul is a general dentist and the Data Manager at the Cleft and Craniofacial Unit, Ministry of Health, Kuwait.
She earned a Bachelor of Basic Medical Sciences (BMedSci) in 2019 and a Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD) in 2022, both from Kuwait University. Her role bridges clinical data and patient care, supporting the delivery of comprehensive, multidisciplinary treatment for individuals with craniofacial conditions.
Consultant pediatric pulmonary and sleep medicine
Al-Sabah Hospital
Dr. AlKhaledi is a pediatric pulmonary and sleep medicine consultant leading the Pediatric Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine Unit at Al-Sabah Hospital. Dr. AlKhaledi is a graduate of Kuwait University and completed his general pediatric residency at Freie Universität Berlin in 2010. He further pursued his fellowship in pediatric pulmonary medicine in 2013, followed by a fellowship in sleep medicine in 2017, at the a University of Alberta, Canada. Dr. AlKhaledi's expertise lies in the diagnosis and management of respiratory and sleep disorders in children.
Pediatric Endocrinology Hospitalist, Sidra Medicine
Dr. Hajar Dauleh earned her medical degree from Dubai Medical College (DMCG) in 2015. She completed her internship and pediatric residency at Hamad Medical Corporation/Sidra Medicine and is Arab Board Certified in Pediatrics. In 2023, she completed a fellowship in Pediatric Endocrinology at Sidra Medicine.
Her research interests focus on pediatric obesity and lipid disorders. She established the Pediatric Obesity Clinic at Sidra Medicine and is currently leading efforts to develop a dedicated clinic for lipid disorders.
Dr. Dauleh is a member of several international pediatric endocrine and diabetes societies, including the European Society for Paediatric Endocrinology (ESPE) and the Arab Society for Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes (ASPED). She is also an active member of the Young Enteroendocrine Society (YES).
Head of the Cleft and Craniofacial Unit
Ministry of Health, Kuwait
Dr. Alkharafi obtained her dental degree from Kuwait University, Faculty of Dentistry in 2009. She then completed a one-year research program in craniofacial genetics and stem cells at the University of the Pacific,USA in 2012. In 2015, Dr. Alkharafi earned her Master of Science in Dentistry and a Certificate in Orthodontics from the University of the Pacific. She became a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics in 2016. In 2021, she completed a fellowship in Craniofacial and Special Care Orthodontics at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Alkharafi became an International Certificant of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine in 2023.
Professor of Neurology
Neuromuscular Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University
Current Position: Professor of Neurology and Director, Neuromuscular Center, Neuropsychiatry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University. Main interests are neuromuscular disorders, neurogenetic disorders, and rare diseases. - Prof. Nagia Fahmy, in 1996, traveled to the National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Tokyo, Japan, through an individual grant from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). She received training for her doctorate thesis in neurology and shared in the establishment of the Neuromuscular Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University. - The Neuromuscular Unit is considered the only specialized and comprehensive unit for neuromuscular disorders in Egypt. It was established in 1996 with the collaboration of the NCNP in Tokyo, Japan, and contains two laboratories of histochemistry, immunohistochemistry of muscle biopsies, and molecular diagnosis of some neuromuscular disorders. It also contains a biobank of muscle biopsies and the DNA of patients with neuromuscular disorders. - She is running two special myology clinics in Ain Shams University Hospitals with 60–80 patients with neuromuscular disorders weekly in both clinics. She was also the director of the three neurology units in Ain Shams University Specialized Hospital (ASUSH), the Neurocritical Care Unit for one year (2006), the Neurology Unit for two years (2007–2008), and the Stroke Unit for one year (2010–2011). She is the founder of the “Egyptian School of Neuromuscular Disorders" (2019), a yearly postgraduate school teaching neuromuscular disorders to postgraduate students of different universities and research centers. In the first school year of 2019, there were six international professors from France, Finland, and Germany who shared the teaching with the Egyptian professors. Seventy-five trainees attended the first school, which lasted for 3 days, followed by an Egyptian International Conference of Neuromuscular Disorders, 2019, for 2 days. She shared in the establishment of the “School of Motor Neuron Disorders” at the German University of Cairo (GUC, 2019), a regional and international school. - She is the general secretary of the yearly conference of the Neurology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University. - She started international collaboration with many universities and centers abroad. • NCNP, Tokyo, Japan. Egypt-Japan Workshop, every other year with Prof. Ikuya Nonaka • Neuromuscular and Neurogenetic Disorders of Childhood Section, NINDs, Bethesda, USA (arranged workshop with Prof. Carsten Bonnemanne, 2013) • Neuromuscular Center, Tampere University, Finland. Finland-Egypt workshop (2015–2019, with Prof. Bjarne Udd) • John Walton Muscular Dystrophy Research Centre, Newcastle University, UK. • Neurology Department, University of Versailles-Saint-Quentin, France • Summer School of Myology, Paris, France • Neurology Department, Ulm University, Germany. She started a national research collaboration with the American University in Cairo in 2017 and the German University in Cairo in 2019. She is the Director of the Neuromucular Chapter of the Egyptian Society of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry (ESNPN). She is a member of many national and international organizations, including: Member of the World Muscle Society, Member of the Mediterranean Society of Myology, Member of Treat-NMD, an International Registry Organization, and Member of the Pan Arab Union of Neurology. - She is also a reviewer of the Ethical Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University; a reviewer of the Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry, and Neurosurgery (EJNPN); a reviewer of the Journal of Neurosciences, the official journal of the Pan-Arab Union of Neurological Sciences; and a reviewer of the European Neurology Journal. - She is supervising many projects and master and doctorate degree theses in the field of neuromuscular and neurogenetic disorders. - She has many national and international publications, mainly in the field of neuromuscular and neurogenetic disorders. - She was awarded the title of ideal doctor by the Egyptian Medical Syndicate in 2016 for establishing and directing the Ain Shams Neuromuscular Center, a multidsicplinary center for the diagnosis and management of neuromuscular disorders, in 2024.
Clinical geneticist
Kuwait medical genetic center
Dr Reem Elshafie is a Clinical Geneticist who graduated from the faculty of medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt. She specializes in clinical and molecular genetics. Obtained MSc in human genetics with solid knowledge in genomic and molecular pathology from Medical Research Institute Alexandria University, Egypt. She Analyzes NGS data and evaluates patients with genetic disorders and has extensive experience in clinical and molecular genetics and karyotyping as well.
Professor in Medicine
Hopital Necker Enfants Malades
Guillaume Canaud is a MD, PhD working at hôpital Necker Enfants Malades (Paris). He did his medical school in Montpellier and moved to Paris in 2002 to perform his Residency in Nephrology (2002 to 2007). He became Senior Resident in the Renal Division of Necker (Prof. Legendre) from 2007 to 2012. Concurrently, he spent four years from to 2008 to 2012 in the laboratory of Dr. Fabiola Terzi (INSERM U1151, Necker Hospital) to achieve his PhD degree in molecular and cellular biology. Then, he joined the Joseph Bonventre’s Laboratory (Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA) from 2012 to 2014 to achieve a postdoc. He came back to Christophe Legendre’s team with a faculty position (Associate Professor) and built his own group of research dedicated to translational medicine. He obtained an European Research Council starting grant (2015) for his kidney research project, an ERC Proof of Concept Grant for his translational research (2016) and an ERC Consolidator (2020) dedicated to the understanding of PIK3CA related disorders. Guillaume is now full professor at the Université Paris Cité /Hôpital Necker Enfants Malades and is working specifically on rare disorders involving the RAS/PIK3CA/AKT/mTOR pathways. He has created the Translational Medicine and Targeted Therapies Unit at Necker Enfants Malades.
Very recently, Guillaume and his group, identified and reported in Nature a very promising therapeutic for patients with a rare genetic disorder called PIK3CA-Related Overgrowth Syndrome (PROS). Guillaume and his group pushed the clinical development of this drug for patient with PROS. Three clinical trials were launched since 2019 and led to the US FDA accelerated approval on April 6th 2022 of alpelisib for patients with PROS aged of at least 2 years old.
He published as a first or last author in leading medical and scientific journals such as Nature, The New England Journal of Medicine, Nature Medicine, J Exp Med, Science Translational Medicine or Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA. He received several awards including the 2018 Prize Jean Lecocq of the French Academy of Sciences, the 2019 Prize Eloi Collery of the French Academy of Medicine, the 2019 Ville de Paris Jean Hamburger Prize, the 2021 Unsolicited International Triennial Gagna A. & Ch. Van Heck Prize for Incurable Diseases, the 2022 Robert Schobinger Award from the International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies and the Prix Galien 2022.
Consultant in Pediatrics, Clinical Genetics and Metabolic Disorders
Adan Hospital - Pediatrics Department
Pediatrics, Clinical Genetics and Metabolic Disorders Consultant From Adan Hospital
Bachelor of Medicine & surgery ( M.B.B.Ch), Kuwait university
Board certified in Pediatrics by KIMS, Kuwait
Certified in Clinical Genetics and Metabolic Disorders since 2014, KFSHRC, Riyadh, KSA
Currently providing Consultation services for Neonates, Pediatrics and adults in Adan, Mubarak, Jaber and Amiri hospital.
HEAD SCHOOL OF MYOLOGY, INSTITUT DE MYOLOGIE - PARIS
J. Andoni URTIZBEREA, aged 65, is a French physician trained in Paris University, France and certified both in pediatrics and PMR. He served many years as Medical Director of the AFM-Telethon and then as General Delegate of the Institut de Myologie of Paris (1993-2000). While Scientific Director of the European Neuromuscular Center in the Netherlands (ENMC, 1999-2005), he contributed to the establishment of many global networks in myology. Till December 2019, he worked as part-time clinical myologist in Hendaye Hospital, France (APHP trust) and served as deputy coordinator of the French Neuromuscular Network (FILNEMUS). Over the past twenty years, he headed various worldwide educational events dedicated to myology (in Europe, Russia, Latin America and, more recently in the Middle-East). He is currently a faculty in charge of the Summer of Myology of Paris. He is a regular visiting professor in a couple of countries and a self-employed consultant for several pharma.
Dr. Almontashiri is an associate professor of medical genetics, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Saudi Arabia. In 2015, he received his Ph.D in Cardiovascular Genetics from the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Canada. In 2018, he completed his 3-years of dual training in clinical molecular and biochemical genetics at Harvard Medical School. He is the only Saudi Ph.D. who is dual board-certified in Clinical Molecular and Biochemical Geneticist by the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ABMGG). Dr. Almontashiri has years of experience in molecular and biochemical assay development and interpretation for diagnostic applications. He signed out more than 20K genetic tests (Gene panels, WES, WGS) for Saudi and non-Saudi patients with genetic diseases. He served as senior clinical molecular and biochemical genetic consultant for major hospitals like KFSHRC, KFMC, and KKESH His major clinical and research interests involve the “Mendeliome” of consanguineous populations, candidate genes discovery and functional characterization, and laboratory developed tests and clinical validation. Raising the awareness about the autosomal recessive diseases associated with consanguinity is one of his interests to reduce the burden of the inherited disorders.
Professor, University of Trento
Gianluca Esposito, Ph.D., Chair of the Ph.D. Program in Cognitive Science at the University of Trento, Italy and visiting professor at the University of Hertfordshire, UK, specializes in developmental clinical psychology and neuroimaging, focusing on child socio-cognitive development. With more than 250 peer-reviewed papers, 22 book chapters, and 3 co-edited books, he brings multidisciplinary expertise to understanding autism and genetics.
Daniel Calame, MD, PhD is a physician scientist specialized in rare neurogenetic conditions. Dr. Calame completed clinical training in pediatric neurology at Texas Children's Hospital and postdoctoral research training in human genetics at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) in the laboratory of Prof. James R. Lupski in 2021. Dr. Calame has since helped direct the BCM-GREGoR (Genomics Research to Elucidate the Genetics of Rare diseases) research center, a part of the National Human Genome Research Institute's GREGoR Consortium. The GREGoR Consortium seeks to use cutting-edge genomic technologies like short and long-read whole genome sequencing, optical genome mapping, and transcriptomics to discover the causes of currently unexplained rare genetic disorders. Dr. Calame has contributed to discovery of dozens of rare genetic disorders including NSRP1-related cerebral palsy, ENTPD1-related hereditary spastic paraplegia, DHX9-related neurodevelopmental disorders, and FLVCR1-related developmental and neurodegenerative disorders.
Deputy Executive Director
Centre for Genomic Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre
Dr. Alfares completed his medical school in Saudi Arabia and joined the medical genetics residency program at McGill University, Canada (Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons). Subsequently he joined Harvard Medical School and completed two fellowships training in Clinical Molecular Genetics and Clinical Biochemical Genetics. Dr. Alfares currently working as deputy executive director and a senior consultant at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Centre for Genomic Medicine. He is working on next-generation molecular genetics sequencing lab including large numbers of exome and genome testing.
Consultant of pediatrics and clinical genetics - King Faisal specialist hospital and research center - Riyadh , KSA
Qualification/s: Arab Board of Pediatrics, 1992
Jordanian Board of Pediatrics, 1993
Special Certificates:
American Board of Clinical Genetics, 1996
American Board of Clinical Biochemical Genetics, 1996
Special Interest & Research: Neonatal screening and prevention of genetic disorders.
No. of Publications: More than 100
No. of International Presentation: More than 100
Other Information:
August 1996 – Present: Consultant, Pediatrics and Medical Genetics, Dept of Medical Genetics, KFSH&RC-Riyadh
2012- 2019- President of Saudi Society of Medical Genetics (SSMG)
April 2008 – Present: Member of Nutrition Product Evaluation Committee, KFSH& RC, Riyadh
March 2001– October 2010: Chairman, Dept. of Medical Genetics, KFSH&RC-Riyadh
September 2001 – December 2011: Member of the National Committee for Biological and Medical Ethics, King Abdulaziz City for Science & Technology, Riyadh
July 2001- October 2011: Member of Medical Advisory Committee, KFSH&RC-Riyadh
April 2001 – April 2007: Chairman of the Executive Committee of Saudi National Newborn Screening Program at KFSH&RC- Riyadh
May 2001 – Dec 2007: Member of Examination Committee, Pediatrics, Saudi Council for Health Specialties
April 1999 –: March 2018: Member of the Highest Medical Committee, Ministry of Health
2011 – Present: Professor of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Al-Faisal University, Riyadh
January 1998 - September 2000: Director of Pediatric Residency Training Program, Department of Pediatrics, KFSH&RC- Riyadh
January 1998 - September 2000: Chairman of the Pediatric Educational Committee, KFSH&RC-Riyadh
April 1997 - May 2000: Director of Inborn Errors of Metabolism (Medical Genetics) Fellowship Program, KFSH&RC-Riyadh
Professor of Molecular Medicine and Director of the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics
Professor Sherif El-Khamisy is a ‘life’-scientist with over 25 years’ experience in the research and innovation ecosystem, focusing on translation and commercialisation. He is trained as a pharmacist followed by a PhD in genomic medicine from the University of Sussex, then a post-doctoral training at St Jude Hospital in the US. Working with the Nobel Laureate Dr Zewail in Caltech, Sherif established and directed one of the first medical genomics research centres in the MENA region. In 2018, Sherif co-founded the healthy Lifespan Institute at the University of Sheffield. In addition to his roles at the University of Sheffield, Sherif is the Director of the Institute of Cancer Therapeutics and Dean of Research at the University of Bradford. Sherif’s core technical background is in genomic medicine with a broader economic focus through working with senior executives and stakeholders. He is a Wellcome Trust Investigator, a Fellow of the Lister Institute of Preventative Medicine and sits on UKRI and Wellcome Trust funding panels. His work in biology and medicine is published in journals such as Nature, Cell and Science. He is an elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology, the Royal Society of Chemistry, and his work has been recognized by AstraZeneca (UK), Caltech (USA), Awards of Excellence in Medical Sciences from the Shoman Foundation (Jordon), the Academy of Medical Sciences (Egypt) and the Wellcome Trust (UK).
Consultant Pediatric Endocrinologist - KASCH
consultant Pediatric Endocrinology at King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital
Assistant Professor at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences.Jeddah.KSA
fellowship in Pediatric Endocrinology at Yale University in the USA
Have numerous research papers, particularly focused on endocrine disorders and diabetes
has developed guidelines for growth hormone use and monitoring, published reviews on Disorders of Sexual Development (DSD) and congenital diabetes
Chief Medical and Genomic Officer - Lifera Omics
Fowzan S Alkuraya is a Professor of Human Genetics at Alfaisal University and the Chairman of the Department of Translational Genomics at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center. He joined medical school (King Saud University) before turning 15 and graduated first in his class with first class honor. He did his pediatric residency at Georgetown University Hospital, followed by a fellowship in clinical genetics and another in molecular genetics at Harvard Medical School. He also did a postdoctoral research fellowship in the area of developmental genetics in the lab of Prof. Richard Maas at Harvard Medical School. He returned to his native Saudi Arabia to establish the Developmental Genetics Lab, which later evolved into the Center for Genomic Medicine at KFSHRC. He is an authority in the area of Mendelian genetics with more than 560 published manuscripts that describe his lab’s discovery of hundreds of novel disease genes in humans as well as many other seminal contributions to the field of human genetics as featured in profiles published by The Lancet and Science. He is a frequently invited speaker at local, regional and international conferences, on the editorial board of prominent human genetics journals, and the recipient of numerous prestigious awards including William King Bowes Award in Medical Genetics (first non-US based winner), King Salman Award for Disability Research, ASHG Curt Stern Award (first non-US based winner), and Kuwait Award.
Head of Neurology department and Director of Medical Neurology administration, at King Abdullah Medical City Makkah
Scientific Committee Chairs
Scientific Committee
Clinical and Molecular Geneticist
Kuwait Medical Genetics Center and Kuwait Cancer Control Center
Shakir is a specialist in clinical as well as molecular genetics. He is also a board certified clinical and anatomical pathologist. He achieved his MBBS from Kuwait University and went on to AP/CP at University of Saskatchewan, Canada, and then genetics at McMaster University, Ontario, Canada. He is currently working at the Kuwait Medical Genetics Center running a general, hemato-, and cancer genetics clinics and the unit head of the Molecular Pathology lab at Kuwait Cancer Control Center, Ministry of Health, State of Kuwait. He is a tutor and board member of the Kuwait Institute of Medical Specializations’ Pediatrics, Pathology, and Clinical Chemistry residency programs.
Consultant Clinical Molecular Geneticist
Kuwait Medical Genetic Center
Doctor Alaa Eldin Abdel Hakeim Elshafey is a consultant of clinical molecular genetics at Kuwait Medical Genetic center (KMGC) and a former associate professor of medical genetics in Egypt. He graduated from the faculty of medicine and finished his training in pediatrics where he got master degree in pediatrics from Egypt. He got his PhD in clinical molecular genetics from the faculty of medicine, the university of Glasgow, UK. He worked as a university member in the pediatric departments in Egyptian universities till 2003. He joined KMGC in the year 2003 till now. He is one of the members who developed the molecular genetic laboratories at KMGC. Now, these laboratories are the leading diagnostic genetic laboratories in Kuwait. He established the prenatal diagnostic and bioinformatic analysis units. He is responsible for NGS-database at KMGC. He is involved in establishing premarital and newborn screening programs for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). He got many publications in pediatrics and clinical molecular genetics.
Consultant Pediatrics & clinical genetics
Kuwait Genetic center
Dr. Buthaina is a graduate of Kuwait faculty of medicine. She obtained the Kuwait pediatric Board and went on to complete a clinical genetics and metabolic fellowship at King Faisal Specialty Hospital and research center . Her main interests lie in metabolic and
cardiogenetics
Clinical and medical geneticist
Kuwait Medical Genetics Center
Tarek Mostafa Kamal
(M.D. Human Medical Genetics)
• Clinical and Medical Geneticist (Kuwait Medical Genetics Centre - Kuwait)
• Consultant Professor (Ain Shams University Hospitals- Egypt)
• Shared as a member of the committee for implementation of the national programs for Genetics, congenital anomaly registry, and premarital counseling-UAE.
• Handling editor and Reviewer for the Egyptian Journal of Medical Human Genetics- Springer Nature.
• Supervised many master and MD theses and has many internationally published researches in the field of Human Genetics and Pediatrics.
College of Medicine, Kuwait University. Farwaniya Hospital and Kuwait Medical Genetics Center, Ministry of Health, Kuwait
Position:
- Clinical and Biochemical Geneticist,
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Pediatric Department, College of Medicine
Kuwait University, Kuwait
- Consultant of Genetics and Metabolism,
Farwaniya Hospital, Ministry of Health, Kuwait
- Consultant of Genetics and Metabolism,
Kuwait Medical Genetics Center, Ministry of Health, Kuwait
- Adjunct Assistant Professor of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Maryland, USA
Board Certification
- American Board of Pediatrics Certified, 2016-2025
- American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ABMG) certified in Medical Genetics and Genomics, 2019
- ABMG certified in Medical Biochemical Genetics, 2019
- ABMG certified in Clinical Biochemical Genetics, 2021
Fellowship
- Medical Genetics Fellowship at Johns Hopkins University, MD, USA (2016-2018).
- Medical Biochemical Genetics Fellowship at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), PA, USA (2018-2019).
- Clinical Biochemical Genetics Fellowship at CHOP, PA, USA (2019-2020).
Residency
- Pediatric Residency training at Kuwait Institution of Medical Specializations (KIMS), Kuwait 2010-2013
- Pediatric Residency training at Miami Children’s Hospital, FL, USA 2013-2016
Medical School
- Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University (2008)- Honors
Clinical geneticist
Kuwait medical genetic center
Dr Reem Elshafie is a Clinical Geneticist who graduated from the faculty of medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt. She specializes in clinical and molecular genetics. Obtained MSc in human genetics with solid knowledge in genomic and molecular pathology from Medical Research Institute Alexandria University, Egypt. She Analyzes NGS data and evaluates patients with genetic disorders and has extensive experience in clinical and molecular genetics and karyotyping as well.
Collaboration
FAQ
WhatsApp us
Accommodation
Where to stay
We are pleased to offer exclusive rates for all conference attendees. By booking your stay at Holiday Inn Kuwait Salmiya, you will enjoy excellent rates and a convenient location near the conference and exhibition, as well as exceptional networking opportunities.
Conference Location
Get Directions