HomeNewsKAUST Insights for genetic disease: Mystery diseases solved with RNA screening tool
KAUST Insights for genetic disease: Mystery diseases solved with RNA screening tool
Apr 29, 2024 Features
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The availability of whole-genome sequencing has changed the landscape when it comes to diagnosis of genetic diseases, making it possible to diagnose potential disease carriers and leading to improved disease management and provision of preventative services.
But, even with today’s cutting-edge technology, genetic diseases are difficult to diagnose. “Less than 50 percent of diseases can be pinned down to the underlying molecular cause,” says Xin Gao, leader of KAUST’s Computational Bioscience Research Center. “We need to increase awareness and simplify the diagnostic process and the recognition of these diseases.”
Former CBRC PhD student Dr. Ibrahim Alabdulmohsin, now a senior research scientist at Google DeepMind in Zurich, was featured by the Josoor Program on Saudi National TV. The program, meaning "Bridges" in Arabic, highlighted Dr. Alabdulmohsin's journey from his education at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, and Stanford University to his leadership roles at Aramco's Advanced Analytics team. After graduating from KAUST under the supervision of Prof. Xin Gao, he joined DeepMind in 2019, contributing to groundbreaking AI research. The 24-minute episode explores his career and contributions to the field. Dr. Alabdulmohsin's commitment to advancing AI underscores his pivotal role in shaping the future of technology.
Inspired by large language models that power ChatGPT, an AI algorithm offers a new way to annotate cells.
Powered by logic and large language models, DeepGO-SE predicts the biological role of proteins and could be used to aid drug discovery.
An integrated shuffler optimizes the privacy of personal genomic data used for machine learning.
An international research team led by KAUST scientists has deployed DNA technology used on the International Space Station (ISS) in the harsh climate of Saudi Arabia for the first time. The effort aims to test the feasibility of analyzing DNA samples from extreme environments on-site. Initial results indicate new and invaluable information gained from this approach will benefit coral reef and mangrove preservation and restoration efforts in the Kingdom.
A new study by KAUST and collaborators in Spain provides the world's most comprehensive database yet for understanding microbial distribution and function in the ocean. Using the KAUST Metagenomic Analysis Platform (KMAP), a KAUST invention from 2021, the scientists analyzed massive amounts of sequencing data to release Global Ocean Gene Catalog 1.0
An open-source, automated and cost-effective platform for COVID-19 diagnosis and analysis of genetic variants can be built from readily available materials, with big possibilities on the horizon.
Prof. Alexandre Rosado’s Group was recently featured in Manufacturing and Engineering (MEM) magazine. The research conducted by his team, in collaboration with NASA-sponsored start-ups, repurposed portable microbial detection technology designed for space missions to support climate change solutions in Saudi Arabia. The Rosado Lab (MEGB Lab) focuses on studying microbial diversity and new microbial metabolisms, utilizing conventional tools along with multi-omics approaches to understand the evolutionary history, ecological roles, and physiological capacities of free-living and symbiotic microorganisms, including those found in extreme environments.
An emerging conservation strategy could help wildlife become more resilient against a range of environmental threats.
PhD student Hamed Albalawi has been named one of MIT Technology Review's Innovators Under 35 MENA. Albalawi's groundbreaking work in the development of calcium carbonate photo-initiated ink is shaping the future of scientific research.
Prof. Ivan Viola's team earned an honorable mention for the best paper at IEEE VIS 2023, the leading platform for the latest in visualization and visual analytics research.
Hydrogels that mimic natural environments help to reveal cellular intricacies often missed in traditional lab studies.
CBRC faculty member Prof. Carlos Duarte is recognized as one of the world’s most influential researchers by the Clarivate Institute of Scientific Information. The annual Highly Cited Researchers list by Clarivate acknowledges scholars whose work has received the highest number of citations in papers published by peers in their fields over the past decade. The 2023 list features individuals who have authored studies in the top 1% of scholarly citations globally.
Prof. Xin Gao has assumed the role of CEMSE CS Program Chair, marking a significant development for our academic community.