Issue 1 - the Research Centre Page

April, 2012 | Issue N0. 1
research centre training & education activities for the year 2012
month event venue category
16 - 17 April 2012
Research Centre Annual
Report 2011
Prince Salman
Auditorium
Research Day
The Research Centre
Newsletter
13 May 2012
28 - 29 May 2012
09 September 2012
Epigenetic Abnormalities
and Cardiac Hypertrophy:
A Quest For A
Connection
Clinical Trials "Methods
and Techniques
Workshop"
Peptide-based
Radiopharmaceuticals
Potential Biological Tools
Against Cancer
Research Centre
Classroom #304
Prince Salman
Auditorium
Research Centre
Classroom #304
RC-Seminar
Conference/
Workshop
RC-Seminar
Interview with Sultan T. Al-Sedairy, Executive
Director of the Research Centre KFSH&RC
by nada a. al tassan, phd
When I was asked to interview Dr Sedairy, the first thing that came to my
mind was ‘how am I going to interview the boss of my boss’! I tried to remember
the basic lessons from my early years in journalism: Be confident,
walk in to Dr. Al -Sedairy’s office and pretend that I know what I’m doing!
What’s Inside
Impressive ORA Statistics
Appointment of Second Deputy Exec. Dir.
New RC Structure
2
2
3
17 - 19 September 2012
7 October 2012
11 November 2012
25 November 2012
Molecular Infectious
Disease Course
Proteomics-Based
Technologies in
Biomarker Discovery for
Personalized
Nanotech in Vaccine
Development; Where Are
We At?
Next Generation
Sequencing
To be announced
Research Centre
Classroom #304
Research Centre
Classroom #304
Research Centre
Classroom #304
Course
RC-Seminar
RC-Seminar
RC-Seminar
When I first walked in I noticed that you looked tired. Dr Al-Sedairy, what really
exhausts you?
Going in circles.
What do you mean?
The awareness of the importance of research is usually
not clear in the mind of non-researchers. So we have
to explain this issue in a manner that has impact.
This can be hard. In institutions that are practicing
cutting edge medicine, research is in the driver’s seat.
In developing countries, the researcher is in the back
seat. As an administrator what is important to me
is to make sure that this back seat is seen as
important to the institution.
International Cancer Genome Consortium
Cardiovascular Research Program
A Matter of Degrees
Cyclotron & Radiopharmaceuticals
Tumor Microenvironment
Infection and Immunity
Nursing Research Day
6
6
7
8
10
10
12
The Research Centre Newsletter was compiled and edited by Dr Peter Hall & Dr Mohammed Al-Ahdal
How do we move research to the driver’s seat?
If KFSHRC aims to be a leading institution
that practices latest technology,
iPad Apps for Scientists
Publications from the RC
12
13
Artwork and design by the RC Scientific Information Office
Continued on page 3
The newsletter will appear quarterly and ideas for articles and suggestions should be sent to
Dr Peter Hall [ phall@kfshrc.edu.sa ] & Dr Mohammed Al-Ahdal [ ahdal@kfshrc.edu.sa ]
The next issue will appear in June 2010

Impressive statistics for the ORA Research Committees
The Research Centre Newsletter Issue No. 1 | April, 2012
CALENDAR DAYS
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
REC, full-1 [67]
REC, full-2 [45]
REC, full-3 [62]
ACUC, full-1 [9]
ACUC, full-2 [4]
ACUC, full-3 [17]
CRC, full-2 [5]
CRC, full-3 [11]
BRC, full-2 [2]
BRC, full-3 [6]
REC, exp-1 [137]
REC, exp-2 [151]
NEWS: New Deputy Executive Director of the Research Centre
Mamdouh Albaqumi, md, phd
REC, exp-3 [265]
ACUC, exp-1 [6]
[ ], number of applications received
ACUC, exp-2 [10]
Dr Mamdouh Albaqumi has been appointed as Deputy Executive Director of the Research Centre
with a clear focus on translational and personalized medicine. His appointment is as a second
deputy to support the work of the existing deputy director, Dr Ali Al-Zahrani. He is currently a
consultant nephrologist in the Department of Medicine with a joint appointment as Scientist in the
Stem Cell Therapy Program, Dr. Albaqumi received both his undergraduate and medical doctorate
degree from the George Washington University in Washington D.C. He later completed his residency
in Internal Medicine and fellowship in Nephrology at New York University Medical Center. As an
active researcher, he showed how potassium channels (KCa3.1) play a critical role in trans-cellular
chloride secretion and net fluid transport into the kidney cysts of patients with Polycystic Kidney
Disease. He joined the Department of Medicine at KFSHRC in 2007 and subsequently started the
Polycystic Kidney Disease Program, the only one of its kind in the region. In addition he has an
interest in translational medicine and systemic lupus erythromatous.
ACUC, exp-3 [10]
Median (DAYS)
CRC, exp-3 [12]
BRC, exp-3 [2]
Publications-1 [50]
Mean (SD) Time From Receiving Application to Informing PI of Committee’s Decision
1, June to August 2011; 2, September to November 2011; 3, December 2011 to February 2012
Target
REC, FUll-3 [62] 21 6 W Weeks
ACUC, FUll-3 [17] 13.5 6 W Weeks
CRC, FUll-3 [11] 22 6 W Weeks
BRC, FUll-3 [6] 22.5 6 W Weeks
REC, exp - 3 [265] 0 5 W Days
ACUC, exp – 3 [10] 4.5 5 W Days
CRC, exp-3 [12] 4.5 5 W Days
BRC, exp-3 [2] 23.5 5 W Days
Publications-3 [87] 0 2 W Days
Publications-2 [80]
Publications-3 [87]
Al-Odaib A, Kayaalp IV, Al-Sayed M, Al-Hassnan Z, Nester MJ,
Al-Dosari M, Al-Dhalaan H, Chedrawi A, Gunoz H, Karakas B,
Sakati N, Alkuraya FS, Gascon GG, Ozand PT. Ann Neurol. 2011.
doi: 10.1002/ana.22673.
▪▪
Kaya N, Colak D, Al-Bakheet A, AbuDheim N, Al-Younes B, Al-
Zahrani J, Mukaddes NM, Al-Dosari N, Al-Odaib A, Al-Owain
M, AL-Sayed M, Al-Hassnan, Nester, MJ, Al-Dosari M, Aldhalaan
H, Chedrawi AK, Karakas B, Sakati N, Alkuraya FS, Gascon GG,
Ozand PT. A novel X-linked disorder with developmental delay
and autistic features. Ann Neurol. 2011. doi: 10.1002/ana.22673.
▪▪
Khalak H, Wakil SM, Imtiaz F, Ramzan K, Baz B, Almostafa
A, Hagos S, Alzahrani F, Abu-Dhaim N, Abu Safieh L, Al-
Jbali L, Al-Hamed M, Monies D, Aldahmesh M, Al-Dosari M,
Kaya N, Shamseldin H, Shaheen R, Al-Rashed M, Hashem M,
Al-Tassan N, Meyer B, Alazami A, Alkuraya FA. Autozygome
Maps Dispensable DNA and Reveals Selective Bias Against
Nullizygosity. Genet in Med. 2012 . doi: 10.1038/gim.2011.28.
▪▪
L Abu-Safieh, E Abboud, H Alkuraya, H Shamseldin, S Al-Enzi,
L Al-Abdi, M Hashem, D Colak, A Jarallah, H Ahmad, S Bobis,
G Nemer, FBitar, FS Alkuraya, Mutation of IGFBP7 causes
upregulation of BRAF/MEK/ERK pathway and familial retinal
arterial macroaneurysms., Am J Hum Genet. 2011 ;89:313-9.
▪▪
Mahmoud L, Al-Saif M, Amer HM, Sheikh M, Almajhdi FN,
Khabar K . Green fluorescent protein reporter system with
transcriptional sequence heterogeneity for monitoring the
interferon response. J Virol. 2011 ;85:9268-75.
▪▪
Nobah A, Moftah B; Tomic N; Devic S, Influence of electron
density spatial distribution and X-ray beam quality during CT
simulation on dose calculation accuracy. Journal of applied clinical
medical physics. American College of Medical Physics 2011;12:3432.
▪▪
Okarvi S and I. AlJammaz, Preparation and evaluation of
bombesin peptide derivatives as potential tumor imaging agents:
effects of structure and composition of amino acid sequence on
in vitro and in vivo characteristics, J. Nucl. Med. Biol., 2012.
▪▪
Raef H, Zou M, Baitei EY, Al-Rijjal RA, Kaya N, Al-Hamed
M, Monies D, Abu-Dheim NN, Al-Hindi H, Al-Ghamdi MH,
Meyer BF, Shi Y. A novel deletion of the MEN1 gene in a large
family of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) with
aggressive phenotype. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2011 ;75:791-800. doi:
10.1111/j.1365-2265.2011.04134.x.
▪▪
Russell SEH, Hall PA. Septin genomics: a road less travelled.
Biological Chemistry. 2011;392:763-7
15
▪▪
Salem SD, Abou-Tarboush FM, Saeed NM, Al-Qadasi WD,
Farah MA, Al-Buhairi M, Al-Harbi N, Alhazza I, Alsbeih G.
Involvement of p53 in gemcitabine mediated cytotoxicity and
radiosensitivity in breast cancer cell lines. Gene. 2012 [Epub
ahead of print]. PMID: 22353361.
▪▪
Sanai FM, Helmy A, Bzeizi KI, Babatin MA, Al-Qahtani A,
Al-Ashgar HA, Al-Mdani AS, Al-Akwaa A, Almutharea S,
Khan MQ, Alghamdi AS, Farah T, Al-Hamoudi W, Saadeh M,
Abdo AA. Discriminant value of serum HBV DNA levels as
predictors of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B. J Viral Hepat
2011;18:e217-225.
▪▪
Shinwari Z, Al-Hindi H, Al-Shail E, Khafaga Y, Al-Kofide A, El-
Kum N, Aboussekhra A. Response of Medulloblastoma Cells to
Vincristine and Lomustine: Role of TRKC, CTNNB1 and STK15.
Anticancer Res. 2011;31(5):1721-33
▪▪
Siraj AK, Khalak H, Sultana M, Al-Rasheed M, Bavi P, Al-Sanea N,
Al-Dayel F, Uddin S, Al-Kuraya F, Al-Kuraya K. Colorectal Cancer
Risk is not Associated with, Increased Levels of Homozygosity in
Saudi Arabia. Genetics in Medicine. 2012 – In Press.
▪▪
Uddin S, Hussain AR, Ahmed M, Al-Sanea N, Abduljabbar L,
Alhomoud S, Al-Dayel F, Bavi P, Al-Kuraya K. Co-expression of
activated c-Met and Death Receptor 5 predict a better survival in
colorectal carcinoma. Am J Pathol. 2011;179:3032-44.
▪▪
Uddin S, Hussain AR, Ahmed M, Siddiqui K, Al-Dayel F, Bavi P, Al-
Kuraya KS. Over-expression of FoxM1 offers a promising therapeutic
target in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Haematologica. 2012 Jan 22.
▪▪
Uddin S, Hussain AR, Siraj AK, Khan OS, Bavi P, Al-Kuraya K.
Role of leptin and its receptors in the pathogenesis of thyroid
cancer. Int J Clin Exp Pathol. 2011;4:637-43.
▪▪
Varghese B, Hillemann A, Wijayanti DR, Shoukri M, Al-
Rabiah F, Al-Omari R, Al-Hajoj S. New insight into the
molecular characterization of isoniazid and rifampicin resistant
Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains from Saudi Arabia. Infect
Genet Evol 2012 [Epub ahead of print: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.
gov/pubmed/22326932].
▪▪
Wakil SM, Murad HN, Baz BM, Hagos ST, Al-Amr RA, Al-
Yamani SA, Al-Wadaee SM, Meyer BF, Bohlega SA. Autosomal
recessive hereditary spastic paraplegia with thin corpus callosum
among Saudis. Neurosciences (Riyadh). 2012 ;17:48-52.
▪▪
Yang Y, Al-Mozaini M, Buzon MJ, Beamon J, Ferrando-Martinez
S, Ruiz-Mateos E, Rosenberg ES, Pereyra F, Yu XG, Lichterfeld
M. CD4 T-cell regeneration in HIV-1 elite controllers. AIDS.
F2012, eb 1. [Epub ahead of print].

The Research Centre Newsletter Issue No. 1 | April, 2012
▪▪
AlHokbany N, I. AlJammaz, Spectroscopic investigation
and density functional theory calculations of mercaptobenzothiazole
and mercaptobenzimidazole ligands and their
rhenium complexes, J Inorg. Chem. 2011.
▪▪
Alzahrani AS, AlShaikh O, Tuli M, Al-Sugair A, Alamawi R,
Al-Rasheed MM. Diagnostic value of recombinant human
thyrotropin-stimulated (1)(2)(3)I whole-body scintigraphy in the
follow-up of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer. Clin Nucl
Med. 2012;37:229-34.
▪▪
Alzahrani AS, Ceresini G, Aldasouqi SA. “The Role of
Ultrasonography in the Differential Diagnosis of Thyrotoxicosis:
A Non-invasive, Cost-effective, and Widely available but Underutilized
Diagnostic Tool”. Endocr Pract. 2012:1-35.
▪▪
Alzahrani AS, Zou M, Baitei EY, Parhar RS, Al-Kahtani N, Raef
H, et al. Molecular characterization of a novel p.R118C mutation
in the insulin receptor gene from patients with severe insulin
resistance. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2012;76:540-7.
▪▪
Balkhy HH, El-Saed A, Al Johani SM, Francis C, Al-Qahtani
AA, Al-Ahdal MN, Altayeb HT, Arabi Y, Alothman A, Sallah M.
The epidemiology of the first described carbapenem-resistant
Klebsiella pneumoniae outbreak in a tertiary care hospital in
Saudi Arabia: How far do we go? Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis.
2012 [Epub ahead of print, PMID 22237459].
▪▪
Basfar AA, Khalid A. Rabaeh, Akram A. Moussa, Rashed I.
Msalam. Dosimetry characterization of nitro-blue tetrazolium
polyvinyl butyral films for radiation processing. Radiation Physics
and Chemistry, 2011; 80, 763-766.
▪▪
Bin Dajem SM, Al-Sheikh AAH, Bohol MF, Alhawi M, Al-Ahdal
MN, Al-Qahtani A Detecting mutations in PfCRT and PfMDR1
genes among Plasmodium falciparum isolates from Saudi
Arabia by pyrosequencing. Parasitol Res 2011; 109:291-296.
▪▪
Bu R, Bavi P, Abubaker J, Jehan Z, Al-Haqawi W, Ajarim D,
Al-Dayel F, Uddin S, Al-Kuraya K. Role of NF-KB regulators-
TNFAIP3 and CARD11 in Middle Eastern Diffuse Large B cell
Lymphoma. Leuk Lymphoma. 2012 Mar 8. [Epub ahead of print]
▪▪
Bu R, Uddin S, Ahmed M, Hussain AR, Alsobhi S, Amin T,
Al-Nuaim A, Al-Dayel F, Abubaker J, Bavi P, Al-Kuraya KS.
c-Met inhibitor synergizes with tumor necrosis factor-related
apoptosis-induced ligand to induce Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma
cell death. Mol Med. 2011 Nov 16. [Epub ahead of print]
▪▪
Chako AD, McDade SS, Chandulo S, Church SW, Kennedy R,
Price J, Hall PA, Russell SEH. Expression of SEPT9_i4 isoform
confers resistance to microtubule interacting drugs. Cell Oncol
2012;35:85-93.
▪▪
Chedrawi AK, Al-Hassnan ZN, Al-Muhaizea M, Colak D,
AlBakheet A, Tulba S, Kaya N, Novel V97G ASAH1 mutation
found in Farber disease patients: Unique appearance of
the disease with an intermediate severity, and marked early
involvement of central and peripheral nervous system., Brain
Dev. 2011 Sep 3.
▪▪
Chishti MA, Kaya N, BinBakheet A, Makbool A, Ozand P,
Goyns M., Colak D, “Induction of cell proliferation in old rat
liver can reset certain gene expression levels characteristic
of old liver to those associated with young liver”. AGE (DOI
10.1007/s11357-012-9404-z) (in press).
▪▪
Colak D, Kaya N “Molecular Genetics and Genomics of
Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Liver Tumors”, ISBN 979-953-307-
069-7, InTech, Feb. 2012.
▪▪
Durmaz E, Zou M, Al-Rijjal RA, Bircan I, Akçurin S, Meyer B,
Shi Y. Clinical and Genetic Analysis of Patients with Vitamin
D-Dependent Rickets Type 1A. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2012. doi:
10.1111/j.1365-2265.2012.04394.x.
▪▪
Elfaki MG, Al-Hokail AA, Kambal AM ( Microbial
immunosuppression. In: Maristela B. Portela (editor)
Immunosuppression, 2011 ISBN 978-953-308-19-28.
▪▪
Hall PA, Russell SEH. Mammalian septins: dynamic heteromers
with roles in cellular morphogenesis and compartmentalization.
Journal of Pathology 2012; 226:287-99.
▪▪
HH Al-Khalaf, D Colak, M Al-Saif, A Al-Bakheet, SF
Hendrayani, N Al-Yousef, N Kaya, KS Khabar and A
Aboussekhra, p16 Positively Regulates Cyclin D1 and E2F1
through Negative Control of AUF1. PLoS One. 2011;6:e21111.
▪▪
Hitti E, Khabar KS. Sequence variations affecting AU-rich
element function and disease. Front Biosci. 2012 ;17:1846-60.
▪▪
Huang J, Al-Mozaini M, Rogich J, Carrington MF, Seiss K,
Pereyra F, Lichterfeld M, Yu XG (2012) Systemic inhibition of
myeloid dendritic cells by circulating HLA class I molecules in
HIV-1 infection. Retrovirology 2012;9:11. [Epub ahead of print].
▪▪
Hussain AR, Uddin S, Bu R, Khan O, Ahmed S, Ahmed M, Al-
Kuraya K. Resveratrol suppresses constitutive activation of AKT
via generation of ROS and induces apoptosis in diffuse large
B-cell lymphoma cell lines. PLoS One. 2011;6:e24703.
▪▪
Imtiaz F, Rashed MS, Al-Mubarak B, Allam R, El-Karaksy H,
Al-Hassnan Z, Al-Owain M, Al-Zaidan H, Rahbeeni Z, Qari
A, Meyer BF, Al-Sayed M. Identification of mutations causing
hereditary tyrosinemia type I in patients of Middle Eastern
origin. Mol Genet Metab. 2011 ;104:688-90.
▪▪
Innocenzi A, Latella L, Messina G, Simonatto M, Marullo F.,
Berghella L., Poizat C, Shu C-W, Wang J.Y.J, Puri PL., Cossu G.
An evolutionarily-acquired genotoxic response discriminates
MyoD from Myf5 and differentially regulates epaxial
myogenesis. EMBO Reports 2011, 12:164-71.
▪▪
Kaya N, Aldhalaan H, Al-Younes B, Colak D, Shuaib T, Al-
Mohaileb F, Al-Sugair A, Nester M, Al-Yamani S, Al-Bakheet A,
Al-Hashmi N, Al-Sayed M, Meyer B, Jungbluth H, Al-Owain M.
“Phenotypical spectrum of cerebellar ataxia associated with a novel
mutation in the CA8 gene, encoding carbonic anhydrase (CA)
VIII.”, Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet. 2011;156B:826-34.
▪▪
Kaya N, Colak D, Albakheet A, Al-Owain M, Abu-Dheim N, Al-
Younes B, Al-Zahrani J, Mukaddes NM, Dervent A, Al-Dosari N,
Restructuring the Research Centre: An
organization fit for a bright new future
ali al zahrani, md, phd - deputy executive director, rc
In June 2011 the Research Centre obtained approval for a new departmental structure
replacing the 15-year old organizational plan. The restructuring was driven by several
factors, the need to keep pace with the accelerating and continually widening horizon of
biomedical research, and the need to ensure our research activities are targeted to the
strategic goals of the KFSHRC. It follows that as our directions change, our structure
needs to be aligned to support that change.
The new structure allows the realignment of research activities, capitalizing on areas of excellence already within
the Research Centre through the formation of disease based research departments (horizontally) and the definition
of research programs within those departments (vertically). This approach allows an element of flexibility that we
will need to harness future discoveries and to evolve as we grow. The newly established Departments, Programs, and
Centers will without doubt shape the future of research in Saudi Arabia and our new structure is poised to support
this exciting era.
interview...
Continued from page 1
methodology and innovative ways
to treat patients, then research
must be an integral part of clinical
practice.
Does medicine propel research or
does research propel medicine?
A chicken and egg question! In
my opinion research should drive
medical practice and not the other
way around.
Do you think this is an issue of
policy or mentality?
Mentality: we need a change of a
mindset.
Do you see this happening?
Sometimes you can change direction
but you have to keep the
pressure to maintain your direction.
So there is always the potential
for fatigue and exhaustion.
As other local institutes are joining
in the research race, where do you
see the RC in 10 years?
If you want to assess the quality
of the organization you have to
assess its tradition, not just its
capabilities. Tradition is the foundation
for sustaining capabilities.
You can easily erect a building,
bring the best architects and design
it, there are other institutes
that are buying twice the number
of machines that we have or more
expensive ones, more elaborate
infrastructure, but that is not
enough. What the KFSH&RC has
sustained through out the years
is being the trendsetter. Twenty
five years ago researchers at
KFSH&RC first started to produce
isotopes, KFSH&RC was introducing
diagnostic approaches
that nobody had. An article (page
10) elsewhere in this newsletter
highlights the growth in this area.
We have a tradition and it forms a
very solid foundation for growth.
Is there a heavy pressure on the
RC, now that other institutions are
competing?
Yes, but when you run the marathon
you have to focus on the race
not the other runners. We should
run the race by knowing our
capabilities and when to speed up
or slow down.
So we are talking confidence, quality
and knowing your abilities?
Yes, and most importantly focusing
on the objectives, recognizing
obstacles, and preparing to reroute.
If you are focused you will not
get derailed or preoccupied with
things that distract you during
the journey. One common mistake
is that organizations make
things up as they go along and
they usually fail in the long run.
The leadership of the RC has set
its destination as an innovative
center that contributes to building
knowledge and that makes a
difference for patients.
14 3

The Research Centre Newsletter Issue No. 1 | April, 2012
You have a PhD in basic science.
So there is the ‘researcher and
scientist’ and the ‘administrator’
parts to your personality - How did
this develop?
An administrator cannot be a
scientist, but a scientist can be
an administrator if he has certain
qualities. Science is something
you learn and you train to do, but
administration is something that
you either have, or you don’t. The
education and training is only
grooming. If you think that if a
scientist or a clinician gets an
MBA, he could be a successful administrator,
you might be wrong.
You have to look at the qualities
and capabilities of the individual
that god gave him, then you
groom the person in away to be
prepared to lead this role, just like
an artist or painter or poet.
What are the qualities in a leader?
I think there are three really key
things.
Devotion to others. You are actually
a servant and you are working
hard to achieve with the people
you work with you are not competing
with them.
The ability to use your brain and
neutralize your emotions. Your intention
has to be to focus on the best
interest for the institution, and
not the individual or yourself.
The ability to take risks and to be
patient. In my view, administrators
fail when they look for quick
wins. Strong administrators are
the ones who have vision and they
go step by step to accomplish it.
How about being misunderstood?
It happens! It is very painful to be
an administrator because sometimes
you serve people who don’t
appreciate you. It is like being
a father, you have to be hard on
your son or daughter and you
know that they will not appreciate
it now. And sometimes the
interests of the institution are not
to the liking of the administrator
or the employees.
What is the most difficult battle you
faced?
There are many battles; with ones
self, with the group, and to make
people believe in the mission and
vision of the Research Centre.
The first key battle is to make
the people believe in a unified
objective. The second is to see
these objectives are executed to
guarantee success. The third battle
is to sustain this success. Any
ongoing work, especially in big
institutions, is like a painting that
is not finished and you have to
make sure that nobody ruins the
painting.
You are always smiling and make
sure you remember every ones
name. Where does this come from?
First of all to be humble is a
character of a person who is
confident. Some people think to
be a leader is to act like a peacock,
which is not a case. As a leader
you are like a father that does
chores for his children and he
does them out of care and love.
People who do not have these
qualities fail as leaders, especially
if they have to maintain their
position rather then maintain
the position of the others and
make them excel. Every person
has their personal story that has
a sad and a happy side, but you
have to look at what you have and
appreciate it. Inner peace is an
important factor. I’m contented, .
. . short . . . but contented!
I know that you like reading, what is
the book you still remember?
“The last lecture” is a personal
life journey of a professor at MIT
that was diagnosed with pancreatic
cancer and has only a few
months to live. In this book he
talked about this inner emotional
journey. That book moved me
so much, he gave the last lecture
upon his retirement and instead
of talking about his science and
work, he talked about his life. He
knew the lecture would be videotaped
and the last his children
would see.
Is it the emotional part of the
painful experience that moved you?
I remember it because he didn’t
feel obligated to follow the traditional
concept of giving a scientific
lecture and he talked about
the human side of his experience.
What pushes people to work is
their conviction and their hearts,
yes they use their brains but the
heart defines their action. The
book gave a sense that life is too
short and people who make a difference
to others are the people
who get fulfilled the most.
If you were a book what would your
title be?
“Open”: I don’t lock any door,
there is no password on my computer,
my phone is always open,
and pin numbers to my credit
cars are not a secret. I prefer not
to hide things and I’m happy with
what I am.
What hasn’t been done in your life?
I’m sure you had a list of things to
achieve?
I never made lists. I always go
with the flow and make the best
of it. When I was in high school
I enjoyed being in a lab, used
to mix chemicals and get small
explosions that didn’t make my
mother happy because my clothes
got dirty. I knew that I liked to
work with my hands I wanted to
do something that is intellectually
Recent Research Centre Publications
▪▪
Aboussekhra A. Role of cancer-associated fibroblasts in breast
cancer development and prognosis. Int. J. Dev. Biol; 2011;55, 841-849.
▪▪
Abu-Safieh L, Al-Anazi S, Al-Abdi L, Hashem M, Alkuraya
H, Alamr M, Sirelkhatim MO, Al-Hassnan Z, Alkuraya B,
Mohamed JY, Al-Salem A, Alrashed M, Faqeih E, Softah A, Al-
Hashem A, Wali S, Rahbeeni Z, Alsayed M, Khan AO, Al-Gazali
L, Taschner PE, Al-Hazzaa S, Alkuraya FS. Eur J Hum Genet.
2012;20(4):420-7.
▪▪
Ahmed M, Uddin S, Hussain AR, Alyan A, Jehan Z, Al-Dayel F,
Al-Nuaim A, Al-Sobhi S, Amin T, Bavi P, Al-Kuraya KS. FoxM1
and Its Association with Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMP)
Signaling Pathway in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma. J Clin
Endocrinol Metab. 2012;97(1):E1-E13.
▪▪
Al Jammaz, B. Al-Otaibi, S. Amer, N. Al-Hokbani and S.
Okarvi, Novel Synthesis and Preclinical Evaluation of Folic Acid
Derivatives Labeled with 18F[FDG] for PET imaging of Folate
Receptor-Positive Tumors, J. Nucl. Med. Biol., 2012.
▪▪
Al Jammaz, B. Al-Otaibi, S. Okarvi, S. Amer and J. Amartey,
Synthesis and in vitro and in vivo evaluation of fluorine-18 labeled
folates: Potential PET radiopharmaceuticals, J. Nucl. Med. Biol., 2011.
▪▪
Al Tassan N, Khalil D, Shinwari J, Al Sharif L, Bavi P,
Abduljaleel Z, Abu Dhaim N, Magrashi A, Bobis S, Ahmed H,
Alahmed S, Bohlega S. A missense mutation in PIK3R5 gene
in a family with ataxia and oculomotor apraxia. Hum Mutat.
2012;33:351-4.
▪▪
Al-Hadyan KS , Najla M. Al-Harbi, Sara S. Al-Qahtani, Ghazi A.
Alsbeih. Involvement of single nucleotide polymorphisms in
predisposition to head and neck cancer in Saudi Arabia. Genetic
Testing and Molecular Biomarkers. 2012;16:95-101.
▪▪
Al-Haj L, Khabar KS. Cloning of cytokine 3’ untranslated regions
and posttranscriptional assessment using cell-based GFP assay.
Methods Mol Biol. 2012;820:91-104.
▪▪
Al-Hassnan ZN, Al-Bakheet A, AbuDheim N, Al-Younes B, Colak
D, Kaya N. A novel interstitial microdeletion of 7q22.1-7q22.3
detected by array comparative genomic hybridization. Amer J.
Med Genet A 2011. doi: 10.1002 /ajmg.a.34298.
▪▪
Al-Hassnan ZN, Al-Bakheet A, AbuDheim N, Al-Younes B, Colak
D, Kaya N. A novel interstitial microdeletion of 7q22.1-7q22.3
detected by array comparative genomic hybridization. Amer J.
Med Genet A 2011, doi: 10.1002 /ajmg.a.34298.
▪▪
Al-Hassnan ZN, Almesned AR, Tulbah S, Hakami A, Al-Omrani
A, Al Sehly A, Mohammed S, Majid S, Meyer B, Al-Fayyadh M.
Recessively Inherited Severe Aortic Aneurysm Caused by Mutated
EFEMP2. Am J Cardiol. 2012 [Epub ahead of print].
▪▪
Al-Hujaily EM, Mohamed AG, Al-Sharif I, Youssef KM,
Manogaran PS, Al-Otaibi B, Al-Haza’a A, Al-Jammaz I, Al-
Hussein K, Aboussekhra A. PAC, a novel curcumin analogue,
has anti-breast cancer properties with higher efficiency on ERnegative
cells. Breast Cancer Res. & Treat. 29011;128: 97-107.
▪▪
Al-Khalaf HH, Colak D, Al-Saif M, Al-Bakheet A, Hendrayani
SF, Al-Yousef N, Kaya N, Khabar KS and Aboussekhra A, p16
Positively Regulates Cyclin D1 and E2F1 through Negative
Control of AUF1., PLoS One. 2011;6:e21111.
▪▪
Al-Khalaf HH, Hendrayani SF, Aboussekhra A. The Atr protein
kinase controls UV-dependent up-regulation of p16INK4A
through inhibition of Skp2-related polyubiquitination/
degradation. Mol Cancer Res. 2011; 9: 311-319.
▪▪
Al-Mayouf SM, Sunker A, Abdwani R, Abrawi SA, Almurshedi
F, Alhashmi N, Al Sonbul A, Sewairi W, Qari A, Abdallah E,
Al-Owain M, Al Motywee S, Al-Rayes H, Hashem M, Khalak H,
Al-Jebali L, Alkuraya FS. Loss-of-function variant in DNASE1L3
causes a familial form of systemic lupus erythematosus. Nat
Genet. 2011;43:1186-8.
▪▪
Al-Moghrabi N, Al-Qasem AJ, Aboussekhra A. Methylationrelated
mutations in the BRCA1 promoter in peripheral blood
cells from cancer-free women. Int J Oncol. 2011;39:129-35.
▪▪
Al-Qahtani AA, Rubino S, Al-Ahdal MN. Sequence variation of
the HVR1 region of hepatitis C virus in response to interferon-α
and ribavirin treatment. J Infect Dev Countries 2011;5:370-376.
▪▪
Al-Qasem AJ , Mohamed Toulimat, Abdelmoneim M. Eldali,
Asma Tulbah, Nujoud Al-yousef, Sooad K. Al-Daihan, Nada
Al-Tassan, Taher Al-Tweigeri and Abdelilah Aboussekhra.TP53
genetic alterations in the Arab breast cancer patients: Novel
mutations, pattern and distribution. Oncology Letters 2011;2:
363-369.
▪▪
Al-Saif A, Al-Mohanna F, Bohlega S. A mutation in sigma-1
receptor causes juvenile amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Ann
Neurol. 2011;70:913-9.
▪▪
Al-Saif M, Khabar KS..UU/UA Dinucleotide Frequency Reduction
in Coding Regions Results in Increased mRNA Stability and
Protein Expression. Mol Ther. 2012. doi: 10.1038/mt.2012.29.
▪▪
Al-Saleh I, Al anoud Al Sedairi. Mercury (Hg) burden in
children: the impact of dental amalgam. The Science of Total
Environment 2011; 409 : 3003-3015.
▪▪
Al-Saleh I, Al-Enazi S. Trace metals in lipsticks. Toxico-logical &
Environmental Chemistry. 2011;93;1149 - 1165.
▪▪
Al-Saleh I, Shinwari N, Alsabbaheen A. Phthalates residues in
plastic bottled water. Journal of Toxicological Sciences 2011; 36: 469-478.
▪▪
Al-Saleh I, Shinwari N, Mashhour A, Mohamed Gel D, Rabah A.
Heavy metals (lead, cadmium and mercury) in maternal, cord
blood and placenta of healthy women. International Journal Hygiene
Environmental Health. 2011;214:79-101.
4 13

The Research Centre Newsletter Issue No. 1 | April, 2012
First Nursing Research Awareness Day
The First Nursing Research Awareness Day was held
on 6 th March 2012 in the Prince Salman Auditorium.
It was hugely successful with over 400 attendees. Dr.
Muna Anani and Sofia Macedo led the organization
of the event which had 12 excellent speakers. The day
provided a forum for researchers to share and discuss
Technology briefings
iPad apps of value to scientists
bedri karackas, phd
their journey with their colleagues throughout nursing
affairs and to encourage the development of a research
culture in nursing and beyond. The ultimate goal is
to improve the quality of care for our patients, allowing
nurses to question their practice, find answers and
implement them into their clinical area.
The iPad has been with us for little over two years but already is hugely popular and widely used, and other tablet computers
and devices are widely available. Among the more than 200,000 apps available for the iPad, there are three that I think could be
particularly useful for scientists who own an iPad or an iPhone.
Notability: This is
one of the best applications
made for iPad. It is
a note-taking and voicerecording
application that
runs very smoothly giving
a sensation of writing on
a paper. You can type using
the keyboard, stylus or simply your finger.
It has copy/paste functionality both for typed
as well as handwritten text. It allows you to
organize your notes in separate folders. With
this application I will say you can abandon
the paper based note taking. Unfortunately,
this app only works on iPad. This app costs
$0.99 in US App Store.
iTunes U: This is a
native application introduced
recently by Apple
that brings University and
college classrooms and
lecture theatres into your
office and home. If you
want to go back to school
and refresh some of your knowledge, this
application is a perfect one for you. There are
already many recorded lectures on various
subjects and along with the lecture material
from many universities since it’s release a
month ago. It is available both on iPad and
iPhone. This application is free.
Papers: This is an excellent
application to save
scientific papers in PDF
format and organize in
folders. It makes reading
a pleasure. As you read
the PDF document, you
can highlight, take notes
wherever you want. This application can run
both on iPad and iPhone. It is $14.99 in US
App Store.
stimulating, I knew that I liked
research, I wanted to go to a big
university to gain experience,
I never planned to come to the
research center, never planned
to work in administration, I was
tricked in to it. At the end to the
day if something goes wrong you
get blamed - if something goes
right they get credit!
Everybody comes and complains to
you. Who do you complain to? How
do you vent?
It goes back to the quality of an
administrator: if you enjoy the job
and you understand it and you
enjoy helping people then you
don’t need to vent. The joy that I
have of consoling a person who is
angry or frustrated or desperate
and being able to talk them out of
it. That is an achievement.
What makes you angry?
When people don’t believe in
themselves or don’t appreciate
their capabilities. I feel angry
when I see people not making use
of what god has given them.
What is your advice to young
researches/scientists who are
starting in the field?
Believe in yourself and your mission.
The road is full of obstacles
at the end of the day they have to
remember that they are making a
contribution that will affect lives.
A physician can help a 1000’s or
10000’s of patients: a researcher
will discover something that may
have a major impact similarly
to a large number of people: be
proud of what you do and be sure
that what you do has an affect on
a bigger scale beyond personal
glory.
How many children do you have and
do they work in the field?
I have 6 girls and one boy. My boy
thinks his father is hard working
and underpaid. He thinks that
I’m in the wrong business as he
see’s people who earn more with
less efforts. But he knows that
I’m happy with my job and he
acknowledges that. My daughters
are majoring in business; international
trade international communication
and child development
the rest are still at mainstream
education.
What did you learn from the 6
daughters that surround you?
There is no better blessing than to
have daughters. I learned the joy
of care of unconditional love: it
is part of their makeup. My girls
always ask me how I am doing,
they turn off the lights if I nap on
the couch. I learned the sense of
acknowledging the importance of
small things.
Does this make you soft?
Softness is part of me since I was
a child.
How do you unwind? What is your
“me time”?
As part of the rat race the person
goes through there is very little
“me time” Sometimes one unwind
by unwinding others. There
are not enough hours in the days,
not enough days in the month,
not enough months in the year;
you end up neglecting yourself
until it is too late. I like to wake
up early, the only joy I have in life
is having a big breakfast and reading
the paper, I try to maintain
this on the weekend.
How did you evolve personality
wise? What has changed in you?
I used to be more emotionally
charged: now I’m much more
calm and tolerant of other people’s
behaviors. Before I used to
see life as black and white now
I recognize gray as a defined
color. As you get older and more
experienced you put yourself in
other people’s shoes. You learn
tolerance and forgiveness. I never
hold grudges and I forget.
What is your favorite quotation?
“A Leader of the tribe is their servant.”
As a child I used to go with my
father to tribal meetings and I see
the head of the tribe serving the
others during dinner. An important
part of his duty is to pay
attention to the others needs and
make sure they are met. That is a
quality of a good leader.
Sultan Turki Al-Sedairy
Born September 5, 1955
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Undergraduate School
University of Puget Sound
Tacoma, Washington (USA)
BS Biology/Chemistry (1979)
Cleveland Clinic Educational
Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio (USA)
Medical Technology (1981)
Graduate School
Columbia University
New York, New York (USA)
MA in Pathology (1982)
MPhil (1984)
PhD, Pathobiology with focus on
Tumor Immunology (1987)
Thesis: Human Tumor Antigens
Identified with Monoclonal
Antibodies
Post-Doctoral Fellowship
Completed at the Department of
Pathology, College of Physicians
and Surgeons, Columbia University
New York, New York (USA)
12 5

The Research Centre Newsletter Issue No. 1 | April, 2012
Major new initiative in cancer genetics
khawla s. al-kuraya, md, fcap
The International Cancer Genome
Consortium (ICGC) recently announced
a new project from Saudi
Arabia to identify the genomic
drivers in thyroid cancer, which will
improve understanding and clinical
management of this disease.
The team led by Khawla S. Al-Kuraya,
MD, FCAP will lead an initiative
to analyze papillary thyroid cancer,
which is the second most common
cancer among women in Saudi
Arabia. In this multi-million Riyal
project, Dr. Al Kuraya and her team
will work in collaboration with a
Steering Committee comprising
prominent researchers, pathologists,
clinical trialists, statisticians
and bio-information professionals
from institutions across Saudi
Arabia.
“We are hoping that this project
will be the key to understanding
the biology of papillary thyroid
carcinoma which will ultimately
improve cancer prevention, early
detection and treatment,” said Dr.
Al-Kuraya.
“The ICGC welcomes this largescale
investment towards the first
comprehensive cancer genome
program in the Middle East,” said
Dr. Tom Hudson, President and
New Initiatives
The Cardiovascular Research Program
by coralie poizat, phd
The Research Centre has a new research program led by Dr Coralie Poizat,
Senior Scientist & Director Cardiovascular Research Program. Cardiovascular
disorders are epidemic in the Kingdom and are the leading cause
of death. The importance of this area has led to the creation of a new
program with a focus on understanding molecular genetic mechanisms
regulating a variety of cardiovascular disorders. In response to pathological
insults (i.e. hypertension, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction and
several forms of cardiomyopathies) cellular pathways are activated and
culminate in the cell nucleus to modulate gene expression, resulting in abnormal
growth of the heart. Dr Poizat’s program is studying intracellular
signaling pathways, transcription events, genetic and epigenetic changes
regulating cardiac growth and survival. A variety of biochemical, molecular
and proteomic approaches in cellular systems, animal models and in
human samples are used to make new discoveries. Their goal is to discover
new fundamental mechanisms as a foundation for the development of new
therapies.
Dr Poizat can be contacted on
Ext. 32984 and by email at
cpoizat99@kfshrc.edu.sa
Scientific Director of the Ontario
Institute for Cancer Research and
one of the founders of the ICGC.
You can learn more about ICGC at
http://www.icgc.org/.
Cell Culture lab
Department of Infection and Immunity
are directed by the essential
need to preserve life through
the understanding the general
biology of microbes and their immunological
impact. Development
and maintenance of independent
research programs in several areas
of basic and applied microbiology,
immunology, and molecular and
cell biology are our main objectives.
Programs should include
studies of microbial physiology
and genetic and antigenic structure,
studies on the mechanisms
of resistance to antimicrobials,
research dealing with epidemiological
observations in hospitalized
patients or community populations,
and collaborative trials of
experimental drugs and vaccines.
Initially the Department will be
comprised of four major Sections
(Molecular Virology, Microbial
Pathogenesis, Mycobacteriology
and Immunocompromised Host
Infections). Each will emphasize
on more than one line of research
and development. However, all
sections will collaborate to fulfill
the mission and execute the functions
of the Department.
6 11
New Adjunct Principal
Scientist appointed in
Infection and Immunity
Prof SalvATORE Rubino, MD
Professor Salvatore Rubino has
recently joined the Research Centre
as an Adjunct Principal Scientist
in the Department of Infection and
Immunity. Dr. Rubino is Professor of
Microbiology at the University of Sassari,
Sardinia, Italy. He earned an MD
degree in 1985 and, later, specialized
in virology and bacteriology. He was a
postdoctoral fellow at the University
of California, San Diego and a visiting
Professor at Washington University
in St. Louis, Missouri. He is also the
Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Infections
in Developing Countries, a member
of several editorial boards. Prof.
Rubino is an international figure in
the field of Microbiology, particularly
Salmonellosis. His scientific interests
include biotechnology, microbial genetics,
vaccine development, antimicrobial
activity of plants, tracing avian
influenza viruses in migratory birds,
mechanisms of pathogenicity and host
specificity in Salmonella, molecular
epidemiology of enteric infections in
developing countries, mechanisms
of antibiotic resistance in Salmonella
and enteric bacteria, and pests control
with bioinsecticides using Bacillus
thuringiensis. His role in the Research
Centre is to advise the Department of
Infection and Immunity on scientific
issues, to facilitate international collaboration,
and to mutually participate
in experimental research.

The Research Centre Newsletter Issue No. 1 | April, 2012
Tumor microenvironment
abdelilah aboussekhra, phd
The New Department
of Infection and
Immunity (DII)
A Matter of Degrees:
Alfaisal University unveils the Kingdom’s first
MS program in radiologic and imaging sciences
New staff arrival
Cancer remains a major clinical challenge with considerable mortality as
well as treatment-associated morbidity. Traditionally, the principal focus in
cancer biology and therapeutic approaches has been on tumour cells with
only little attention to their milieu. However, recent studies have demonstrated
that cancers are not simply autonomous neoplastic cells but are
rather vastly complex communities with multiple components. These components,
collectively termed ‘tumour microenvironment’, include endothelial
cells, pericytes, fibroblasts, adipocytes, inflammatory cells, leucocytes,
and elements of the extracellular matrix (ECM).
Many studies have made it increasingly apparent that tumour microenvironment
does not exist simply as a passive support structure, but rather
plays an active and crucial role in the onset and progression of tumor cells,
through dynamic and interdependent interactions. This functional cross-talk
is mediated through different molecules that not only foster the growth of
the initial tumor cells, but empower them to invade and metastasize. Indeed,
stromal cells play critical role in disrupting the basement membrane,
in the process of epithelial to mesenchymal transition and in angiogenesis,
which allows the invasion of cancer cells and their spread through blood
vessels. Since the microenvironment has such critical role in tumorigenesis
and metastasis, it can present valuable prognostic and predictive information.
Indeed, numerous recent studies have shown correlation between gene
expression in stromal cells and patients outcome.
More importantly, stroma represents also a crucial target for cancer treatment
and also for prevention. In fact, cancer care is currently in the midst
of a major paradigm shift towards targeting not only tumor cells but also
their supportive microenvironment. This therapeutic strategy is expected to
provide an interesting alternative to traditional tumour cell-directed therapy,
which will allow both efficient eradication of tumor cells and will also make
the milieu unfavorable for their growth/recurrence. Furthermore, use of
agents that target components of the tumour microenvironment can also
permit new preventive strategies, based on keeping the soil unfertile. Alexender
Fleming said: “If the soil causes the disease the cure to the disease
also lies in it”.
Some further reading
• Aboussekhra A. Role of cancer-associated fibroblasts in breast cancer development and prognosis.
Int J Dev Biol. 2011;55(7-9):841-9.
• Allen M, Louise Jones J. Jekyll and Hyde: the role of the microenvironment on the progression
of cancer. J Pathol. 2011;223(2):162-76.
• Bombonati A, Sgroi DC. The molecular pathology of breast cancer progression. J Pathol.
2011;223(2):307-17.
• Campbell I, Qiu W, Haviv I. Genetic changes in tumour microenvironments. J Pathol.
2011;223(4):450-8.
• Gregory CD, Pound JD. Cell death in the neighbourhood: direct microenvironmental effects of
apoptosis in normal and neoplastic tissues. J Pathol. 2011;223(2):177-94.
mohammed al ahdal, phd
Human life is inextricably tied to
local and global microbial processes
that impact our health. The
Department of Infection and Immunity
is, therefore, recently established
in the Research Centre of
King Faisal Specialist Hospital and
Research Centre in view of the importance
of infections in this geographical
area and worldwide. The
main aim is to support research
related to microbiology, immunology
and related biotechnology with
the broad goal of improving health
by controlling disease caused by
infectious agents. The goals of the
Radiologic imaging and therapy are ever-evolving. As technological advances
continually thunder into clinical practice, so does demand for knowledgable
and skilled staff to use and administer these exciting new developments.
This learning curve not only includes practicing clinicians, physicians and
technologists-but also administrators, who need up-to-date information to
effectively and proficiently manage their departments and staff.
Enter the Kingdom’s first Master of Science degree program in radiologic
and imaging sciences. To help imaging and oncology clinicians and administrators
maintain a current skill set and expand their knowledge, Alfaisal
University - a private university affiliated with the KFSHRC - is opening
doors through its College of Medicine to
the first students next September.
The MS degree program admits select
students in a cohort model and allows
them to maintain full-time employment
while completing their coursework.
The 24-month schedule consists of two
semester sessions annually. The Faculty
consists of internationally renowned
professors who teach the didactic sessions
and supervise student projects and theses.
The program is designed to allow radiologic
professionals to advance their careers
in either education or management
tracks. The education track is designed to
address the critical shortage of qualified
“
designed
to allow
radiologic
professionals
to advance
their careers
in either
education or
management
tracks
“
lecturers to teach at the thirty plus new undergraduate radiologic sciences
programs that have been established in the Kingdom over the past few years.
With a track option in managing radiologic and imaging departments, the
curriculum is designed to provide training in personnel and fiscal management;
personnel recruitment, retention and development; and clinical
professional accreditation. Program courses are also designed to cover new
technologies, their clinical utilities and administrative management. A third
track allows physicians or sonographers to advance their training as specialists
in obstetrical sonology. Future tracks include medical dosimetry, PET/
CT, and medical physics. Students have the option of conducting applied
research in the radiologic and imaging sciences.
M. Gary Sayed, PhD is director of the Master of Science program in radiologic
and imaging sciences at Alfaisal University.
hilary russell, phd, MA res Eth
Dr Hilary Russell has joined the
Research Centre Administration as
an Adjunct Principal Scientist. She
will have roles in multiple areas and
in particular as an Advisor to postgraduate
students within the RC. She
graduated with a BSc in Genetics and
Microbiology in 1980 and her PhD in
1984, both from Queen’s University
Belfast. After a 3 year Postdoctoral
Fellowship in the Department of
Genetics, Trinity College Dublin
she returned to Belfast to set up her
own laboratory. Until recently she
has been a professorial level Faculty
member at Queen’s University
Belfast running the Ovarian Cancer
Research Laboratory with a major
interest in the role of the septin gene
family in cancer. She has successfully
supervised more than 40 PhD and
other postgraduate students. As well
as a highly successful career in the
molecular genetics of cancer, Dr Russell
has had a major interest in research
ethics. In 2009 she obtained
an MA in Research Ethics and Chairs
a UK Research Ethics Committee that
specializes in Phase 1 clinical trials
and studies involving children.
10 7

The Research Centre Newsletter Issue No. 1 | April, 2012
Radiopharmaceuticals at KFSH&RC:
Past, Present and the Future
manhar vora, phd
the past:
Push time clock back to late seventies. Now imagine
founders of the KFSH&RC laying the foundation for
what was then the Cancer Therapy Institute (CTI).
Also, imagine their vision to think futuristically
when even many developed countries did not have
the advanced technology that was being initiated at
KFSH&RC in form of indigenous manufacturing of
radiopharmaceuticals for advanced practice of nuclear
medicine. Imagine further the highly energetic
and charged protons zipping in a circular path inside
of a particle accelerator (the cyclotron) at one third
the speed of light, and crashing into the nucleus of a
targeted atom. Immediately, as a result of high energy
collision, nuclear reaction(s) occur on impact, transforming
a non-radioactive atom into a radioactive one.
Moreover, the carefully chosen target atom becomes
clinically useful radionuclide (radioisotope), and subsequently
a radiopharmaceutical.
What is a cyclotron and what are radiopharmaceuticals
you may ask? Simply put, radiopharmaceuticals are
the drug products that are characterized by presence
of radioactive element in the core of their molecular
structure. And, among these are the products that are
manufactured only in a cyclotron. Cyclotron, on the
other hand, is a particle accelerator that can accelerate
at high speed the small particles such as a proton that
becomes energetic enough to cause nuclear reactions
to produce radioisotopes.
radioPharmaceuticals produced by the CRD
the present:
Now fast forward by three decades. Turn your attention
to the far end of Research Center, and you will
see a new building. It’s the new home for a shiny new
state-of-the-art cyclotron, and all that one would need
for manufacturing comprehensive range of radiopharmaceuticals.
After all, it is the tradition of continuous
innovative thinking and initiatives, setting new milestones
and high standards at every turn (see the inset).
Cyclotron &Radiopharmaceuticals Department Milestones
1979 First Cyclotron (proton, deuteron, alpha and helium
particles) arrived on site
1982 First proton beam generated for manufacturing radioisotopes
1983 First radiopharmaceutical produced for patient use
1984 First Positron camera (PC-4200) installed
1991 Patent for manufacturing Iodine-124 radioisotope
1994 First PET Scanner installed
1995 First volunteer imaging with PET using 2-FDG PET
Radiopharmaceutical
2001 ISO 9001:2000 certification (Quality Management)
2005 Second cyclotron installed (11 MeV proton energy)
2010 Third cyclotron installed (30 MeV proton energy)
2011 Commissioning of Mo-99/Tc-99m generators production
facility
2011 Increased level of automation in production line
2011 New product line (Tc-Generator cold kits) installed
Among the radiopharmaceuticals are a special group
of products called positron emitters. Radiopharmaceuticals
derived from these isotopes are the key elements
in development of the ultra-modern imaging modalities
of Positron Emission Tomography (PET)/CT and
PET/MRI. It is interesting to note that while these
modalities are now wave of the present and the future;
these were already a past at KFSH&RC. This is yet
another example of KFSH&RC’s exemplary leadership
and the pioneering spirit.
The Cyclotron and Radiopharmaceuticals Department
(C&R Department) in the Research Center, is the proud
owner of the tradition (and of course the cyclotrons). It
is the only facility in the Gulf region that manufactures
and distributes a comprehensive range of cyclotronproduced
radiopharmaceuticals to nuclear medicine
facilities throughout the Kingdom. In this regard, you
may say C&RD facility is essentially a small scale semicommercial
pharmaceuticals industry, not only serving
the patients, but also generating significant revenues.
The first batch of radiopharmaceutical for patient use
was manufactured in 1983, and the program has not
looked back since. With continuous growth over the
years, our products are now distributed to 40 nuclear
medicine centers within the Kingdom. To date, C&RD
has supplied over 300,000 unit doses of various
radiopharmaceuticals generating revenues of over 120
Million Saudi Riyals (see the graph).
16,000,000
14,000,000
12,000,000
10,000,000
8,000,000
6,000,000
4,000,000
2,000,000
0
KFSH&RC OTHER HOSPITALS TOTAL
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
REVENUES GENERATED 1983-2011
An extraordinary aspect of C&RD’s radiopharma-ceuticals
manufacturing program is the quality of products,
which is clearly reflected in the zero incidence of
untoward reaction to the patients. Such lofty claim is a
result of judicious application of international standard
of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and the ISO
quality management system during manufacturing
processes.
The credit for the high quality belongs to the people
who are in the midst of it all, and are committed to
deliver the best. The C&RD staff, from top to bottom,
makes exceptional contribution in attaining the high
standard of operations. Furthermore, routine manufacturing
is ably supported by research and development
projects. Our engineers, chemists and pharmacists
working from as early as 3 am to as late as 8 pm strive
to do all that is required to live up to the C&RD motto
of product delivery “on time, every time”.
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Three decades of experience and the high standard of
operations has created experts within the C&R Department
who are sought after nationally by the future
Cyclotron/PET facilities and internationally by the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA, Vienna)
for sharing their knowledge as expert advisors and consultants.
Consequently, our senior staff are recruited
for field missions as far as Brazil and South Africa, and
have co-authored a number of books on the subject of
radioisotopes.
the future:
Now imagine making the Kingdom self-sufficient in
better than 90% of all its radiopharmaceutical needs.
Not only that, imagine sufficient capacity to market our
products to NM facilities in Gulf Region and perhaps
beyond. That’s the one ultimate goal set by the C&R
Department for the future.
This is not just imagination! The monumental effort of
the Cyclotron Facility Expansion Project is the culmination
of yet another dream and vision of the Research
Center, Hospital and the Kingdom, and we could not
be more proud of what has been achieved. It is after 33
years of the initial installation that a facility is recreated
to last perhaps another generation.
KFSH&RC was unique three decades ago in a number
of ways, not the least in establishment of a medical
cyclotron at the time when there were only a handful of
such facilities worldwide. The tradition continues even
today as KFSH&RC remains one of the handful medical
centers in the world with a comprehensive program
of radiopharmaceuticals manufacturing.
It does not take much imagination that success follows
naturally when there is commitment and application at
all levels. The future is already here!
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