Saudi scholarship student earns Harvard medical award

Saudi scholarship student Waleed Seddiq. (Supplied)
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Updated 10 July 2023
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Saudi scholarship student earns Harvard medical award

  • Waleed Seddiq’s team used viruses, stem cells to eradicate brain cancer cells

RIYADH: In June 2021, a remarkable breakthrough took place at Harvard University’s research lab, led by Waleed Seddiq, a Saudi scholarship student. Through their preclinical studies, the team witnessed a momentous achievement as the immune system of a lab mouse overcame brain cancer. Seddiq expressed his excitement, stating: “It’s a milestone for a scientist. For us, it’s like getting the World Cup.”

As they conclude the initial phase of clinical trials, Seddiq’s team has achieved yet another significant milestone. Their groundbreaking medical discovery, involving the use of viruses and stem cells to target and terminate brain cancer cells, has earned them the esteemed Harvard Medical School Annual Conference Award.




Saudi scholarship student Waleed Seddiq. (Supplied)

“As a Saudi citizen who’s being sponsored by the Saudi government, it’s quite a pleasure having this kind of recognition, having this award, and competing with the world, in the best university in the world,” Seddiq said.

Patients with brain metastases, a condition in which cancer cells from other parts of the body spread to the brain, typically have a survival rate of only six months. In the advanced fourth stage of this condition, the blood-brain barrier poses a significant challenge as it prevents most medications from effectively reaching the brain through the veins. This natural barrier acts as a defense mechanism, blocking the entry of microorganisms like fungi and parasites that may be present in the bloodstream.




Saudi scholarship student Waleed Seddiq. (Supplied)

The research team found that viruses are one of the few organisms that can access the brain, and with this information, they genetically modified cold viruses, specifically the herpes simplex virus, to only target cancer cells. 

“As a delivery vessel, we used stem cells equipped with the modified virus. They flow through the bloodstream until they reach the brain,” Seddiq said. 

Stem cells also act as a booster as the virus reproduces within it. Their clinical trials have found that a patient can undergo direct injections into the bloodstream for a four-month period until the patient was “completely cleared” of their cancerous condition. 

A similar immunotherapy method, talimogene laherparepvec, was previously developed to treat melanoma skin cancer, but it is not compatible with other parts of the body, Seddiq explained. 

As the award-winning team at Harvard University and Brigham and Women’s Hospital nears the completion of the initial phase of their clinical trials, they have successfully ensured the safety of the treatment for patients. The upcoming phases will focus on evaluating dosage and efficacy. However, to progress to the next stage, the team is in need of approximately $4 million in funding. This financial support will be crucial in further advancing their research.




Saudi scholarship student Waleed Seddiq. (Supplied)

Seddiq said: “With Vision 2030, I see Saudi turning to having biotech companies. We still don’t have them in Saudi … I believe that by the time (they do), these kinds of projects and any other projects will go to Saudi. 

“In the meantime, of course, any research lab would like to have their own fund, their own projects. I hope that one day I can lead a project that is being funded by Saudi, managed by Saudi, in Saudi, in the very promising field of immunotherapy. That’s the end goal: to give a small thank you to the country for what it’s done for me.”

Seddiq embarked on his research journey in high school, prompted by his curiosity of molecular biology and atomic structure. His interest in the field of immunotherapy grew from a question: How can the body’s immune system be used to overcome disease?




Saudi scholarship student Waleed Seddiq. (Supplied)

He later earned his medical bachelor’s degree from King Saud University in clinical laboratory science before earning a master’s degree from Harvard Medical School in clinical investigation in the translational immunotherapy track. The Harvard program requires an MD, MBBS or an equivalent doctoral degree to apply, but a special committee was held to discuss, and later on accept, his case. 

His efforts in the field have merited several acknowledgments, including the SABIC prize for chemistry and health, first place in the field of scientific research at King Saud University for undergraduate students, and the Harvard Medical School scholarship for outstanding students in the years 2021-2023.


Saudi Arabia ‘categorically rejects’ Israel’s plan to seize Gaza territory

Updated 08 May 2025
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Saudi Arabia ‘categorically rejects’ Israel’s plan to seize Gaza territory

  • Israeli authorities on Monday approved plans to take over territory and forcibly displace population
  • Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemns Israel’s violations of international law

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has “categorically rejected” plans by Israel to expand its military operations in Gaza and seize control of the territory.

The ministry also “strongly condemned the continued Israeli violations of international law and international humanitarian law.”

Israeli authorities on Monday approved a new ground operation to take over parts of Gaza, forcibly displace Palestinians into the south of the territory, and control the distribution of humanitarian aid. The Israeli army is calling up tens of thousands of reserve soldiers.

The announcement sparked widespread international condemnation. Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry said it stood firmly opposed to any attempted expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, and stressed the importance of holding Israel accountable for failures to comply with international resolutions.

The Kingdom continues to have “unwavering support for the Palestinian cause, in line with international legitimacy, the Arab Peace Initiative, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with east Jerusalem as its capital,” the ministry added.


Saudi project destroys 600 more Houthi landmines and other explosives in Yemen

Updated 07 May 2025
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Saudi project destroys 600 more Houthi landmines and other explosives in Yemen

  • The devices, cleared from various parts of the war-torn country in recent months, were safely detonated on Wednesday
  • Project Masam has removed nearly 500,000 mines across Yemen since its launch in 2018

RIYADH: Members of the Saudi Project for Landmine Clearance, also known as Project Masam, safely detonated 600 mines, unexploded ordnance and other explosive devices on Wednesday.

The project’s engineers had demined and removed the devices over the past few months from various parts of Yemen, including the town of Beihan and the districts of Usaylan and Ain in Shabwah governorate.

Hussein Al-Aqili, commander of the project’s survey team, said they carried out the destruction operation in the Thahba area of Ain district on Wednesday as part of their ongoing mission to clear mines and other remnants of war in Yemen, and save civilian lives.

The project has cleared nearly 500,000 mines from the country since its work there began in 2018.

Last week, Ousama Algosaibi, the managing director of Masam, warned that the Houthis continue to exploit periods of truce to plant more mines across Yemen.

“We are in a constant race with the Houthi militias; we clear mines from one side while they plant more on the other,” he said during an interview with Al-Ekhbariya TV.


Saudi ambassador meets Bahrain King’s media affairs adviser

Updated 07 May 2025
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Saudi ambassador meets Bahrain King’s media affairs adviser

Saudi Ambassador to Bahrain Naif bin Bandar Al-Sudairi was received by Nabeel bin Yacoub Al-Hamer, media affairs adviser to the King of Bahrain, in Manama on Wednesday.

The adviser expressed his pride in the solid fraternal relations and deep-rooted historical ties that bind the two countries, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

He also wished Al-Sudairi continued success in his duties, which will further support and strengthen the fraternal ties, mutual coordination, and close cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in various fields, and particularly in the media.


 


Saudi commission expands music access for people with disabilities

Updated 07 May 2025
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Saudi commission expands music access for people with disabilities

  • Push for accessible arts programming reflects wider goals for social development

MAKKAH: Saudi Arabia’s Music Commission has launched a national initiative to expand access to music education for people with disabilities, marking a key step toward their greater inclusion in the Kingdom’s cultural landscape.

Focused on Riyadh, Jeddah and Alkhobar, the program trains instructors to teach students with physical and cognitive disabilities.

It supports the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to elevate quality of life and ensure opportunities for all segments of society.

Music education expert Issa Al-Qarbi praised the initiative as a transformative step in supporting individuals with disabilities.

“Music is a highly effective medium for stimulating brain activity, developing motor and social skills, and enhancing overall psychological well-being,” he said.

The initiative includes adapting teaching methods, specialized curricula and fully accessible learning environments aligned with the requirements of the Mowaamah certification, a program which provides support to increase participation among disabled individuals in the labor market.

In designing the program, the commission partnered with international experts in music on the curricula and programs that align with global best practices.

The existing models were reviewed using the standards set by the National Association for Music Education.

The commission’s goal is to empower students to express themselves through music, boost their self-confidence and enhance their social, cognitive and motor skills.

The students will receive extended training that prepares them for group performances while supporting their artistic, cognitive and social development. Sessions with parents and community members are also being planned to raise awareness and encourage family engagement.

Al-Qarbi said that long-term sustainability and lasting impacts could be ensured by closer partnerships between the education and healthcare sectors.

He praised the initiative as a regional model, opening the door to further research and innovation.

He said that teaching music to individuals with disabilities went beyond technical skills, nurturing essential personal qualities such as patience, discipline and social engagement, which in turn positively influenced many areas of their lives.


Saudi surgeons separate Egyptian child from parasitic twin

Updated 07 May 2025
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Saudi surgeons separate Egyptian child from parasitic twin

  • Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah says operation is one of the most delicate carried out by his team
  • Procedure takes 8 hours and involves multidisciplinary team of 26 consultants

RIYADH: A medical team from the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program successfully completed a surgical procedure on Wednesday to separate an Egyptian child from a parasitic twin.

The operation on 8-month-old Mohammed Abdulrahman Juma at King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital in Riyadh took eight hours and was split into six stages. It involved a multidisciplinary team of 26 consultants, including specialists in anesthesia, neurosurgery, pediatrics and plastic surgery.

A parasitic twin, also known as a vestigial twin, is an identical twin that stopped developing during gestation and is physically attached to a fully developed twin. Because it did not fully develop, it cannot survive on its own and often dies in the womb or during birth.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, who heads the surgical team and is an advisor at the royal court and supervisor general of Saudi aid agency KSrelief, said the twins were joined at the back, lower chest, abdomen and pelvis. The parasitic twin lacked a head and essential organs, including a heart and kidneys.

Al-Rabeeah described the operation as one of the most delicate his team has been involved with, and thanked his colleagues for their efficiency and skill during the surgery, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Mohammed and his parents flew to Saudi Arabia in March after King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman issued directives for medics in the Kingdom to help the child.

The operation on Wednesday was the 63rd separation procedure carried out under the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program, which has reviewed 149 cases of patients from 27 countries since its inception in 1990.