Latest news with #WalidZaher
Arab News
17-04-2025
- Health
- Arab News
How AI is decoding multi-omics data to boost health and longevity in Saudi Arabia
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is embracing the future of healthcare by integrating artificial intelligence and omics-based diagnostics to deliver personalized, preventive care. This is part of a broader transformation that frames longevity not just as an individual aspiration but a national priority. Central to this transformation is the integration of genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and other omics disciplines into clinical practice — powered by AI. Leading the charge is Rewind, a Saudi Arabia-based company using the technology to pioneer proactive, individualized care. 'At Rewind, we harness the power of AI and omics technologies to shift healthcare from a generalized, reactive model to one that is deeply personalized and proactive,' Dr. Walid Zaher, the founder of Rewind, told Arab News. 'AI is the engine that makes this vast data actionable. It identifies patterns, predicts health risks, and recommends the most effective interventions for each individual.' He said that 'such a dynamic, data-driven approach' enables healthcare to be 'as unique as the patient it serves.' • Integrating AI with omics-based diagnostics supports early disease detection and predicts health risks. • In cancer care, AI and genomics are used together to match patients with the most effective targeted therapies. • Saudi Arabia, the US, and the UK are making major investments in the integration of AI and omics. Omics refers to a group of biological fields ending with the suffix '-omics,' each examining a different layer of biological data on a system-wide scale. Together, they offer a comprehensive view of how the body functions. Transitioning from this broad understanding to actionable insights requires AI's ability to analyze trillions of variables across DNA, protein expression, metabolic changes, and epigenetic shifts. This capability allows practitioners to intervene earlier and more accurately than ever. 'Omics-based diagnostics have already begun to make a profound impact on patient outcomes,' said Zaher. 'The precision enabled by genomics and multi-omics technologies allows us to detect diseases at their earliest molecular stages — often well before any clinical symptoms appear. 'Beyond disease detection, multi-omics approaches help in monitoring disease progression and response to treatments. The result has been an increase in patient satisfaction, as they experience better health outcomes and more personalized care.' Saudi Arabia's commitment to health innovation is evident in both its infrastructure and ambition. National initiatives like the Saudi Genome Program and investments through the Hevolution Foundation are driving the development of a knowledge-based healthcare system aligned with Vision 2030. 'Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 has made healthcare innovation a strategic priority,' said Zaher. 'The government has invested heavily in infrastructure that supports cutting-edge research, particularly in AI, genomics, and biotechnology.' This focus is positioning Saudi Arabia as a major player in the global longevity economy, according to Dmitry Kaminskiy, a co-founder and managing partner of Deep Knowledge Group. 'Saudi Arabia and its GCC counterparts are strategically positioned to be not just participants but global pioneers in the longevity economy,' Kaminskiy told Arab News. 'With Vision 2030, the Kingdom has set the foundation for integrating economic diversification, healthcare innovation, and AI governance — all key components of a national longevity strategy.' Kaminskiy, who has authored multiple books on AI and healthspan, believes that AI has shifted from a supporting role to something far more central to the field. 'We are now witnessing a paradigm shift where AI is not just an assistant but the architect of next-generation healthcare platforms,' he said. 'Just as fintech redefined personal finance, AI will redefine personal health.' Despite these advancements, significant challenges remain in mainstreaming AI and omics-based care into national systems. Zaher of Rewind noted that overcoming these hurdles will require both technological and cultural shifts. 'Integrating AI and precision medicine into a national healthcare system comes with several challenges, the most pressing of which is the need for a robust data infrastructure,' he said. 'Healthcare data is often fragmented or siloed, making it difficult to create a cohesive system that AI can utilize effectively.' Another critical challenge is training healthcare providers to engage with this new era of medicine. Zaher said the integration of AI and precision medicine into clinical practice demands 'a level of technological literacy that has yet to become widespread across the healthcare workforce. 'We need targeted training programs that equip providers with the skills to interpret AI-generated insights and translate them into actionable, patient-centered care,' he added. Looking ahead, Kaminskiy said establishing ethical data governance will be vital to ensuring progress. 'Data is the lifeblood of AI-powered longevity,' he said. 'But it is not just the amount of data that matters — it is the ownership, security, and ethical governance of that data that will define the winners in this domain.' The Hevolution Foundation is playing a key role in funding and shaping the longevity research agenda in the region. According to Zaher, it is 'poised to play a pivotal role in accelerating global healthspan science by providing the funding and resources necessary to drive innovation in aging research. 'Through supporting projects that focus on extending healthspan and preventing age-related diseases, Hevolution is helping to set a global standard for longevity science,' he added. As Saudi Arabia expands its investment in AI-driven healthcare and global collaborations deepen, the boundaries between technology, biology, and medicine are blurring — bringing the goal of healthy aging closer to reality.
Arab News
14-04-2025
- Health
- Arab News
How preventive healthcare is quietly driving sustainability in Saudi Arabia
RIYADH: As global conversations about sustainability expand, one sector is emerging as an unlikely player in the environmental movement: healthcare. Experts say a growing shift toward prevention — rather than reaction — is not only improving personal health outcomes but reducing long-term resource strain on hospitals, supply chains, and the planet. 'Preventive care and longevity-focused medicine play a critical role in promoting environmental sustainability by reducing the overall burden on healthcare systems,' said Dr. Walid Zaher, a Saudi scientist and founder of Rewind. 'When individuals stay healthier for longer through early detection, lifestyle interventions, and personalized medicine, there is less need for resource-intensive treatments, hospitalizations, and pharmaceutical use — each of which carries a significant environmental footprint.' According to Zaher, every reduction in high-intensity care translates to real-world savings in emissions, energy, and medical waste. 'Fewer medical interventions mean reduced energy consumption, lower emissions from healthcare facilities, and less medical waste,' he said. 'By shifting focus from reactive to proactive care, we create a more efficient, sustainable healthcare model that benefits both people and the planet.' Saudi Arabia is taking bold steps to integrate health, wellness, and sustainability through a series of forward-looking initiatives aligned with Vision 2030. Dr. Walid Zaher, Rewind founder Dr. Ksenia Butova, founder of Detki Family Clinic and Molodost Clinic, agrees. She believes early diagnostics and family-centered wellness are not only medically superior — they are environmentally responsible. 'The costliest treatments — both financially and environmentally — come when disease is already in full swing,' she said. 'Hospital admissions, emergency interventions, aggressive medications. But most of it can be prevented.' She emphasized that check-ups today are no longer just routine, but predictive. 'Conducting in-depth check-ups designed to detect diseases at their earliest, pre-symptomatic stages — or rule them out entirely — helps alleviate the pressure on the healthcare system,' Butova said. Among the pillars of preventive medicine are targeted vaccination programs and ongoing wellness tracking — both of which lower overall consumption of antibiotics, emergency care, and overprescribed supplements. 'Nutrition science, mental health support, sleep optimization, hormone and micronutrient balancing — these are not 'luxuries,'' Butova said. 'They're the new foundation of long-term health.' The Kingdom is also investing in long-term well-being through national policy. 'Saudi Arabia is taking bold steps to integrate health, wellness, and sustainability through a series of forward-looking initiatives aligned with Vision 2030,' said Zaher. 'From national events like Saudi National Sports Day to wellness-centered urban planning, the aim is to embed health and wellness into the fabric of daily life.' On the technology front, digitization of care is helping clinics become more efficient and less wasteful. 'Clinics that operate paper-free are sustainable,' explained Butova. 'Everything from scheduling and medical records to treatment plans and follow-ups becomes digital. Patients have easy access to their data, and doctors spend less time on bureaucracy and more time on meaningful care.' She also noted that online consultations reduce traffic, emissions, and time lost to travel. 'One Zoom consultation means one less commute through city traffic, one less plastic coffee cup, one less parking hassle,' she said. 'It saves time, energy, and reduces our environmental footprint.' Both experts also pointed to a growing trend: longevity tourism — the merging of high-end medical care with eco-conscious lifestyle services. 'Longevity tourism is increasingly becoming a natural extension of the broader eco-wellness movement — one that merges sustainable living with proactive health optimization,' said Zaher. 'In regions like the Gulf, there's a unique opportunity to position longevity tourism at the intersection of luxury wellness and sustainability.' Butova confirmed the trend is already gaining traction. 'People are flying to us from Russia and Kazakhstan for access to rare vaccines … From Europe, the UK, and the US, we welcome patients seeking comprehensive check-ups, personalized recovery programs, and cutting-edge aesthetic treatments,' she said. Still, awareness remains a challenge. Both Zaher and Butova stressed the importance of education in shifting habits and norms. 'When we educate the public about the benefits of preventive health measures, sustainable diets, and active lifestyles, we can shift societal norms toward more eco-conscious behaviours,' Zaher said. Butova added: 'Public awareness is everything. Without awareness, even the most advanced medical system won't work.' Her clinics run webinars, host 'health school' events for families, and engage with communities through live Q&As. 'One of the most important missions of healthcare professionals is raising awareness about obesity and metabolic health … That shift alone changes lives and reduces wasteful, unconscious consumption,' she said. At a time when sustainability often means sacrifice, these experts argue that in medicine, it is quite the opposite: the more proactive the system, the less wasteful it becomes.
