The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed in Riyadh by Dr. Abdulelah Al-Hawsawi, CEO of Novo Genomics, and Dr. Faisal Khan, Director of RMI’s Precision Medicine Lab.
Both institutions are backed by their respective governments, Novo Genomics by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health and RMI’s lab by Pakistan’s Planning Commission.
Under the agreement, both countries will develop cross-border biobanks, conduct joint clinical studies, and use AI models to predict and prevent major diseases.
The initiative will also promote academic exchanges, training programs, and regional biotech collaborations to empower young researchers.
Dr. Khan said the partnership followed months of productive discussions with Novo Genomics. “This MoU is a gateway for sharing ideas, prototypes, and talent between our two nations,” he said, calling it a major step forward for precision medicine.
He added that both countries will study their genetic populations to accelerate medical breakthroughs. “Novo Genomics knows their population; we know ours. Together, this will strengthen our R&D efforts,” he said.
The collaboration also aligns with both nations’ technology-driven economic visions. “Saudi Arabia is investing in non-oil sectors, while Pakistan aims to strengthen its economy through technology. AI is a key driver for both,” Dr. Khan added.
According to RMI researcher Syed Tauheed Ahmad, the project will apply AI for drug repurposing, finding new uses for existing medicines to treat diseases like cancer. The research may help design population-specific drugs for both nations.
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RMI’s lab has already been leading oral cancer research, developing a multi-omic database of patient samples to study how genetic variations affect disease risk.
Researcher Wajid Khan said the data could help detect diseases earlier and reduce risks in vulnerable populations.
Novo Genomics CEO Dr. Al-Hawsawi called the collaboration “an important step toward building a regional genomic ecosystem that benefits patients, researchers, and industry.”
