The King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSHRC) and the Bladder Cancer Research Centre (BCRC) at the University of Birmingham have announced a five-year partnership to revolutionise bladder cancer diagnosis and monitoring.
The partnership combines the expertise of KFSHRC’s Department of Urology with BCRC’s research capabilities to advance non-invasive diagnostic tools using advanced liquid biopsy technology. The project aims to bring cutting-edge molecular diagnostics to Saudi Arabia using a 23-gene panel to detect key genetic variations.
“Partnering with BCRC allows us to introduce innovative diagnostic methods that reduce patient burden while improving healthcare outcomes. This collaboration supports our priorities in bridging geographical and technological gaps and advancing cancer diagnostics,” said Professor Waleed Altaweel, Chairman of KFSHRC’s Department of Urology and Principal Investigator.
Beyond diagnostic innovation, this partnership is a knowledge exchange platform, enabling the Saudi and UK research communities to collaborate closely, sharing methodologies, knowledge and technological advances in the field of genomic diagnostics.
This partnership is based on a Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) that ensures secure and ethical exchanges of anonymised patient samples, enabling advanced genomic testing, while maintaining strict data confidentiality.
Dr Raouf Seyam, Project Facilitator, said: “This collaboration provides an unprecedented opportunity to expand our research by incorporating diverse genetic data, ultimately contributing to globally relevant cancer care solutions. KFSHRC and BCRC are poised to transform bladder cancer care by setting new accessible standards for patient-centred, non-invasive diagnostics.”
Caroline Haïat
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