Dasman Diabetes Institute unveils strategic vision for Kuwait National Genome Project
The Dasman Diabetes Institute, under the umbrella of the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), has announced its strategic vision for the Kuwait National Genome Project — recently published in Nature Reviews Genetics, the world’s leading scientific journal in the field.
Speaking to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on Tuesday, Dr. Faisal Al-Rifai, Acting Director General of the Institute, said the project stands out for its innovative approach, moving beyond traditional genome studies by integrating genetic data with environmental and biological factors.
This method offers a deeper understanding of complex diseases shaped by the interaction of genes and environmental conditions—most notably, type 2 diabetes.
Al-Rifai emphasized the relevance of this approach in Kuwait, which faces high rates of chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes, alongside extreme environmental challenges like soaring temperatures and severe air pollution — among the highest globally. These unique conditions, he said, make Kuwait an ideal environment for studying gene-environment interactions.
He attributed the development of this vision to the continued support of KFAS, which has invested in specialized scientific activities including workshops, conferences, and training programs.
A key initiative in this effort was the Precision Medicine Workshop, organized in partnership with the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. This initiative aimed to deepen scientific collaboration between Kuwait and the United States.
Highlighting the regional dimension of the project, Al-Rifai noted existing cooperation agreements between Dasman Diabetes Institute and several peer institutions across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). These partnerships are part of a broader strategy to advance the Gulf region’s leadership in genomics and precision medicine.
“We have the capacity in our region to be at the forefront of genomics and disease prevention,” Al-Rifai said. “This vision represents a first step toward a transformative national project founded on strong scientific and ethical principles. It will support the development of preventive medicine and drive a major shift in public health across Kuwait and the region.”
