Saudi Arabia’s first COVID-19 vaccine set for clinical trials

Dr. Iman Almansour
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Updated 16 January 2021
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Saudi Arabia’s first COVID-19 vaccine set for clinical trials

  • It will go through rigorous testing and several trial stages before it is approved for use by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority

RIYADH: Preclinical studies on the first Saudi vaccine against COVID-19 have been completed.

Professor of epidemiology Dr. Iman Almansour, who heads the team of researchers working on the vaccine at the Institute for Research and Medical Consultations (IRMC), affiliated with Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University (IAU), confirmed to Arab News on Friday that the studies were complete, and said clinical trials would begin as soon as “the proper approvals” had been given.

She did not specify when that is expected to happen.

The Ministry of Education is financing the team’s project. The team’s research paper has been published in the peer-reviewed journal Pharmaceuticals.

The vaccine is given to the body to build protein inside cells, which stimulate the body to produce immunity specific to the S antigen.

Dr. Iman Almansour, professor of epidemiology

According to the published paper, the vaccine has so far proven effective, when used on animals, in eliciting antibodies that will target the virus. “The vaccine is given to the body to build protein inside cells, which stimulate the body to produce immunity specific to the S antigen,” Dr. Almansour explained.

Dr. Turki Almugaiteeb, director of Healthcare and Life Sciences at RPD Innovations, which manages the project of the national vaccine and biomanufacturing center founded and led by King Abdulaziz City of Science and Technology (KACST), told Arab News: “There is a great focus on the results of medical research because of the pandemic. Research can play a great role in developing a vaccine that can be adopted and further developed in the future. We can say that the Kingdom has a strong infrastructure, which can help produce and manufacture a national vaccine.”

Both Almugaiteeb and Almansour stressed that the experimental vaccine will need to go through rigorous testing and several trial stages before it is approved for use by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority.

Prof. Nasser Al-Aqeeli, the deputy minister of education for research and innovation, said the ministry supported programs at the Kingdom’s universities with more than SR500 million ($133.3 million) in 2020.


Saudi art exhibition set for global debut

Updated 15 October 2024
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Saudi art exhibition set for global debut

RIYADH: The Museums Commission has announced plans to launch a landmark exhibition on the art of the Kingdom to bring Saudi contemporary work to the global stage.

The exhibition will tour several countries, introducing international audiences to the vibrant art scene in Saudi Arabia and showcasing the nation’s most prominent contemporary artistic endeavors.

The exhibition is set to debut in Brazil this November to coincide with the G20 Summit. This will ensure that Saudi art is showcased to a global audience during one of the world’s most significant international events.

Following its inauguration in Brazil, the exhibition will return to Riyadh, where it will be hosted at the Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art in the Jax district in early 2025.

The exhibition will then travel to Beijing, where it will be presented at the National Museum of China toward the end of 2025.

The exhibition’s inaugural event in Brazil will feature works by about 15 Saudi artists, representing diverse genres and generations.

The artists will contribute installations, sculptures, oil paintings and drawings that reflect the richness and diversity of Saudi Arabia’s contemporary art scene.

By organizing the exhibition, the Museums Commission aims to empower and promote Saudi artists by providing them with an international platform to display their creativity.

The initiative also seeks to elevate the Kingdom’s cultural profile on the world stage and highlight its growing influence in the global arts and culture arena.


Baha workshop explores ecotourism, forest management

Updated 15 October 2024
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Baha workshop explores ecotourism, forest management

  • The aim is to create a sustainable action plan for the Al-Khala and Al-Ghouqa forests
  • This effort is part of a broader study to assess and develop national forests

RIYADH: The National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification held a workshop recently in Baha focused on plans to carry out a social and economic survey of communities living near forests.

The aim is to create a sustainable action plan for the Al-Khala and Al-Ghouqa forests and evaluate ecotourism opportunities in the areas. This effort is part of a broader study to assess and develop national forests.

The gathering was held in collaboration with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and local communities, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

During the workshop the center’s delegation met with tribal leaders, representatives, and members of environmental organizations to emphasize the community’s vital role in forest conservation.

The workshop included an explanation of the social and economic survey methodology and field visits to the targeted sites, the SPA reported.

The goal is to understand the perspectives of local communities on the surrounding forests and explore their potential contributions to sustainable management.

This includes identifying agricultural and pastoral practices to determine the most effective community involvement in the protection and rehabilitation of local forests.


KSrelief distributes food boxes, shelter kits in Syria and Gaza Strip

Updated 15 October 2024
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KSrelief distributes food boxes, shelter kits in Syria and Gaza Strip

RIYADH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) has distributed 1,832 food boxes and hygiene kits in Salqin and Azmarin of Idlib Governorate in Syria, as well as 1,396 food parcels and hygiene kits in Jandairis of Aleppo Governorate

The assistance is part of the second phase of a project entailing providing aid to people affected by the earthquake in northern Syria in 2024, state news agency SPA reported.

At the Gaza Strip, shelter kits were handed out in Khan Younis and Deir Al-Balah in cooperation with the UN’s refugee agency as part of Saudi Arabia’s continued support for the Palestinian people.


Deal signed to tackle waste during Riyadh Season

Updated 15 October 2024
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Deal signed to tackle waste during Riyadh Season

  • This collaboration aims to raise public awareness about reducing waste and foster stronger community partnerships

RIYADH: The General Entertainment Authority has partnered with the Grace Preservation Foundation to promote sustainability and food preservation during Riyadh Season 2024.

This collaboration aims to raise public awareness about reducing waste, foster stronger community partnerships, and enhance the third sector's contribution to the economy, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

As part of the agreement, the foundation will lead various initiatives, including a media campaign on preserving resources, a pavilion to promote awareness, and efforts to collect and distribute surplus food in collaboration with local associations.

Promotional content on waste reduction, environmental protection, and sustainability will also be featured throughout Riyadh Season.

Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman bin Saeed, the foundation’s secretary-general, highlighted the significance of such partnerships in supporting the food preservation sector’s community goals.


Saudi crown prince attends weekly Cabinet meeting

Updated 15 October 2024
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Saudi crown prince attends weekly Cabinet meeting

RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attended on Tuesday the weekly Cabinet meeting. 

The Cabinet addressed the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts on the political and humanitarian levels to contribute to the current situation in the Gaza Strip and its surroundings, as well as the repercussions of the ongoing events ion Lebanon, Saudi Press Agency reported. 

It also discussed Saudi efforts of launching an air bridge to the Lebanese people to support them in facing these critical circumstances.

During the meeting, it was announced that the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve has been included in the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Green List, in addition to the Ibex Reserve Protected Area, which is located south Riyadh.  

This comes in line with the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts in the field of environmental conservation.