SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi genome project targets high incidence of genetic disease in the kingdom

Record ID: 189376

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi genome project targets high incidence of genetic disease in the kingdom
  • Date: 17th April 2014
  • Summary: JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA (FILE) (REUTERS) MAN AND WOMAN WALKING ALONG THE STREET RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA (FILE) (REUTERS) WOMAN RECEIVING CUP OF COFFEE IN HOTEL VARIOUS MEN IN RESTAURANT TRAFFIC VARIOUS WOMAN WORKING AT COMPUTER MAN WORKING AT COMPUTER BURAIDAH, SAUDI ARABIA (FILE - MARCH 13, 2010) ( REUTERS) VARIOUS OF KLAIJA PASTRIES BEING SOLD AT STALL
  • Embargoed: 2nd May 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Saudi Arabia
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: Health
  • Reuters ID: LVAEPJMJXXHSIFO7C9050PS7PSFE
  • Story Text: Saudi Arabia is hoping to transform the health of its citizens and the cost of healthcare through its Human Genome Program.
    Launched at the end of 2013, the programme aims to map the genetic codes of thousands of people in Saudi Arabia in the hope of identifying genetic mutations believed responsible for the kingdom's disproportionately high incidence of conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. To this end they hope to develop a system of 'personalised medicine' where a patient's entire DNA blueprint will be taken into account when considering treatment.
    The project, funded by the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), is initially envisaged as a three year study to build a DNA database from 20,000 citizens, according to technical researcher at KACST, Abdullah al-Otaibi.
    "After the purification of the DNA, we take the DNA and put it in this chip which has two functions. The first function is to read the whole genome of the human, for one person only. The second function is to read specific DNA from one person to about 23 or 24 people," he said.
    The Saudi project is the only one of its kind in the Arab world to investigate the genes, and variants, responsible for both rare and common diseases.
    The project particularly aims to identify Saudi-specific gene variants.
    Researchers say common diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease may have different genetic risk factors in Arab populations than in other ethnic groups.
    "In the Arab region, there are a lot of genetic diseases that have not been studied. So what we hope for from this project is to identify, through decoding the genetic code, and get closely acquainted with mutations in certain genetic diseases that are prevalent in the Kingdom such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and many other diseases," said Dr. Abdullah al-Awad of the National Centre for Biotechnology, which is one of several research centres in the kingdom to be involved in the project.
    Over the course of the study, researchers aim to read the DNA blueprint of 20,000 subjects.
    Although the project is just a few months old, Dr. al-Awad said there have already been positive results.
    "Since the launch of the project in December 2013, we have deciphered the genetic code of more than 500 people so far and this is a strong achievement for a three month old project. We have also identified many genetic mutations that cause some diseases that we see spreading in Saudi society," he said.
    Researchers say the need to address the issue of genetic disease is urgent. They say up to eight per cent of births in Saudi Arabia are affected by severe inherited conditions and more than 20 per cent of the population by diabetes and other disorders like cardiovascular disease.
    According to genetic consultant and research scientist Dr. Ayman Sulyman, one reason for their prevalence is the practice of endogamy - where marriage between blood or tribal relatives takes place over generations "The latest statistics show marriage of relatives is 63 percent and this is a very large number, which has led to the increased prevalence of genetic diseases in Saudi Arabia," he said..
    With its Human Genome Project, Saudi Arabia is hoping to lead the way in genetic research - and find new ways of treating the many genetic disorders that blight Saudi society.
    Experts say the project could also lead to a huge reduction in the kingdom's overall healthcare costs, now running at approximately 30 billion dollars per year.
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