The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) is looking forward to enhancing the safety of food, medicine, medical devices and supplies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through exchanging knowledge and technologies and conducting research with local and international scientific bodies.

The recently signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the SFDA and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is one of those steps to enhance public health in the field of research and analysis of biological and chemical materials. The main common areas in the MoU include developing standard methods for analyzing chemical and natural pollutants in food, medicine and herbal products, and exploring risks through conducting joint projects and studies.

Among the areas of the MoU are exploring the use of electron microscopy examination techniques to analyze contaminants in cosmetics, cooperation in the field of innovative medical devices and modern technologies, the field of halal research and evaluation of clinical studies and pharmaceutical preparations, in addition to developing or enhancing new capabilities and expertise through joint research projects and studies in areas identified to be of interest to both parties.

Through the memorandum, KAUST will provide support, advice, and its cumulative expertise in the workflow of genomics analyzes, bioinformatics, and biotechnology applications. The SFDA will have the opportunity to sponsor outstanding students at a variety of academic levels, and will also be able to meet post-doctoral and university researchers who are eligible to work in the Kingdom for the purpose of hiring them.

SFDA and KAUST will cooperate in maximizing the use of data through the use of artificial intelligence and its applications in the areas of control, genetic data of pathogenic microbes, antibiotic resistance and pharmacovigilance.

The areas of cooperation will also include participation in exhibitions, conferences and workshops on topics of common interest to enrich specialists at the national and international levels.