The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) hosted the 2024 Research Day event today, marking its fourth edition. The event took place at the SFDA headquarters in Riyadh and was attended by the Chief Executive Officer, H.E. Dr. Hisham S. Aljadhey, along with several officials. This initiative aligns with SFDA's strategic plan to foster a research-driven, innovative, and robust regulatory environment, establishing itself as a preeminent global authority dedicated to promoting and protecting public health through scientific principles.
Dr. Aljadhey opened the event by welcoming all attendees and emphasizing the critical role of scientific research in the SFDA's regulatory decisions. He highlighted the Authority’s substantial achievements in global regulatory excellence, which reflect the exceptional dedication and continuous efforts of its employees, as well as its unwavering commitment to advancing scientific research and innovation.
Dr. Aljadhey expressed his delight at the number and quality of submitted research papers, noting their significant improvement over the past three editions. He reiterated the importance of ensuring that these studies have a regulatory impact and extended his gratitude to all participants from various authorities.
The SFDA CEO honored the outstanding research papers that demonstrated both distinction and comprehensiveness, particularly in the areas of regulatory system development and the application of emerging technologies. In this fourth edition, a total of 139 research papers were accepted, comprising 119 submissions from the SFDA researchers and 20 from external sources, including nine research, governmental, and health entities. Over the course of the four editions, more than 603 scientific posters have been presented.
The research presented covered various fields relevant to the work of the SFDA, including human and veterinary medicines, herbal products, food, feed, pesticides, medical devices and supplies, and cosmetics. These valuable contributions were prepared by talented employees of the SFDA as well as distinguished researchers from several institutions, including King Faisal University, King Saud University, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), King Abdulaziz University, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, and King Abdullah Medical City.
During the event, several dialogue sessions focused on biotechnology in food, medicine, and medical devices. Additionally, lectures on food safety were presented by both international and local experts, alongside workshops dedicated to research. The event also featured an accompanying exhibition that showcased the participating research and included summaries of each study.