Human Variome Project

The Princess Jawhara Center of Excellence in Research and Hereditary Disorders joined the research team of the international Human Variome Project which aims to find ways to unify genetic data basing and curation. The HVP is supported by the WHO and UNESCO. The HVP is expected to find an appropriate treatment to each case, a hopefully big step in the development and progress in the field of medicine. It’s important to run tests on genetic mutations that are found in Saudis and Arabs rather than depending on those found in the West for they have different mutations.  

 The PACER-HD participated in the conference that was held in Costa Brava, Spain in May 2008. The director of the center, Dr Jumana Al-Aama presented a scientific report on Saudi Arabia’s role in contributing to the fundamentals of the human variome. PACER-HD managed to make relations with the team which resulted in a visit by the Convenor of the HVP, Dr Richard Cotton, to PACER-HD in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in March 2009. Dr Cotton is also Head of the Genomic Disorders Research Center at Florey Neuroscience Institute. During his visit, he gave a lecture on the HVP and led a workshop that explains how the center participates in the HVP. Also, research centers and hospitals in the region were invited to cooperate. Dr Al-Aama participated with Dr Cotton and other countries in a scientific research paper that was then published in one of the well-respected scientific magazines.

 The PACER-HD attracted a number of scholars and professionals in the field of genetics including the international research unit of the Human Variome. It represents the PACER-HD in King Abdulaziz University in studying the exposure of genes in what’s known as human variome as part of a group of other countries.

 The third HVP meeting was held at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris in May 2009. Representatives from 33 different countries were present. Dr Jumana Al-Aama presented a talk about the steps taken by the PACER-HD so far to establish an HVP working group in Jeddah in a session she co-chaired with Prof Raj Ramesar, Professor of Medical Genetics from South Africa.

 The president of KAU, Prof Osama Tayeb, and Deputy Director of Human Variome Project, Dr. Henry De Aizpurua, signed a collaboration agreement between the PACER-HD and the HVP on 25 May 2010 in Melbourne, Australia. The meeting was attended by the Saudi Minister of Higher Education, Dr Khalid Al-Angari, and other immanent members from both delegations. The agreement contract hopes to bring to fruition the initial efforts from both parties.