King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and King Abdul Aziz University (KAU) have signed an memorandum of understating (MoU) to work together and fund cancer research.
The two universities are also partnering in other areas including energy harvesting and storage, solar technology, renewable energy and desert agriculture.
The agreement is part of KAU’s plans to expand its partnerships and exchange ideas, and aims to help Saudi Arabia achieve its Vision 2030 development goals.
‘Today’s MoU cements an ongoing collaboration between the two universities which has been designed to support the Kingdom, particularly in these transformative times,’ said Tony Chan, president of KAUST. ‘The collaborative research efforts shared by KAUST and KAU will help drive innovation for a better future.’
Donal Bradley, vice president for research at KAUST, said: ‘It offers both institutions the opportunity to develop impactful projects that are both broader and deeper in scope. We look forward to seeing the fruits of this interaction grow over time.’
In 2018, there were a reported 24,485 new cancer cases and 10,518 cancer deaths in Saudi Arabia. Of the cancer deaths, Leukaemia was the number one cause with 8.7%, followed by breast cancer with 8.5%.
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