Kuwait to Host "Precision Pediatrics: From Genomes to Care" Conference on October 9 and 10
AbdulKarim Al-Abdullah
Dr. Hind Al-Sharhan, President of the “Precision Pediatrics: From Genomes to Care” conference, announced that the event will be held on October 9 and 10 at the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Centre, under the patronage and attendance of Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health, Sheikh Dr. Salman Khalifa Al-Sabah. The conference is organized by the Kuwait Pediatric Society in collaboration with the Kuwait Academy for Rare Diseases and Philadelphia Children’s Hospital.
Dr. Al-Sharhan stated that the conference highlights the role of precision medicine in leveraging genetic information to improve disease diagnosis, guide the selection of the most appropriate treatment, and provide care tailored to each patient’s needs.
She added, “Patients and their families may face a long journey to reach a diagnosis, particularly in rare, genetic, and metabolic diseases. Genomics helps in understanding the causes of these diseases and guiding treatment and follow-up decisions. Hence, the conference’s message is to translate genetic knowledge into tangible benefits for patients and their families.”
She clarified that the role of genetic testing extends to supporting informed decision-making in premarital and preconception screening, as well as prenatal diagnosis, thereby enhancing prevention, early care, and genetic counseling for families.
She noted that the conference brings together a select group of experts and specialists from Kuwait, the Gulf region, and beyond to discuss the latest developments in genetic diagnosis and targeted therapies, and to exchange experiences regarding the application of precision medicine in clinical practice.
She explained that the scientific program covers experiences with genomic programs and premarital screening in the region, genetic sequencing in infants, metabolic and mitochondrial diseases, precision medicine in diabetes and obesity, and molecular diagnosis of pediatric tumors. It also discusses prenatal diagnosis, emerging techniques for in utero treatment and gene editing, alongside issues of genetic data privacy and security, medical liability, and the economics of rare diseases.
She emphasized that the participation of Philadelphia Children’s Hospital represents a significant scientific addition to the conference, given its expertise in pediatrics, genetics, and advanced treatments. The program includes a presentation on the case of child “KJ,” who received the first personalized gene-editing treatment for a patient, highlighting the prospects of translating genetic discoveries into individualized therapeutic interventions.
She added that the conference provides a platform for presenting research and scientific posters, discussing collaboration opportunities, and building a Gulf network for rare diseases, thereby supporting knowledge exchange and the development of patient care.
Dr. Al-Sharhan invited doctors, healthcare professionals, researchers, and students in health-related fields to attend and participate, and to benefit from the scientific program and opportunities for dialogue and collaboration, contributing to the advancement of pediatric and family care in Kuwait and the region.
