Kuwait Hosts Conference on 'Precision Pediatrics: From Genomes to Care'
Conference Chair Dr. Hind Al-Sharhan announces events at the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Centre
Translated by Qiyas from الجريدة — Original source
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, 2026, at the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Center, under the patronage and attendance of the Assistant Minister 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.
In a press statement, Dr. Al-Sharhan said 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 deliver 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. This is the core message of the conference: translating genetic knowledge into tangible benefits for patients and their families.”
She explained 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 distinguished group of experts and specialists from Kuwait, the Gulf region, and beyond to discuss the latest advances in genetic diagnosis and targeted therapies, and to exchange experiences on applying precision medicine in clinical practice.
The scientific program covers genomic programs and premarital screening experiences 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 technologies for in utero treatment and gene editing, data privacy and security of genetic information, medical liability, and the economics of rare diseases.
Dr. Al-Sharhan 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 “KG,” who received the first customized gene-editing treatment for a patient, highlighting the prospects of translating genetic discoveries into individualized therapeutic interventions.
She 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 development of pediatric and family care in Kuwait and the region.
