Vision
Leadership locally, regionally and globally in the field of translational medical sciences research.
Mission
Strengthening the field of translational medical research at the university to contribute to providing therapeutic services and innovative and advanced medical products that contribute to improving human health.
Values
Inclusion, mastery, team spirit, innovation, creativity, social responsibility.
The General Objective and Sub-Objectives
The Transitional Research Center aims to:
- Achieving its mission to strengthen the field of translational medical research at the university to contribute to providing therapeutic services and innovative and advanced medical products that contribute to improving human health.
- The center works under the guidance of His Excellency the Vice President for Scientific Research and Innovation - based on this general goal - and in coordination with the various research and scientific centers at the university and with researchers in the various colleges of the university to achieve the following sub-objectives:
- Developing basic laboratory research that enhances our understanding of pathological conditions, as well as laboratory research that explains the mechanisms of interaction of the body’s cells and tissues with biological materials, devices, and tools used to treat patients.
- Linking and interacting between basic and clinical research, and finding a way to develop new knowledge of disease mechanisms into clinically relevant concepts and clinically tested diagnostic and therapeutic systems.
- Accelerating access to therapeutic strategies that achieve high effectiveness compared to current treatments and with a minimum of unwanted side complications.
- Develop diagnostic methods based on techniques for analyzing gene and protein expression and linking them to diseases and health problems, and employing these methods in the early detection of these diseases, as well as in monitoring the response to treatments and predicting future problems.
- Providing researchers with scientific research designs, proposing research methods, tools and materials, and providing consultations and data analysis services.
- Facilitating raising the level of cooperation between distinguished researchers within research centers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and elsewhere.
- Working to coordinate training, guidance and development for all basic and clinical researchers.
Research Center Units
1. Research Planning and Monitoring Performance Indicators Unit
The Research Planning Unit specializes in cooperating with researchers in designing various research studies, which include basic, pre-clinical and clinical research. The unit also provides services related to drafting and editing documents related to research grant applications and creating project proposals in areas and specializations of interest, as well as when applying for ethical approvals and registering Clinical studies in relevant databases such as the Saudi Food and Drug Authority and clinical study registration sites. The unit is also responsible for project management and coordination between the various laboratories and units in the center, including the statistical and clinical unit. The unit is also responsible for assisting in appointing assistant crews and research laboratory technicians according to the type of research and tests it involves. In addition to activating follow-up mechanisms and monitoring performance indicators in the center, this unit will monitor all effective and relevant medical, vital, and biological research and direct it to working on translating it into clinical research and following it up until it is implemented and used by health care systems.
2. Logistics and Bio-Innovation Units
This unit manages and supervises the safe transportation of all samples and biological materials, to and from the center, considering their high value and their sensitivity to various factors such as temperature, time, etc. The unit also supervises the biorepository specialized in processing and storing all tissue samples used in translational research at the center or its cooperating hospitals and colleges. The unit's role also includes managing activities that enable purchasing, inventory management, and all services necessary to support scientific research.
3. Statistical Analysis and Scientific Data Management Unit
The Statistical Unit provides consultation and statistical services in the field of basic, pre-clinical and clinical trials. It also provides statistical analysis and processing services for data derived from medical databases, and complex data analysis such as data from genomic studies. These services and consultations extend during all stages of research projects, from the initial stage (such as calculating the sample size), to organizing and preparing data for analysis using statistical analysis tools.
4. Clinical Studies Unit
This unit specializes in conducting clinical trials in the center’s various research fields. It can receive patients from all hospitals and hospitals affiliated with Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University throughout the eastern region. The unit focuses on conducting the first phase or developing the second phase (P2) of translational research. The unit is equipped with the necessary equipment and materials to prepare, preserve, and send patient samples for molecular analyzes and various tests in the laboratory unit.
5. Training and Development Unit
This Unit specializes in everything related to training and disseminating knowledge to employees of the center and the university. Futhermore, the unit’s activities can be extended to interested researchers, technicians, and those wishing to train from the surrounding community.
6. Knowledge Transfer Unit
The Knowledge Transfer Unit translates the Center's translational research into community practices and uses through technology and knowledge transfer processes, through processes that provide economic and social benefits to the Translational Medical Sciences Research Center, relevant industrial sectors, and society. In the long term, the unit will focus on improving the quality of emerging technical knowledge transfers, especially with regard to creating new commercialization opportunities for research results, by increasing human resources by integrating experts qualified in strategic issues, especially in issues of intellectual property, public and private projects, and the transfer or imitation of international technology.
The tasks of the Knowledge Transfer Unit are as follows:
Collaboration with Manufacturing
Patents and Licensing Agreements
Collaboration with Technology Centers, Platforms, and Groups
Innovation Events, Exhibitions, and Competitions
Individual Companies
7. Maintenance and Information Technology Unit
The unit concerned with developing technical systems, their periodic maintenance, and providing technical support services
8. Financial and Administrative Affairs Unit
The unit is responsible for managing administrative and financial operations, which includes developing a financial strategy and related standards, as well as submitting reports on comprehensive and accurate financial results.
9. Bio-Safety Unit
Advances in the field of biotechnology and biomedical research have led to the establishment of highly advanced laboratories with different levels of bio-risk in many fields such as microbiology, immunology, genetics, nanotechnology, etc. Some research laboratories, such as those dealing with highly pathogenic materials, genetically modified organisms, and infectious disease outbreaks, pose greater health concerns due to their potentially higher biological risks to humans and the environment combined. These bio-risks can be controlled and contained through the correct implementation of internationally approved procedures such as proper handling of laboratory equipment, adequate facilities, identification and containment of laboratory emergencies, and appropriate training and education of workers in laboratories.
10. Laboratory Unit
Includes all pre-clinical laboratories:
- Biomaterials laboratory
- Tissue anatomy
- Molecular biology laboratory
- Microbiology laboratory
- Bioimaging laboratory
