News highlights
7 August 2025
The Noura Biobank, affiliated with the Center for Research in Natural and Health Sciences at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, provided services to more than 700 beneficiaries during the past academic year, supported over 15 research projects in collaboration with local and international institutions, and contributed to the publication of more than 20 peer-reviewed scientific papers, reinforcing its role as a specialized research platform in the field of biobanking. The Biobank aims to strengthen scientific research, medical applications, and personalized medicine through an advanced research environment that enables researchers to conduct high-quality studies in biomedical sciences, public health, and precision medicine, contributing to national healthcare innovation and improved quality of life in alignment with Vision 2030. Noura Biobank enhanced its leadership by earning ISO 20387 accreditation from the Saudi Accreditation Center, in addition to the BRC-00695 certification from the Office of Biobank Education and Research at the University of British Columbia and recognition from the Canadian Tissue Repository Network (CTRNet), making PNU the first Saudi university to achieve two international accreditations in this field. The number of stored biological samples exceeded 5,000, including malignant and benign tissues, blood, adipose, and muscle samples, forming a clinical and biological database that supports precision medicine and innovative health solutions addressing national research priorities such as oncology, diabetes, genomics, rare diseases, community health, and lifestyle research. To support advanced analytics, the Biobank expanded its infrastructure with more than 20 high-technology instruments, including electron microscopes, liquid nitrogen freezing systems, tissue processors, and equipment for DNA/RNA extraction and analysis, sample collection, biobanking procedures, advanced microscopy, and clinical and genomic data management. The Biobank continues to contribute to sustainable health solutions by supporting evidence-based research and providing high-quality biological resources in alignment with Princess Nourah University’s 2025 Strategic Plan, which aims to empower women, enhance quality of life, and advance a knowledge-based innovation-driven economy.
