RIYADH, KSA, January 05, 2025 – Hevolution Foundation, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, announced the recipients of its second Open Call for Grants Application in Saudi Arabia, a program driving the Kingdom’s leadership in the biology of aging.

Thirteen exceptional scientists from leading Saudi institutions have been awarded two-year research grants, each worth up to 500,000 SAR, totalling 6.5 million SAR, to strengthen national capacity and capability in healthspan science.

The announcement builds on the first round of awards launched in 2023, which supported a diverse group of eleven researchers across the Kingdom. Together, these initiatives form the foundation of Saudi Arabia’s growing aging biology research ecosystem, aligned with Vision 2030’s focus on innovation and health.

“What excites me most is what these awards mean for everyday families in Saudi Arabia,” said Dr. Mehmood Khan, CEO of Hevolution Foundation. “These scientists are working so our parents, our children, and future generations can live healthier for longer.  That is something every person in the Kingdom can be proud of.”

Dr. Bandar Alghanem of the King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), one of this year’s grantees, shared “Absolutely delighted and honored to receive a grant from Hevolution Foundation! Their belief in my research is truly inspiring. I'm looking forward to diving deeper into proteomics and healthy aging and transforming this incredible opportunity into impactful discoveries.”

2025 Grant Recipients and Research Projects

Fakeeh College for Medical Sciences (FCMS)

• Dr. Sara Elfarrash, Co-PI  Dr. Moahmmad Ardawi and Dr. Safaa Turkistan– AL-SAHA: A Longitudinal Study of Saudi Arabian Healthy Aging

Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University (IAU)

• Dr. Huseyin Tombuloglu – Effect of Young Plasma Transfer on Aged Intestinal Tissue Antimicrobial Peptide Mechanism in Rats: Microbiome and Transcriptome Analyses

King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC)

• Dr. Hassan Alamri – Sugar Alcohols and Organic Acids as Markers for Aging
• Dr. Lubna Alnasser – Quantification of Biological Aging in a Sub-Population of Saudi Arabia
• Dr. Bandar Alghanem – Age-dependent proteomics profiling of the complement system and its association with Th17 cells in human healthy subjects
• Dr. Rawan Alnafisah – GSK3 Phosphorylation Dynamics During Sleep-Wake Cycles and Their role in Healthy Aging
• Dr. Sameer Mohammad – The effect of age on IGF-1 bioactivity and the IGF-1R signaling system in healthy humans.

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)

• Dr. Nouf Laqtom – LysoClock: Lysosome-Specific Clock for Brain Aging
• Dr. Leena Ibrahim – Impact of early life inflammation on cortical neurogliaform cells and subsequent cognitive decline in aging
• Dr. Bruno Reversade – A novel Segmental progeroid syndrome driven by IVNS1ABP deficiency

King Saud University (KSU)

• Dr. Shaun Sabico – Understanding the Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Age-Related Changes in NLRP3 Inflammasome Activity
• Dr. Meshail Okla and Co-PI Dr. Jamal Alzahrani The Impact of Heat Stroke on Adipose Tissue Aging and Frailty Development. 

University of Tabuk

• Dr. Nehal Elsherbiny and Co-PI Dr. Eman Alamri and Dr. Amany Tawfik– Unlocking the Link: Nutritional Deficiency and Blood Barrier Dysfunction in Aging Eye and Brain, Unveiling the Role of TRP Channels, Ca+2 Influx, and Stress Pathways

Building Momentum for Saudi Aging Science

Since its inception, Hevolution Foundation has allocated more than 1.5Bn SAR globally to advance the science of healthy aging through research grants, venture investments, and strategic collaborations.

Hevolution Foundation reaffirms its mission to extend healthy human lifespan for all, mobilizing the science, innovation, and investment needed to make healthier, longer lives a shared global reality.