News | Female Saudi scholar to develop portable MRI scanner
A female medical researcher from Saudi Arabia is planning to develop a portable MRI scanner in a bid to ease the process of diagnosing organ, bone and tissue diseases for people in the Arab world.
Dr Hayat Sindi, who was recently ranked number nine on the CEO Middle East list of most powerful Arab women, wants to make MRI scanning simple and cheap, particularly for older patients and those who have joint disorders.
Most MRI scans take around 15-20 minutes to complete, and can be expensive. Sindi said her product aims to make the process more efficient, and should be available within three years.
Hayat Sindi, whose research into diagnostics and biotechnology is internationally recognised, is an advocate of affordable medicine. She began her career in the UK after acquiring a BSc degree in pharmacology from Kings College in London and a PhD in biotechnology from Cambridge University, for which she was awarded a scholarship.
As the first female in Gulf to gain such qualifications, her first step was to found Sonoptix Technology with Saudi seed funding. Here she developed a tool capable of cheaply diagnosing breast cancer early on through its ability to detect single molecules.
Sindi said the product was due to be launched in one of the third world countries very soon. Sindi has also recently begun another new venture, which involves helping young Arab scientists with their careers. The NGO, named the Institution of imagination and Ingenuity, aims to give opportunities to young local scholars by sponsoring their inventions, assisting them with their business plans and providing them with mentors.
(from Arabian Business)
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