Sidra Medicine to Host 12th Edition of Precision Medicine and the Future of Genomics Summit

Doha, September 15, 2026 : Marking 12 years of advancing precision medicine and genomics in Qatar, the MENA region, and beyond, Sidra Medicine is set to host the Precision Medicine and the Future of Genomics (PMFG) Summit 2026. The summit will be held from December 7 to 9, 2026, at the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC).

Fakhro Highlights Sidra's Legacy in Precision Medicine

Commenting on the occasion, Chief Research Officer at Sidra Medicine and Executive Chair of PMFG Summit 2026 Prof. Khalid Fakhro said that since hosting the first major precision medicine symposium in the Middle East in 2014, Sidra Medicine has continued to lead regional and global dialogue on personalized healthcare. He noted that PMFG has evolved alongside Sidra's progress in precision medicine and genomics, adding that advances in genomics, artificial intelligence, and data science are now creating new opportunities to transform disease prediction, diagnosis, and treatment. Through PMFG Summit 2026, he said, the goal is to bring together global expertise to accelerate the translation of these discoveries into meaningful improvements in patient care.

Four Scientific Pillars to Anchor This Year's Summit

This year's edition will focus on four scientific pillars: building globally representative, population-scale genomic infrastructure; AI-driven discovery and the regulatory ecosystems needed to govern it; rare, metabolic, and Mendelian disease genomics in high-consanguinity populations; and translating genomic discovery into deployed, equitable care.

Akil Highlights Push for More Inclusive Genetic Research

Dr. Ammira Akil, Principal Investigator and Director of the Metabolic and Mendelian Translational Program at Sidra Medicine and Managing Chair of PMFG Summit 2026, said that for decades, most genetic research has focused on a limited portion of the world's population. She noted that this year's summit brings together scientists working to change that, including researchers building genetic maps that include African, Chinese, and Vietnamese ancestry.

National Genome Projects, Newborn Screening in Focus

The event will also feature experts presenting national genome projects across the Global South, including in Pakistan, Egypt, Peru, and Ghana, as well as in Qatar, with updates on newborn screening programs in populations where genetic conditions are more prevalent.

AI to Feature Prominently Across the Program

Artificial intelligence will be a major theme throughout this year's program, spanning generative AI systems designing new drug candidates, quantum computing accelerating genomic analysis, deep learning models predicting disease risk across national populations, and international collaborations training AI across borders without moving underlying patient data. The summit will also address the challenges of governing AI-driven medicine responsibly as it advances faster than existing regulatory frameworks.

Live Debates to Tackle Key Industry Questions

This year's program features live debates, including a session on whether the traditional blockbuster drug model can survive in an era of personalized medicine, and a closing debate on whether population genomics will truly reach the patients who need it most. The program also includes specialized workshops, scientific poster presentations, and networking opportunities designed to encourage collaboration across research, clinical practice, and technology.

Summit Open to Wide Range of Professionals

PMFG Summit 2026 is open to clinicians and pediatricians, scientific researchers and geneticists, data scientists and bioinformaticians, public health officials and policymakers, as well as biotechnology innovators and industry leaders.

Source: QNA