Saudi Arabia has launched a new initiative to study the genetic factors that can cause the symptoms of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as part of its efforts to battle the pandemic.
In a report by Arab News, King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and the Saudi Center for Disease Prevention and Control (Weqaya) will study the various levels of severity COVID-19 cases among citizens through zeroing in on the genetic sequence of the patients.
According to KACST chief Dr. Anas bin Faris Al-Faris, the study will contribute to developing new and efficient treatment against the disease.
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“The initiative will contribute in building national genetic databases in cooperation with the health sector and developing solutions and strategic plans to protect the population of the Kingdom and those most at risk of contracting the disease, in addition to increasing the efficiency of current treatment methods and the development of new drugs,” Arab News quoted him as saying.
Weqaya CEO Dr. Abdullah Al-Quweizani, meanwhile, stated that the research is part of the genetic studies being done in the Kingdom to further understand the pandemic and its varying effects among patients.
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