Sunday 31 / August / 2025
Muscat: Omani student Taif Obaid Al Qaidi from the University of A’Sharqiyah has developed a scientific project focusing on cancer treatment using genetically modified bacteria. This achievement earned her first place and the opportunity to represent the Sultanate of Oman at the Falling Walls Lab International Forum, hosted in Berlin, Germany, this November.
The project employs genetically modified bacteria as an innovative vehicle to directly target the tumor microenvironment and attack it from within—either by secreting anti-cancer agents or by stimulating the immune system to combat the tumor.
Al Qaidi explained that the project aims to develop a targeted therapy that precisely attacks cancer cells while reducing the side effects associated with chemotherapy. It also opens new horizons in the field of oncology.
She highlighted the expected positive outcomes, including the bacteria’s ability to specifically target tumor areas, minimizing harm to healthy cells, and increasing the chances of controlling or shrinking tumours. This offers new hope for treating advanced cases that do not respond to conventional therapies.
She added that the project stands out for its use of intelligent microorganisms as a therapeutic approach, unlike most projects that focus on chemical or radiation-based drugs. It combines biological therapy with genetic engineering and paves the way for personalised treatments tailored to each patient and their specific tumor type.
She further noted that future goals for the project include developing a bacteria-based prototype for clinical trials, collaborating with international research centers and universities to validate the treatment’s efficacy and safety, expanding the research to cover multiple types of cancerous tumors, and patenting the idea as an Omani contribution to the global fight against cancer.
