Rewriting Beginnings: How KFSHRC is Using Genomics to Transform Prenatal Care
Through its Preventive Fetal Screening Program, KFSHRC now screens for more than 300 genes linked to severe hereditary conditions. The effort has already provided early genetic insights to 1,104 pregnant women, preventing 276 disorders and saving an estimated 360 million riyals for the Saudi healthcare system. Each figure represents not just a cost avoided but a life changed before it even begins.
The program uses Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and Non Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) to map potential genetic risks early in pregnancy, helping physicians anticipate complications and tailor care to each family’s genetic profile. It now reaches about 1,500 families each year and recently expanded its capacity to detect more than 500 additional genetic diseases, bringing the vision of preventive and personalized maternal care closer to reality.
The approach is as much philosophical as technological. By combining advanced screening, therapeutic planning, and surgical precision, KFSHRC aims to redefine prenatal medicine as an act of empowerment rather than anxiety. Expectant mothers are no longer waiting for answers; they are part of the diagnostic process, equipped with knowledge and agency.
KFSHRC has been ranked first in the Middle East and North Africa and fifteenth globally among the world’s top 250 academic medical centers for 2025 and recognized by Brand Finance as the region’s most valuable healthcare brand. It is also listed among Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals 2025, Best Smart Hospitals 2026, and Best Specialized Hospitals 2026.
Riyadh
King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre
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