Riyadh — 19 Jumada al-Awwal 1447 AH / 10 November 2025.

The "Space Lead 25" conference opened today at Alfaisal University in Riyadh, bringing together a select group of scientists, doctors, researchers and specialists in space science, health and biomedical engineering, alongside a number of local and international speakers, in a scientific event exploring the growing relationship between space and human health.

The conference aims to spotlight scientific developments in artificial intelligence and biomedical engineering and their role in supporting space medicine research, and promoting the sustainability of human health on Earth and in future space environments, as part of national efforts to support the knowledge economy and applied scientific research.

HRH Princess Dr. Maha bint Mishari bin Abdulaziz, Vice President of Alfaisal University for External Relations and Development and chair of the conference's Higher Committee, affirmed in her opening remarks that the conference represents a strategic step toward the future of medicine and engineering in exploring space and understanding its impact on human health, stressing the importance of cooperation between universities and research and industrial sectors to promote innovation in space medicine.

Dr. Khaled Al-Qahtan, chair of the conference's Scientific Committee, presented the conference's themes, which focus on the future of health and advanced engineering in space environments, affirming that the event is an extension of the university's vision of supporting applied research that blends technology, medicine and space.

On the sidelines of the conference, a scientific session titled "Opportunities and Developments in Earth and Space Exploration" was held, presented by Dr. Charles Elachi, former director of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and professor emeritus at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), who addressed the pivotal role of space research in developing treatments and understanding human physiology in low-gravity environments.

Participants discussed the future of the Kingdom's space sector within the framework of Saudi Vision 2030, focusing on enabling biomedical research in space and turning it into innovative opportunities that contribute to strengthening the knowledge economy and developing national capabilities in science, innovation and technology.