KUWAIT: A team of researchers from the Dasman Diabetes Institute (DDI), established by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, has obtained a patent from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for a new diagnostic test for sleep apnea. The achievement reflects the institute’s commitment to applied research and innovation to advance community health. The patent covers a qualitative blood test that enables early detection of sleep apnea, a common disorder linked to serious complications if left untreated, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease, such as angina and heart attacks. This is the first of three patents currently in development.
The innovation is the result of the efforts of Dr Abdul Mohsen Ibrahim Al-Turki, Consultant Otorhinolaryngologist and Head and Neck Surgeon at the Ministry of Health and Chair of the College of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery at the Kuwait Institute for Medical Specialties (KIMS). Dr Al-Turki collaborated closely with the research team at Dasman Diabetes Institute under the supervision of Professor Fahad Al-Mulla, Chief Scientific Officer, and with support from Dr Faisal Hamed Al-Refaei, Acting Director General of the Institute.
The success highlights a distinguished partnership between the Dasman Diabetes Institute and the Sabah Al-Ahmad Center for Giftedness and Creativity, under KFAS. The foundation continues to strengthen Kuwait’s scientific research and innovation ecosystem by supporting local scientists, empowering young talent, and launching advanced programs that enhance research quality and contribute to community development, elevating Kuwait’s scientific standing regionally and internationally.
