Alfaisal University fourth-year medical student and BioX researcher Kenan Alaa Badran has been awarded first place for his abstract presentation at the MENA SCOPE & Heart Failure Conference 2024. This recognition was awarded by the awarded by the Saudi Cardiac Clinical Pharmacists (SCCP) and Saudi Heart Failure groups at the conference held from December 27–28, 2024. The award highights Kenan’s outstanding contribution to the field of cardiovascular research and marks an important milestone for student-led innovation at Alfaisal University.
The project, titled: “Fibrosis-related Differences of Endomyocardial Immune Infiltrates in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF)”, investigates the role of immune cells in cardiac fibrosis and inflammation. By leveraging bioinformatics-driven analysis of immune infiltrates, the research sheds new light on the immunological mechanisms contributing to the progression of HFpEF—an increasingly prevalent but poorly understood subtype of heart failure.
The project was conducted under Alfaisal University’s BioX initiative, a research platform dedicated to advancing interdisciplinary inquiry in biomedical science. Kenan’s research journey has taken him across multiple leading academic forums in Saudi Arabia. In 2024, he delivered an oral presentation at the Saudi Heart Association (SHA) Conference (October 10–12, 2024) and showcased his findings at the KFSH Genomics Conference (January 22–23, 2025).
The work is set be presented internationally at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress in Madrid, August 2025—one of the most prestigious gatherings in cardiovascular medicine worldwide. Sharing his excitement for the upcoming showcase, Kenan Badran said “What began as a student research idea has grown into an opportunity to contribute to a global conversation on heart failure. I’ve learned the importance of mentorship, collaboration, and striving for scientific excellence—and I look forward to continuing this path in cardiovascular research.”
This success reflects Alfaisal University’s strategic efforts to integrate bioinformatics and translational medicine into student training. Kenan’s project serves as a model for how computational tools can be applied to uncover clinically relevant insights in cardiology, particularly in understudied disease subtypes like HFpEF.
“Kenan’s achievement represents the best of what we aim to nurture through the BioX initiative—curiosity, technical skill, and the courage to pursue meaningful questions,” said Dr. Ayman Mohamed, faculty mentor and director of BioX. “We are proud to see our students leading original research and preparing to present their work on the global stage.” Kenan’s continued progression signals a bright future in immunocardiology and Alfaisal University’s commitment to empowering student researchers to contribute to high-impact science with global relevance.
