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Dr. Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, attended the celebration organized by the Medical Research Center (MASRI) at Ain Shams University under the slogan “Five Years of Excellence,” marking the fifth anniversary of its establishment. The event was held in the presence of Dr. Mohamed Diaa Zien El-Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University; Dr. Mohamed Awad Tag El-Din, Presidential Health and Prevention Advisor; Dr. Hossam El-Mallah, President of Nahda University and Senate Member; Dr. Ahmed Zaki Badr, Former Minister of Local Development; Dr. Mahmoud El-Metini, Former President of Ain Shams University; Dr. Maher Mesbah, Secretary of the Supreme Council of Private Universities; Dr. Ali El-Anwar, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Ain Shams University; Dr. Hisham El-Ghazali, Director of MASRI; along with the university’s vice presidents, deans, vice deans, department heads, research center directors, and a number of scientific and medical leaders.

Dr. Ashour highlighted that the Ain Shams Medical Research Center represents a scientific landmark reflecting the state’s vision to support scientific research and innovation to achieve sustainable development and advance education according to international standards. He emphasized that the center is a pioneering model for modern research centers, comprising advanced units such as Genome Analysis, Bioinformatics, Experimental Animals, Tissue Engineering, Advanced Microscopy, Cancer Biobank, Advanced Genetic Sequencing, and Proteomic Analysis, in addition to bioinformatics networks and regional biobanks. This research diversity exemplifies the integration between medicine and science, supporting the ministry’s direction toward multidisciplinary research for human and societal health.

The minister also pointed to the ministry’s role through the Egyptian Knowledge Bank in building researchers’ capacities via training programs, technical support, and research dissemination, alongside enhancing international partnerships that foster experience exchange and development of the research system at Ain Shams Medical Research Center. He praised the contributions of the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology and the Science, Technology, and Innovation Funding Authority (STDF) in establishing the center’s research infrastructure and funding high-impact projects, enabling the creation of state-of-the-art laboratories, such as the accredited genome lab, as well as supporting EGAC accreditation, reflecting the state’s commitment to advancing scientific research and innovation in Egypt.

Dr. Ashour emphasized the center’s excellence in advanced research and fruitful international collaborations, praising the university’s role in implementing the presidential initiative “Alliance and Development” and promoting interdisciplinary research. He reaffirmed the Ministry of Higher Education’s support for research projects, international scientific publishing, training and exchange programs, innovation, and technology transfer to serve society and the economy, acknowledging the university and center team’s efforts in enhancing scientific research and innovation.

Dr. Mohamed Awad Tag El-Din expressed his gratitude to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for his strong support of science, scientists, and the higher education and research system, noting that Egypt’s current scientific and research renaissance continues a long-standing civilizational journey, realized through major scientific projects such as advanced research centers and the Grand Egyptian Museum, reflecting the ingenuity and creativity of the Egyptian people.

He also highlighted the pivotal role of the Faculty of Medicine in supporting major presidential initiatives such as “100 Million Health” and the National Egyptian Genome Project, stressing the importance of digital transformation in medical education to align with national priorities in public health, genomic medicine, and climate change. Dr. Tag El-Din noted that the MASRI Medical Research Center is the result of continuous effort over the years, now entering a new phase of excellence and innovation that enhances Egypt’s global standing in scientific research.

Dr. Mohamed Diaa stated that MASRI was founded with a clear vision making scientific research and innovation the foundation of modern medicine for a healthier future. The center includes advanced units for genomics, personalized medicine, clinical trials, and a biobank, contributing to building databases that support discovery and targeted treatment. He affirmed that the center has become a model for integration between faculties, hospitals, and researchers, linking scientific research with human service and development, and that its achievements in international publications and global partnerships make it a proud representative of Egyptian scientific research.

Dr. Ali El-Anwar highlighted that science and research are national strengths aimed at enhancing human health and national development. He reaffirmed the Faculty of Medicine’s commitment to Egypt Vision 2030 and support of presidential initiatives like “100 Million Health,” focusing on digital transformation and directing research toward national priorities to convert scientific ideas into practical applications that serve sustainable development and improve citizens’ quality of life.

Dr. Hesham El-Ghazaly, Director of MASRI, expressed pride in the center’s achievements over five years, noting that it has become a fully integrated system with advanced units for genomics, clinical trials, biobank, tissue engineering, and bioinformatics, meeting the highest international standards. He stated that the center has published over 150 research papers in prestigious journals such as Nature, Science, and Lancet, and established international collaborations with major institutions in China and the United States. He affirmed that the center’s achievements align with Egypt Vision 2030 and that the next phase will expand genomic medicine, artificial intelligence, and researcher training to serve citizens and build an innovative healthcare future.

The event featured a documentary on MASRI, highlighting its advanced units, including the internationally accredited Genome and Precision Medicine Unit, Biobank, Clinical Trials Unit, Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering Unit, Bioinformatics, Animal House, One Health Unit, and Digital Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics Unit.

The celebration also included the handover of the Laboratory Accreditation Project for Higher Education Institutions (LIAP), transferring the project to the Genome Research Lab at MASRI in the presence of Dr. Osama Saqr, LIAP Project Director; Dr. Ahmed Al-Sabbagh, Executive Director of the Higher Education Project Development Unit; Dr. Sara Agwa, Genomics Unit Director at MASRI; Major General Dr. Mohamed El-Gohary, Director of Regenerative Medicine, Armed Forces; and Dr. Huda Sosa, Head of the Project Development Unit at Ain Shams University.