AI, Genomics and the Future of Health Care - By Dr. Lisa J. Strug
Alfaisal University Hosts Dr. Lisa J. Strug for Talk on AI, Genomics and the Future of Health Care
On September 1, 2026, Alfaisal University welcomed Dr. Lisa J. Strug, a leading statistical geneticist and Director of the Data Sciences Institute at the University of Toronto, for a special talk titled "A Vision for AI and Data Science in Academia: Applications in Genomics and Health Care." The visit was held with the support of Dr. Khaled Al-Kattan, Dean of the College of Medicine.
Hosted by the Global Health Hub, the visit was led by Dr. Baraa Alghalyini, Vice Dean of the College of Medicine, Director of the Global Health Hub, and Chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen international academic and research partnerships. The session was hosted and moderated by Dr. Abdul Rehman Zia Zaidi.
Dr. Strug discussed the role of universities in the age of artificial intelligence, highlighting three key responsibilities: framing public and policy conversations, defining the skills required in the field, and advancing methods that translate data into clinical benefit. She also highlighted the Data Sciences Institute's training programs, which have reached more than 130 faculty members and 1,132 professionals since 2022, as well as its work on federated analysis, allowing researchers to study data across jurisdictions without transferring it across borders.
Dr. Strug is a Professor of Statistical Sciences, Computer Science and Biostatistics at the University of Toronto and holds a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Genome Data Sciences. Her visit was connected to Alfaisal University's ongoing engagement with The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and broader efforts to strengthen research collaboration with Canadian institutions.
Beyond the lecture, Dr. Strug met with University leadership to discuss potential collaboration in data science, health research, and Saudi-Canadian academic partnerships. At the close of the session, Dr. Baraa Alghalyini presented her with a commemorative plaque on behalf of Alfaisal University.
1 September 2026; Alfaisal University campus, Riyadh
