DDI partners with the University of Oxford and the Gates Foundation
Published on 28/08/2025
DDI is proud to announce its partnership with the Gates Foundation and the University of Oxford in the Summer Academy for the Social Science of Health Innovation (SASHI). The Academy builds on Oxford’s legacy in health research while creating a new space for interdisciplinary and translational approaches to health innovation.
DDI’s participation reflects the Institute’s commitment to tackling the national burden of diabetes and non-communicable diseases through global collaboration and cutting-edge research. By joining this initiative, DDI ensures that Kuwaiti researchers, clinicians, and policymakers are actively trained and represented in critical conversations shaping the future of health innovation.
The Academy took place from 18 to 20 August and featured keynote lectures, innovative methodology workshops, and panel discussions. SASHI 2025 culminated in a poster prize presentation and networking session, giving participants the opportunity to showcase their projects and establish connections that will continue beyond Oxford.
First place was awarded to DDI researcher Aisha Alsaqabi for her project Breaking Research Barriers: Childhood-Onset Diabetes e-Registry as a Model for Population Health Innovation. The first runner-up prize also went to a DDI researcher, Durra Alsumaiti, for her study Improving Diabetes Care in Kuwait: Comparing the Effects of a Low-Calorie Diet on Weight, HbA1c, and Medication Use in Adults with Overweight and Obesity.
Further joint research activities are planned with the University of Oxford, including interdisciplinary training workshops in Kuwait and the hosting of Kuwaiti research fellows at Oxford, deepening bilateral collaboration.
Dr Faisal Hamed Al-Refaei, Acting Director General of DDI, stated: “Through this partnership, we are fostering the next generation of scientific leaders by equipping Kuwaiti researchers with emerging methodologies and global networks to address diabetes in Kuwait through innovation. This strengthens our ability to improve care, reduce the national health burden, and position Kuwait as a leader in shaping the future of health.”
Together, DDI, the University of Oxford, and the Gates Foundation are advancing a shared commitment to innovation and human capital development in health research, shaping the future of global health.
