KAUST BESE

Making CRISPR smaller without losing precision is no easy feat. Researchers at KAUST have developed a compact gene-editing system that stays highly accurate while reducing off-target edits - a combination that could make future therapies easier to deliver. Worth a read: discovery.kaust.edu.sa/en/article/271… #CRISPR #GeneEditing #Biotech #KAUST

🌱 What can a wild grass teach us about the future of agriculture? Quite a lot, it turns out. Researchers from BESE at KAUST have uncovered the genetic and evolutionary secrets that allow saltgrass to thrive in highly saline environments. By understanding how this remarkable plant naturally tolerates salt, they're advancing knowledge that could help scientists develop crops better suited to growing in increasingly challenging conditions. As soil salinization continues to threaten agricultural productivity around the world, discoveries like this highlight how fundamental plant science can contribute to building more resilient food systems. Explore the story behind the research and its potential impact: discovery.kaust.edu.sa/en/article/271… #BESE #KAUST #PlantScience #Genomics #FoodSecurity #ClimateResilience #Sustainability #Research #Agriculture

Congratulations to Dr. Dario R. Shaw on receiving the Best Presentation Award at the International Water Association (IWA) Nutrient Removal and Recovery Conference 2026. The award recognizes Dr. Shaw's research on a novel salt-tolerant anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox) bacterium cultured from the Red Sea, with the potential to transform the treatment of high-salinity wastewater. The work could support more sustainable wastewater treatment by reducing energy demand while advancing water reuse—an important step toward addressing water scarcity and supporting Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. Presented at one of the world's leading conferences on wastewater treatment, nutrient removal, and resource recovery, this recognition highlights the international impact of KAUST research in environmental biotechnology. Congratulations to Dr. Shaw and the team on this outstanding achievement! Read more: bese.kaust.edu.sa/news/detail/20… #EnvironmentalBiotechnology #WastewaterTreatment #WaterInnovation #KAUST @SaikalyPascal

We are proud to celebrate KAUST's achievement of entering the Global Top 50 in the 2026 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, placing 48th among more than 1,600 universities worldwide. The rankings recognize how universities contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through research, education, innovation, and partnerships. For BESE, this recognition is especially meaningful because many of KAUST's strongest-performing SDGs align closely with the Division's research strengths, including: 💧 SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation 🏙️ SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities 🌊 SDG 14 – Life Below Water This achievement reflects the collective efforts of the entire KAUST community. BESE is proud to contribute through the work of its faculty, researchers, postdoctoral fellows, students, technical staff, alumni, and collaborators. Together, they advance knowledge and support the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030. Congratulations to the entire KAUST community on this outstanding achievement. Read more: 🔗 kaust.edu.sa/en/news/kaust-… Learn more about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: 🔗 sdgs.un.org/goals #KAUST #BESE #THEImpactRankings #SDGs #Sustainability #CleanWater #LifeBelowWater #SustainableCities #ResearchImpact #SaudiVision2030

Congratulations to Batool Albar on being selected for the prestigious Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting! 🎉 Batool is a Ph.D. candidate in Environmental Science & Engineering (BESE) working with Prof. Himanshu Mishra and serves as General Manager of Terraxy, a KAUST startup advancing sustainable solutions for arid environments. A proud moment for BESE and KAUST as she joins an exceptional group of young scientists selected to engage with Nobel laureates. 🌍🔬 Read more: kaust.edu.sa/en/news/five-k… #LindauNobelMeeting #BESE #EnvironmentalScience #WomenInSTEM #Terraxy @

New from @KAUST_News: the first global assessment of marine ecosystems during a year when global warming exceeded 1.5°C. The study provides critical evidence of how climate change is reshaping ocean ecosystems and the urgency of accelerating solutions. Kudos to Prof. Carlos Duarte @carlosduartephd and lead author Research Scientist Dr. Shannon Klein for their contributions to this important research. kaust.edu.sa/en/news/first-… #ClimateChange #OceanScience #MarineEcosystems #KAUST

🌱 When we think about disease prevention, soil probably isn't the first thing that comes to mind. But the biodiversity living beneath our feet helps regulate pathogens, supports healthy ecosystems and contributes to the health of plants, animals and people. Researchers are calling for soil biodiversity to be recognized as an important part of the global health picture. Protecting the life in our soils isn't just an environmental issue - it could also help reduce disease risks and build more resilient communities. Read more about why soil biodiversity deserves a place in public health conversations: discovery.kaust.edu.sa/en/article/270… #SoilBiodiversity #SoilHealth #OneHealth #PublicHealth #Sustainability #KAUST

What if a fluorescent tag could do more than make DNA visible? Researchers at KAUST discovered that adding the Cy5 dye to CRISPR repair templates significantly boosts precise genome editing and improves cell survival across human stem cells, heart organoids and blastoid models. The simple modification enhanced correction of disease-relevant mutations, including those associated with sickle cell disease, while helping preserve normal cellular function. A small chemical change. A big impact on genome repair. Read the paper: doi.org/10.1038/s41467… #CRISPR #GenomeEditing #KAUST #Biotech #StemCells #PrecisionMedicine @Mo_Li_KAUST @ShmsLab

A KAUST spinout is scaling desert greening technology from research to real-world deployment. Terraxy has secured a Seed-2 round led by @Waed_Ventures, with KAUST participation, to scale soil-regeneration technologies for landscaping and carbon capture in desert environments. kaust.news/xgs0

Professor Jessica Zamborain Mason @JZamborainMason recently participated in the launch workshop of the #RedSeaFish project in Cairo, joining experts and representatives from seven Red Sea countries to advance sustainable fisheries management, regional cooperation, and marine ecosystem resilience. 🌊🐟 Implemented by @FAO and executed by @WorldFishCenter, the initiative supports science-based solutions for the future of Red Sea fisheries. Learn more: fao.org/neareast/news/… #RedSea #MarineScience #BlueEconomy #Sustainability #Fisheries

Could soil microbes help tackle plastic pollution? 🌱 KAUST researchers identified enzymes from soil microbes that can break down PET plastics, opening new possibilities for sustainable plastic waste management. Read more: discovery.kaust.edu.sa/en/article/270… #KAUST #Sustainability #Biotech @Rosado_AS @Jimenez_ADJ

Congratulations to Professor Wada and his student Yara Elborolosy on being featured in @ArabNews. Their story highlights the power of mentorship, collaboration, and scientific discovery in tackling global challenges. Read more: arabnews.com/node/2646967/s… #Science #Research #KAUST

Corals may face more than bleaching during marine heatwaves. New research shows that microscopic cilia that help corals transport oxygen can collapse under extreme heat, creating severe oxygen stress and accelerating mortality. A new physiological tipping point for coral survival in a warming ocean. 🔗 bese.kaust.edu.sa/news/detail/20… #CoralReefs #OceanScience #ClimateChange @pacherres_co @MicroSensing

🌱 How do plants survive extreme heat? KAUST researchers discovered that a chlorophyll-producing enzyme (PORC) forms protective stress granules that help Arabidopsis maintain photosynthesis and recover from heat stress. Led by Prof. Monika Chodasiewicz (BESE Division) @StressGranuleMC, the study was spearheaded by Dr. Fatema Alquraish @AlquraishFatema, who earned her Ph.D. in the lab and now continues collaborating as a visiting researcher. Fatema studies membraneless organelles and their functions. 🔗 discovery.kaust.edu.sa/en/article/270… #KAUST #PlantScience #BESE #ClimateResilience

Protecting the ocean starts with understanding how marine life actually uses it. A KAUST-led study co-authored by Professor Carlos Duarte @carlosduartephd mapped the movements of whales, sharks, turtles, and other marine megafauna, revealing that protected areas alone may not be enough to safeguard these species. 🔗 discovery.kaust.edu.sa/en/article/270… #MarineScience #OceanConservation #KAUST #CarlosDuarte

Corals don't just build reefs—they also record the chemical footprint of human activity in the ocean. A new KAUST study found Red Sea corals absorb pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and other contaminants, offering a powerful way to track pollution and protect reef ecosystems. 🔗 discovery.kaust.edu.sa/en/article/270… #RedSea #CoralReefs #MarineScience #KAUST @sacKAUST

What if protecting marine life starts with understanding how it moves? In the latest edition of KAUST In Two, marine ecologist @carlosduartephd shares insights from the global MegaMove initiative, which tracked more than 15,000 marine animals across 100+ species to uncover how life moves through the ocean. disc.kaust.link/wz2z

🌍 The environment is something we all share — and something we all shape through the choices we make every day. Today's World Environment Day, it’s a good moment to reflect on how closely connected we are to the world around us, from the air we breathe to the oceans, ecosystems, and communities that sustain us. Small actions matter, but so does collective effort. Science, innovation, and collaboration all have a role to play in creating a healthier and more sustainable future. #WorldEnvironmentDay #Sustainability #Environment #ClimateAction

A KAUST-led study reveals that lactate does more than fuel the brain. Produced by astrocytes, it also acts as a signaling molecule that strengthens neuronal connections involved in learning and memory by boosting NMDA receptor activity. 🧠⚡ A promising new pathway for treating neurological disorders. discovery.kaust.edu.sa/en/article/270… #KAUST #Neuroscience #BrainResearch