TAIF — Two Saudi women researchers have won the prestigious L'Oreal-UNESCO Middle East Fellowship for Women in Science 2019. Dr. Wafa Al-Talhi and Dr. Asma Al-Amoudi, researchers at the University of Taif, were chosen for this honor in its sixth edition in recognition and supporting of their outstanding contributions to help drive scientific progress in the Middle East region. Al-Talhi was honored, in the post-doctoral awards category, in recognition of her research on improving the health of patients without relying on organ donors. Dr. Al-Amoudi was honored, in the category of doctoral students, in recognition of her research on the development of the use of specific stem cells for the treatment of blood diseases such as leukemia. Al-Talhi said that her research is based on the use of bioengineering to manufacture human organs, through the use of patient cells and the production of tissues and organs arteries and veins that are ready for transplantation without the need for a donor. "Winning of the Fellowship is encouraging, and a recognition for her years of scientific research with steady progress," she pointed out. The L'Oréal Foundation and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have been supporting and honoring creative researchers and highlighting their achievements in the scientific fields, as well as in supporting gender equality, and encouraging more girls and women to specialize in science. It is noteworthy that UNESCO created the International Awards L'Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science honors in 1998, and presenting every year to five eminent women scientists from five regions of the world. Alternating every other year, these exceptional researchers are rewarded for their important contributions to the progress of science, either in life sciences or in the fields of physical sciences, mathematics and computer science. The program has so far honored 3,200 exceptional women scientists from 115 countries, besides 97 women have won awards for excellence in science, out of whom three scientists were granted Nobel Prize.
