Jawhara Center of Excellence in Research of Hereditary Disorders (PACER-HD) was established on the 1st September 2008. It stem from a recognized need for a comprehensive genetic center in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and a generous donation of Princess Al Jawhara Bint Ibrahim Al-Brahim. Dr Osama Tayeb, President of KAU issued the establishment of the center and appointed Dr. Jumana Al-Aama as Director of PACER-HD. Dr. Al-Aama, who trained in Medical Genetics at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, University of Ottawa in Canada had written a proposal justifying the need for a comprehensive genetic service based on several pilot studies done at the Medical Genetic Unit at KAUH over a period of 3 years. The PACER-HD aims to provide clinical care, public education, specialty training and high quality research related to the genetic needs of the Saudi population and become a recognized member of the international genetic society.
