Shada AlSalamah | Drug Development Lifecycle | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Shada AlSalamah | Drug Development Lifecycle | Best Researcher Award

Associate Professor of Global Digital Health at King Saud University, Saudi Arabia.

Prof. Dr. Shada AlSalamah is a globally recognized thought leader in digital health, information security, and artificial intelligence. She currently serves as an Associate Professor in the Information Systems Department at King Saud University (KSU) and as a Technical Officer in Digital Health and AI at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva. With an impressive career spanning over a decade in academia, policymaking, and digital innovation, she is at the forefront of integrating blockchain, cybersecurity, and AI into global healthcare systems. Her influence spans advisory roles at the OECD, MIT, and the European Commission, making her a leading voice in shaping the future of trustworthy health technologies.

Professional Profile

Scopus

Orcid

Google Scholar

Education 🎓📚

  • Ph.D. in Computer Science (Information Security in Healthcare Information Systems)
    Cardiff University, UK (2009–2015)
    Awarded: HRH Saudi Ambassador Scientific Excellence Award

  • M.Sc. in Strategic Information Systems with Information Assurance
    Cardiff University, UK (2008–2009)
    Awarded with Merit

  • B.Sc. in Information Technology
    King Saud University (KSU), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (2002–2007)

Professional Experience 🧑‍🏫💼

Prof. AlSalamah’s professional journey reflects her strategic leadership across both academic and global health governance platforms. She joined KSU in 2017, advancing from Assistant to Associate Professor, and led key initiatives in cybersecurity and AI within the Center of Excellence in Information Assurance. At WHO, she played a pivotal role in developing digital health strategies and standards, contributing to critical projects on AI governance, algorithm auditing, and health data interoperability. Beyond WHO, she served as a consultant for Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health and the National Health Information Center, ensuring secure and effective implementation of digital health technologies. Her international engagement includes prestigious advisory board memberships at the OECD, theDevMaster (USA), and the International Association for Trusted Blockchain Applications (EU Commission).

Research Interest 🔬📈

  • Digital Health & AI Governance

  • Information Security in Healthcare

  • Blockchain in Clinical Systems

  • Health Data Interoperability

  • Cybersecurity Policy and Infrastructure

  • Algorithm Auditing & Machine Learning for Health

  • Cloud Security & Resource Allocation

🏆 Honors and Achievements

  • MIT linQ – IDEA² Global Fellow (2019)

  • Health Hackathon 1st Place Winner, KSU Innovation Center (2019)

  • IEEE Blockchain Challenge 2nd Place, Orlando, FL (2018)

  • Research Fellowship, ARAMCO/MIT IbnKhaldun Program

  • CSC Fellowship, Cardiff University Poster Awards (2x Best Poster)

  • Multiple Excellence Awards from HRH Saudi Ambassador (PhD Years 2011, 2013, 2014)

Publications Top Noted

  • Machine learning for health: algorithm auditing & quality control, J Med Systems (2021) — 61 citations

  • Healthybroker: A trustworthy blockchain-based eHealth broker, Electronics (2019) — 60 citations

  • Secondary data for global health digitalisation, Lancet Digital Health (2023) — 52 citations

  • QoS-aware GA for cloud resource allocation, UMT Conference (2017) — 34 citations

  • Emerging digital tech in healthcare with cybersecurity spotlight, Information (2023) — 33 citations

Conclusion 🌟🎯

Prof. Dr. Shada AlSalamah is an exceptional and deserving candidate for the Best Researcher Award, particularly in the context of the Digital Transformation of the Drug Development Lifecycle. Her global leadership in AI, blockchain, and cybersecurity in health represents a critical layer of innovation that supports the integrity, speed, and safety of modern pharmaceutical R&D.

Although her core work is more infrastructure- and policy-oriented than molecule-to-market, her influence enables trusted, secure, and ethical digital ecosystems upon which scalable drug innovation relies.

Snezana Mugosa | Pharmacovigilance | Best Researcher Award

Mrs. Snezana Mugosa | Pharmacovigilance | Best Researcher Award

Mrs. Snezana Mugosa, Institute for Medicines and Medical Devices, Montenegro

Dr. Snežana Mugoša is a distinguished medical professional and regulatory authority in the field of pharmacology and clinical trials. She currently serves as the Managing Director of the Institute for Medicines and Medical Devices of Montenegro (CInMED), while also holding an academic appointment as Assistant Professor at the Medical Faculty, University of Montenegro. With two decades of clinical and regulatory experience, she is recognized for her expertise in pharmacotherapy, adverse drug reaction assessment, and regulatory science. Her work extends across policy, academia, and international scientific collaboration, establishing her as a leader in pharmacovigilance and drug safety.

🌍 Professional Profile

Scopus

🏆 Suitability for Best Researcher Award

Snežana Mugoša appears to be highly qualified for the Research for Best Researcher Award, based on her extensive background in clinical pharmacology, pharmacotherapy, and pharmacovigilance, as well as her significant involvement in research, education, and management.

🎓 Education

Dr. Mugoša holds a strong academic foundation, beginning with her medical degree from the Medical Faculty in Podgorica in 2004, where she graduated with the highest average in her class. She later earned a Master’s degree in Clinical Pharmacology and Therapy in 2009 and completed her specialization in Internal Medicine in 2011. She received her PhD in Clinical Pharmacology in 2015 with a thesis focused on risk factors for adverse drug reactions in cardiac patients. Most recently, she completed a subspecialization in Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy at the University of Belgrade in 2025, earning top marks. Her academic achievements are further complemented by fluency in multiple languages and advanced computer literacy.

💼 Experience

Over her career, Dr. Mugoša has held a wide array of clinical, academic, and regulatory roles. She has been with CInMED since 2012, where she served as the Head of Clinical Trials and later Deputy Director before becoming Managing Director in 2022. Parallel to her regulatory duties, she has taught clinical pharmacy and pharmacological subjects at the University of Montenegro since 2004, becoming an Assistant Professor in 2021. Her clinical foundation was built during her time as an internal medicine specialist at the Clinical Centre of Montenegro and as a resident and intern in Podgorica. Additionally, she is a long-standing lecturer at the Clinical Research Academy in Belgrade.

🔬 Research Focus

Her scientific focus lies in clinical pharmacology, pharmacotherapy, pharmacoepidemiology, and pharmacogenetics, with a deep interest in adverse drug reactions, their genetic correlations, and clinical trials. She has actively participated in international research collaborations, including EU-funded COST Actions and Erasmus+ projects. Her work not only enriches the academic community but also contributes directly to improving patient safety and regulatory standards for medical products.

📚 Publication Top Notes

Artificial Intelligence Strategies Based on Random Forests for Detection of AI-Generated Content in Public Health
Authors: I.V. Pantić, Igor V., S. Mugoša, Snežana
Journal: Public Health, 2025

This study explores the use of random forest algorithms to detect AI-generated content in public health communication. It highlights how AI can help differentiate between human-authored and machine-generated health information, ensuring authenticity in public health messaging. The model demonstrated high accuracy, making it a promising tool for improving content integrity in public health sectors.

Exploring Pet Owners’ Attitudes Toward Compounded and Human-Approved Medicines: A Questionnaire-Based Pilot Study
Authors: Z. Kovaĉević, Zorana; D. Tomanić, Dragana; L.Ć. Šarić, Ljubiša Ć.; D. Novaković, Dragana; O.J. Horvat, Olga J.; S. Mugoša, Snežana
Journal: Veterinary Research Communications, 2025

This pilot study investigates pet owners’ perceptions and knowledge about compounded versus human-approved medicines. The findings reveal significant gaps in understanding, with many pet owners unaware of the regulatory differences and risks. The research underscores the need for better education and clearer regulations in veterinary medicine.