Walid Warda

Dr. Walid Warda is a researcher specialising in cancer immunotherapy, with a strong background in both basic and translational research. His work focuses on the development and optimization of CAR-T cell therapies, particularly targeting haematological malignancies and solid tumours. In his current role at KFSHRC.

Dr. Warda leads projects aimed at translating novel immunotherapeutic strategies from bench to bedside. His main areas of interest include target identification, CAR design and engineering, and preclinical evaluation of cell-based therapies.

Cancer immunotherapy

Development and engineering of CAR-T cells

Translational oncology research

Identification of molecular and therapeutic agents

Cellular immunobiology

Gene transfer techniques (lentiviral vectors)

Preclinical evaluation of cell-based therapies

Design and execution of in vitro and in vivo studies

Dr. Walid Warda holds a PhD in Immunotherapy and Cancer Immunotherapy from France, where he developed the first French academic CAR-T cells for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). In 2018, his work was recognized as among the most advanced scientific research in France and contributed to obtaining regulatory approval from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to initiate a Phase I clinical trial in France.

Dr. Warda has over eight years of postdoctoral experience in cancer immunotherapy. He joined KFSHRC in 2023 as an Associate Scientist at the Innovation and Research Center. Currently, he is working in Prof. Ying’s team, with a strong focus on the development and clinical translation of CAR-T cell therapies for haematological malignancies and solid tumours. He is an integral member of the CAR-T cell manufacturing team, working in the GMP laboratory at KFSHRC. Dr Warda has authored 13 peer-reviewed publications and is an inventor on three innovations, including two granted patents in France and one patent application in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.