Prof. Mazen Hassanain, MBBS, FRCS(C), FACS, Ph.D.

Professor Mazen M. Hassanain is the founder and Managing Director of SaudiVax, a pioneer Saudi biotechnology company responsible for developing and manufacturing high-quality and affordable halal vaccines & biopharmaceuticals localized in Saudi Arabia by Saudi nationals for national self-sufficiency and pandemic preparedness. He is also a Professor of Surgery at the College of Medicine, King Saud University, an Adjunct Professor at the Department of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine, and a formal Adjunct Professor at the Department of Oncology at McGill University. Prof. Hassanain is also a hepatopancreatobiliary and solid organ transplant surgery Consultant at the King Saud University Medical City.

He is an experienced clinician-scientist with a demonstrated history of working in hospitals, research centers, and the healthcare industry. Skilled in collaborative translational, immunology, and oncology research and development projects, and is success-driven. Strong educational background with a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) focused on moving scientific research from bench to bed. He received his medical degree with honors from King Saud University and did his surgical residency and transplantation fellowship at McGill University, Montreal, Canada. He is a Fellow of The Royal College of Physicians of Canada and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a member of the American Society of Transplant Surgery Associations.  Prof. Hassanain is also a member of the LANCET-COVID-19 commission.

Before SaudiVax, Prof. Hassanain worked at the Saudi Ministry of Health from 2012 to 2014 as the Director-General, of the General Administration of Research and Studies. He was leading the health research strategy for Saudi Arabia, deciding on priorities, and inserting needed regulatory measures to protect patients and improve the research quality. Initiated the health services research center, central ethics review board, and the national biobank. Prof. Hassanain co-established the Saudi Vaccine Alliance, a scientific and corporate group leading the vaccine research and supply discussions in the Kingdom.

In the last 10 years, he has presented 60 orals/posters at national and international meetings, resulting in 110 peer-reviewed publications and supervised hundreds of graduate and postgraduate students both in Saudi Arabia and Canada.