Scientific Committee

International Autism Conference 2026

25 to 28 April 2026, Abu Dhabi Energy Center

Autism, AI & Inclusive Health Innovation

IV International
Autism Conference 2026

Taking place in Abu Dhabi, UAE, at the Abu Dhabi Energy Center from April 25–28, 2026, the conference highlights cutting-edge AI-driven solutions for autism research, diagnosis, and personalized support, fostering innovation and inclusion for people of determination.

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Event

Our Scientific Members

General Chair of the Scientific Committee

Prof. Afaf EL-ANSARI

Female biochemist, graduated from Ain Shams University (Egypt) in 1974. Senior scientist at King Saud University since 2016, with previous experience at the National Research Centre (Egypt) and as a faculty member at KSU.

Her research focuses on biochemical markers of autism, particularly the gut–brain axis, with over 200 publications in high-impact journals. She is a scientific consultant for the Autism Center at Lotus Holistic Medical Center (Abu Dhabi) and an active researcher at King Saud University.

Dr. Fatma RIDENE

Senior Healthcare Executive | Strategy & Operations | Health Tech & AI | Business Transformation (LotusHolistic)

Dr. Fatma RIDENE

Senior Healthcare Executive | Strategy & Operations | Health Tech & AI | Business Transformation (LotusHolistic)

an Inclusion and Accessibility Strategist with a proven track record of leading large-scale transformation initiatives across the Middle East and Europe. She develops high-impact, sustainable solutions for People of Determination, ensuring accessibility becomes an integral part of organizational culture—not just a policy.

Dr. Taha RIDENE

XR & AI & DigitalHelath R&D Expert, CIO, Professor (Skills4Mind)

Dr. Taha RIDENE

XR & AI & DigitalHelath R&D Expert, CIO, Professor (Skills4Mind)

Co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer (CIO) of Skills4Mind, SmartImmoKnowledge, and Ocr4Labs, three ventures specialized in Digitalization, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Extended Reality (XR) applied to strategic domains such as Digital Health (E-Health), EdTech, and Economic Intelligence

Phone:+33 7 86 98 53 87
Email:taha.ridene@skills4mind.com

Islam Mohamed El-Tantawy

General Manager of Insights Research Organization & Solutions (IROS)

Islam Mohamed El-Tantawy

General Manager of Insights Research Organization & Solutions (IROS)

the General Manager of Insights Research Organization & Solutions (IROS), part of M42. He is an experienced clinical research leader with extensive expertise in managing large-scale, multi-country clinical trials across the MENA region, including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.

Dr. Saher Alsabbah

Associate Professor, Head of Department, and Head of Innovation (Fatima College of Health Sciences)

Dr. Saher Alsabbah

Associate Professor, Head of Department, and Head of Innovation (Fatima College of Health Sciences)

an Associate Professor, Head of Department, and Head of Innovation at Fatima College of Health Sciences in Abu Dhabi, a leading institution dedicated to excellence in health sciences education and research in the United Arab Emirates.

Dr. Biju HAMEED

Consultant Paediatric Neurologist (Mubadala Health)

Dr. Biju HAMEED

Consultant Paediatric Neurologist (Mubadala Health)

Dr Hameed trained in Paediatrics and Paediatric Neurology in Leicester Royal Infirmary, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children and worked as Consultant Paediatric Neurologist at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children before joining the Movement Disorder Service at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children.

Renate Baur-Richter

Director, Institute for Inclusion & Accessibility (fia-institute)

Renate Baur-Richter

Director, Institute for Inclusion & Accessibility (fia-institute)

Dr. Kevin Baskerville

General Manager & Co-Chair, Strategic Development and International Operations

Dr. Kevin Baskerville

General Manager & Co-Chair, Strategic Development and International Operations

General Manager of Topland, where he oversees strategic development, operations, and organizational growth across international markets. With strong expertise in executive management, business strategy, and cross-sector leadership, he plays a key role in driving sustainable performance and long-term value creation. As Co-Chair, Dr. Kevin BASKERVILLE contributes to high-level governance, strategic decision-making, and international collaboration, supporting initiatives that foster innovation, partnerships, and impactful outcomes across industries.

Dr. Azza Attia

Head of Clinical Genomics (M42)

Dr. Azza Attia

Head of Clinical Genomics (M42)

Professor. Nagwa A Meguid

Prof. of Human Genetics, NRC UNESCO/ L'Oreal Laureate, Jury President UNESCO Woman in Science.

Professor. Nagwa A Meguid

Prof. of Human Genetics, NRC UNESCO/ L'Oreal Laureate, Jury President UNESCO Woman in Science.

Nagwa Abdel Meguid (Arabic: نجوى عبد المجيد) is an Egyptian geneticist and 2002 winner of the L’Oreal UNESCO Award for Women in Science for Africa and the Middle East.[1] Her research has "identified several genetic mutations that cause common syndromes such as the fragile X syndrome and Autism".[2] Meguid has a Ph.D. in Human Genetics. Nagwa Abdel Meguid’s research interests include clinical genetics, neurodevelopmental disorders, human DNA technology, and dysmorphology.

Professor. Laila Y Alayadhi

Professor and Consultant of Clinical Neurophysiology. Faculty of Medicine, King Saud University.

Professor. Laila Y Alayadhi

Professor and Consultant of Clinical Neurophysiology. Faculty of Medicine, King Saud University.

Professor and Consultant of neurophysiology. Hold a Bachelor degree of Basic Medical Sciences from Kuwait University, Graduate of Medicine (BM BCh, Glasgow), a PhD in Neurophysiology (Leicester) & BScMedScHons (Hyperbaric Med.) from Stellenbosch University. Experienced in teaching, research, research collaboration & consultation. Over 22years of research experience in the neurobiology of ASD. Authored and co-authored over 189 publications and supervised over33 masters and PhD dissertation. In addition, a proud mother of 4 great young ladies.

Professor. Hanan A Alfawaz

Professor, Nutrition and Metabolism Dept. of Food Science & Nutrition College of Food & Agriculture Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Professor. Hanan A Alfawaz

Professor, Nutrition and Metabolism Dept. of Food Science & Nutrition College of Food & Agriculture Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Hanan A Alfawaz currently works at the Department of Food Science and Nutrition, King Saud University. Hanan does research in Public Health, Nutrition & Dietetics , Diabetology, Metabolic syndrome,Dietary Supplement and Autism. Their current project is 'Vit D study,'Pre-dibetes,Lifstylmodification

Professor. Andreas M. Grabrucker

Cellular Neurobiology and Neuro-Nanotechnology lab, Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.

Professor. Andreas M. Grabrucker

Cellular Neurobiology and Neuro-Nanotechnology lab, Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.

The University of Limerick is one of the top public universities in Ireland. It is ranked #=401 in QS World University Rankings 2026 (top 3%). Dr Grabrucker’s award-winning lab is based at Bernal Institute (Bernal Bio Labs). The Bernal Bio Labs, established in 2018, received the Irish Laboratory Awards 2020 “Start up Laboratory of the Year” award. In 2020, Bio Labs achieved the platinum award for the MyGreenLabs sustainability award. The Bernal Institute, established in 2016, is the largest Research Institute at the University of Limerick. Our research is interested in the underlying mechanisms of trace metal biology in human health and disease.

Dr. Undurti N Das, MD, DSc, FAMS, FICP, FRSC

Consultant Physician and Diabetologist Clinical Immunologist and Rheumatologist

Dr. Undurti N Das, MD, DSc, FAMS, FICP, FRSC

Consultant Physician and Diabetologist Clinical Immunologist and Rheumatologist

Clinical and Research interests in diabetes mellitus, cancer, rheumatology, autism, pre-eclampsia and sepsis.

Prof. Carmelo Rizzo MD

Medico chirurgo libero professionista -Presidente Accademia Internazionale di Nutrizione Clinica Roma(A.I.Nu.C.)

Prof. Carmelo Rizzo MD

Medico chirurgo libero professionista -Presidente Accademia Internazionale di Nutrizione Clinica Roma(A.I.Nu.C.)

Consultant in many foreign countries, including Russia, Albania, Azerbaijan, Poland and the Emirates. His extensive clinical experience ranges from autism/ADHD, allergic diseases, MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity), gastrointestinal disorders, and all nutrition-related conditions.

Dr. Sameera Al Obeidli

AVP PoD services at Nmc healthcare

Dr. Sameera Al Obeidli

AVP PoD services at Nmc healthcare

Healthcare Strategist | Associate VP | Strategic Healthcare Leader | PoD Services Advocate Dr. Sameera Al Obeidli is a seasoned medical professional with over 24 years of experience in the healthcare sector across the UAE. She currently spearheads services for People of Determination (PoD) at NMC Healthcare, the UAE’s largest private healthcare provider. In her role, she focuses on inclusive health service delivery, driving strategic initiatives that improve outcomes for PoD and their families. Prior to joining NMC, Dr. Sameera was a pioneer in telemedicine at Mubadala Health, where she served as Medical Director and led digital health innovations. Her expertise lies in strategic leadership, with a strong emphasis on public-private partnerships aimed at fostering sustainable, inclusive healthcare ecosystems. Dr. Sameera’s mission is to contribute to national efforts for social cohesion, family productivity, and economic inclusion through measurable KPIs and evidence-based models of care. Her work continues to bridge medical excellence with community well-being, ensuring no one is left behind.

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Autism Conference Abu Dhabi, UAE

Scientific Committee

International Autism Conference 2026

Autism, AI & Inclusive Health Innovation

IV International
Autism Conference 2026

Event