Fatimah al-Hamlan

Fatimah Saeed al-Hamlan is a Saudi scientist specializing in medical research. She serves as a Senior Research Scientist and Consultant in the Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, and as an Adjunct Professor at the College of Medicine, al-Faisal University. She is the founder and vice president of the Rofaida Women’s Health Organization, a co-founder of the Association of Women and Energy, and a member of its board of directors.

Fatimah al-Hamlan completed her undergraduate studies in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah. She then accompanied her husband on a scholarship to the United States, where she had the opportunity to study English part-time. During that time, she volunteered at a research center and laboratories, gaining experience in research and laboratory work as well as building connections within the scientific community.

She earned both her master's and doctorate degrees in microbiology from the United States. Following that, she received a postdoctoral fellowship in epidemiology, clinical trials, and biostatistics from Harvard Medical School. In 2021, she completed the Executive Leadership Development Program at Harvard Business School. Additionally, she obtained specialized certifications in executive management, policy design, board governance, and community investment from the same university.

Fatimah al-Hamlan co-founded the Rofaida Women’s Health Organization in 2016 alongside twenty-four other founding members. It is a civil society organization licensed by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, dedicated to women's health, well-being, and health empowerment. The organization aims to equip women with essential knowledge, skills, and supportive policies that enable them to make informed health decisions.

The organization was named "Rofaida" in honor of Rofaida al-Aslamiyah, who established the first field hospital in Islam to treat the sick and wounded during the battles fought by the companions of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him (PBUH).

The Rofaida Women’s Health Organization aims to raise awareness and improve skills related to women's reproductive and sexual health. It also provides verified medical and scientific content in Arabic and contributes to advocating for supportive policies that enhance women's health.

After returning from the scholarship program, Fatimah al-Hamlan joined King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center as a researcher specializing in oncogenic virology. She began her research focusing on the human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes several types of cancer, including cervical cancer in women. She later received research grants from King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology to support the national project studying HPV, cervical cancer, and its prevention.

She also played a leading role in the research team that developed the first locally produced test for detecting the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), which received approval from the Saudi Food and Drug Authority in 2020. Additionally, she was awarded the Health Heroes Grant for combating COVID-19.

As part of a Saudi research team specializing in microbiology at the Research Center of King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Riyadh, she developed a diagnostic test for COVID-19 patients. The test utilized polymerase chain reaction (PCR) molecular testing for the virus. It underwent rigorous scientific laboratory standards and successfully passed verification stages, with its results matching those of the primary diagnostic laboratory at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center.

She has contributed to publishing approximately one hundred scientific and educational articles in the fields of infectious diseases, public health, and women's health. She contributed to the book, The Health Empowerment Initiative in the Kingdom, which documents the journey of health empowerment and the role of civil society organizations.

Fatimah al-Hamlan was elected as a Consultant for the International Biology Olympiad at the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba) and as Chair of the Scientific Committee for Scientific Creativity (Ibdaa). She was also elected as a member of the Judging Panel for the "Innovators Under 35" award by "MIT Technology Review" for 2018–2019. Additionally, she served as Chair of the Women's Health Policy Forum and Leader of the Task Force for Global Health in the Civil Society Organizations (C20) under the Saudi G20 Presidency). She also serves as a member of various boards of directors and advisory committees in the fields of health and wellness, health policies, and women’s empowerment.

Fatimah al-Hamlan has received numerous international and local awards, including the Eisenhower Fellowship for Young Leaders, first place in the Eastern Province Governor's Award for Cancer Research, the Women Leaders in Women’s Health Research Award, and the Sayidaty Award for Creativity and Excellence.