By Suha Alsubaihi
The University of Jordan (UJ) President, Prof. Nathir Obeidat, inaugurated today a specialized training workshop on the development of life-saving medical devices, titled “From Concept to Treatment, and from Idea to Market”. The workshop hosts Prof. Murtaza Najbat Ali, Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Founder of Revive Medical Technology in the United States, and one of the leading researchers in the Standing Committee for Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH) under the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
The workshop is organized by the School of Engineering in coordination with the Center of Excellence in Learning and Teaching at the University, in cooperation with COMSTECH which is concerned with capacity-building in OIC member states, under the guidance of the committee’s General Coordinator, Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Chaudhry.
The opening was attended by the university’s vice presidents, the Director of the University Hospital, deans of medical schools, and a crowd of academics and administrative staff, and students.
Held over three days, the workshop aims to highlight pathways for transforming scientific research into life-saving medical devices, exploring practical experiences in manufacturing biomedical devices locally, while showcasing models and experiences from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
In his opening speech, Obeidat emphasized that saving lives is a mission requiring a fully integrated medical system. He noted that the quality and advancement of medical devices can be a decisive factor in the success or failure of treatment, alongside the importance of having qualified personnel capable of operating these devices efficiently.
He stressed the necessity of enhancing collaboration between medical teams and engineering and industrial specialties, affirming that ideas must originate from academia and evolve through rigorous scientific research before being ready for industrial application.
Obeidat added that UJ seeks to build genuine partnerships with the industrial sector and narrow the gap between research and application by demonstrating the value of actionable research ideas. He expressed hope that the School of Engineering would help strengthen these relationships and expand cooperation with Islamic countries through COMSTECH, serving both society and the nation.
Dean of the School, Prof. Menwer Attarakih, commended the speaker, describing him as a thinker and initiator who transforms research knowledge into medical products with direct human impact. He highlighted Najbat’s leadership in successful research projects that bridged academia and industry in both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, noting that his participation represents a living model for narrowing the gap between theory and practice, as well as between scientific research and manufacturing, in line with COMSTECH’s goals of enhancing scientific and technological cooperation among OIC member states.
Attarakih also pointed out that the workshop serves as a roadmap for the next generation of engineers and doctors, in a future where medical devices are built from smart materials, operated using artificial intelligence, designed with an entrepreneurial spirit, and manufactured according to global standards that transcend geographic boundaries to serve humanity widely.
In his main lecture, Murtaza Najbat Ali presented a comprehensive scientific and practical journey, detailing the stages a research idea goes through from its presentation at scientific conferences to its arrival on the market as a life-saving medical device.
He highlighted the reality and challenges of localizing medical device manufacturing, using Pakistan as a case study, where the health sector previously relied on importing over 90% of medical devices, resulting in high costs and significant human losses, especially in cardiovascular diseases.
He also noted that the global challenge lies in scattered efforts and a gap between medical innovation in universities, the industrial sector, and regulatory bodies, which makes transforming a research idea into a practical medical product a slow and costly process. In this context, he presented a comprehensive model adopted by his company, integrating research and development, manufacturing according to the highest global standards, and regulatory compliance within a single system, accelerating the market introduction of medical innovations.
Najbat Ali also reviewed historical milestones in localizing medical technology, including the development of heart stents and antimicrobial medical dressings, as well as notable achievements such as registering dozens of patents, obtaining international certifications for medical devices, and establishing strategic partnerships that contributed to creating advanced medical industries in Saudi Arabia, in line with Vision 2030.
The workshop includes a series of lectures and discussion sessions over three days, covering topics such as innovation in healthcare, medical device design, regulatory requirements, smart biomaterials, and models of innovation in medical technology.