By Mohammad Al-Kadoumi

Okaz/Saudi Gazette

LONDON — A Saudi researcher has discovered a new compound that can help prevent strokes.

Khalid Al-Sahly said the compound he discovered would block a protein from connecting to blood cells and then form clots that lead to stroke. The compound has been tested on humans and animals with 65 to 75 percent success rate.

The research was part of Al-Sahly’s PhD studies and it was supported by the British Heart Foundation. Al-Sahly has already been approached by medical companies who were interested in investing in the new compound.

Al-Sahly said he saw his father getting a stroke and he saw how it affected his health rest of his life. He thought there must be a way to help people suffering from strokes and save their lives.

“I was awarded PhD by Reading University in UK where I did my research. The British Heart Foundation funded my research with a budget of SR300,000. My research received critical acclaim and I got the chance to talk about it at various conferences around the world. I hope to return to my country and open a research center to augment the human resources we have,” said Al-Sahly.