Biomedical breakthroughs are reshaping what is possible in precision medicine. Professor Yanda Meng joins King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) at a pivotal juncture for the mission-driven university, Saudi Arabia, and the world — as artificial intelligence accelerates the next frontier in medical science. 

“At KAUST, my research will focus on advancing AI for healthcare and the life sciences,” said Meng, the newly appointed assistant professor of bioengineering in the Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE) Division. “This aligns with BESE’s priorities by contributing innovative computational approaches that support fundamental biological understanding and real-world biomedical impact.” 

With an academic journey spanning China and the U.K., Meng earned a software engineering degree from Capital Normal University in 2017 and a master’s in computing from the University of Leeds in 2018. At the University of Liverpool, he completed a Ph.D. in eye and vision science in 2022 and continued as a postdoctoral fellow in 2024. 

Driven by a focus on foundation models for medicine and on how large-scale AI systems can be adapted and personalized for clinical use while ensuring fairness, robustness, and interpretability, Meng has developed a strong publication record that includes papers in Medical Image Analysis and IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging. 

“These experiences shaped an approach centered on rigorous machine learning, interdisciplinarity, and designing AI systems that work reliably in real-world healthcare settings,” Meng said, adding that building adaptive, trustworthy AI that learns from incomplete or multimodal biomedical data especially excites him. “Ultimately, I hope my work leads to more equitable, accurate, and clinically deployable decision-support tools that improve patient outcomes.” 

Meng believes impactful science emerges when methodological innovation meets real clinical needs, and he sees KAUST’s interdisciplinary environment as central to his ability to tackle complex biomedical challenges. Partnering with researchers across divisions and with clinical and industry partners in Saudi Arabia and beyond will be a key part of his work. He said the Kingdom’s rapid scientific and technological growth offers unique research opportunities. 

“It is an honor to join KAUST and contribute to such a dynamic and ambitious scientific community. I hope to build a research program that advances AI in medical imaging while encouraging meaningful collaborations across the university and clinical sectors in Saudi Arabia.” 

He added: “I’m excited to contribute to this momentum by developing scalable biomedical AI solutions and helping build the region’s future research capacity.”