Essence of toxicology research to Saudi Arabia Vision 2030 and beyond: Current state and future perspectives

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been making significant progress as part of its Vision 2030 to diversify its economy and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Key components of this transformation include the development of a robust research and development (R&D) ecosystem and biotechnology-based industry. The Kingdom has recently formed the Research, Development and Innovation Authority (RDIA) to regulate and fund research with Health and Wellness being among its top priorities, and the Saudi National Institute of Health (SNIH) to support translational health research and clinical trials. In addition, the country has launched its National Biotechnology Strategy with a bold goal of becoming a biotechnology hub in the region by 2030 and globally by 2040. Toxicology research is central to these transformations. Historically, it has served as a cornerstone to biomedical and healthcare R&D. Today, with advancements in materials science and the integration of multiple technologies (e.g., biotechnology, nanotechnology, artificial intelligence, etc.) across the different industry sectors, it has become more critical than ever to assess safety early in the development process. In this editorial, we discuss the essence of toxicology research in realizing the country's ambitious goals of Vision 2030 and beyond, particularly in the development of the healthcare and biomedical R&D sectors and advancing a biotechnology-based industry. We first provide an overview of the current state of toxicology research and discuss its critical role in advancing the goals of Vision 2030. Finally, we discuss future directions for harnessing toxicology research towards achieving the country's ambitious goals.