On Thursday, October 23, 2025, the College of Pharmacy at Gulf Medical University organized an online faculty research seminar delivered by Dr. Adil Farooq Wali, Associate Professor and In-Charge of Institutional Effectiveness at the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, RAK College of Pharmacy, RAK Medical & Health Sciences University, UAE.
Titled “The Potential of AI to Substitute Animal Models in Scientific Research,” the seminar explored how artificial intelligence technologies can transform preclinical testing by offering ethical, cost-effective, and accurate alternatives to traditional animal models. Dr. Wali discussed the integration of AI and computational tools in predicting pharmacological and toxicological responses, thereby accelerating the pace of drug discovery while enhancing reproducibility and translational relevance.
Drawing from his extensive experience in natural product pharmacology, molecular therapeutics, and quality assurance in higher education, Dr. Wali highlighted how machine learning–driven models can complement molecular docking, systems biology, and omics data to simulate complex biological interactions with minimal relying on in vivo animal studies.
The session was attended by faculty members from the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and graduate students from the Master’s in Drug Discovery and Development (MDD) program. Participants gained deep insights into the intersection of AI, pharmacology, and ethical innovation in biomedical research.
The seminar concluded with an engaging Q&A session, where attendees discussed the challenges and opportunities in adopting AI as a predictive and humane alternative to animal testing in scientific research.
Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
SDG 4: Quality Education; SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
