University of Nizwa Researchers Receive Top Honours at National Research Award Ceremony

At a ceremony held on 7 December at Al Bustan Palace Hotel in Muscat, three researchers from the University of Nizwa received first-place awards in the 2025 National Research Award. The event, held under the patronage of H.H. Sayyida Mayan bint Shihab Al Said, formed part of the annual forum “Published Research… Realised Visions.”

Dr Suleiman Al-Hashmi, Head of the Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, won the PhD category in health and social services for his work on a 3D-printed wound dressing using a tacrolimus-loaded chitosan scaffold. In the non-PhD division of the same field, researcher Saeed Fakilian took first place for developing a method to deliver extracellular vesicles via a 3D-printed core-sheath scaffold. A third first-place award went to Amir Hossein Ebrahimi from the Synthetic Chemistry Laboratory, whose study on stereoselective mechanosynthesis and fluoride detection won in the non-PhD basic, social and cultural sciences category.

Other researchers from the university placed second and third across additional fields. During the forum, the University of Nizwa also signed several research contracts under the Strategic Research Programme and the performance-based institutional funding scheme, represented by Prof. Ahmed Al-Harrasi.

A total of 284 researchers participated in this year’s award cycle. Speaking at the event, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation H.E. Dr Rahma Al-Mahrouqi said Oman continues to strengthen its research and innovation system, noting progress in the Global Innovation Index and the inclusion of five Omani universities in the QS World University Rankings 2026. She highlighted national research priorities, funding awarded to government projects, and support provided through institutional funding and publishing initiatives.

The ceremony also included research exhibitions, panel discussions and the signing of additional agreements with ministries and higher-education institutions. The National Research Award aims to link research outputs with beneficiary sectors and encourage scientific publishing as part of broader national development goals.