ALI KAISSI | Medicine and Health Sciences | Excellence in Research Award

Prof. Dr ALI KAISSI, orthopaedic Hospital Speising Vienna, Austria

Dr. Ali Al Kaissi is a distinguished medical scientist and consultant in pediatric orthopedics with an illustrious international career spanning over four decades. A graduate of Al-Azhar University, Cairo, he pursued postgraduate training and specialization in the United Kingdom, Tunisia, Austria, and Russia. He is best known for his groundbreaking contributions to pediatric skeletal dysplasias and genetic disorders, including the identification of Al Kaissi syndrome (OMIM 617694). As an honorary professor and senior researcher, he has collaborated with prestigious institutions such as the Turner Orthopedic Institute (Russia), Ilizarov Institute (Kurgan), and the University of Saskatchewan (Canada). Dr. Al Kaissi’s multidisciplinary expertise and diagnostic acumen have contributed to the understanding of complex orthopedic and craniofacial disorders. His global impact is reflected through his numerous publications, awards, and honorary appointments.

Publication Profile

Scopus

Education

Dr. Al Kaissi received his foundational medical degree from Al-Azhar University, Cairo (1978). He continued his postgraduate education in the United Kingdom, earning a Certificate in Pediatrics (1988), followed by a Master’s degree in Pediatric Developmental Abnormalities from the University of Warwick (1990). His academic excellence was later recognized with a Doctor of Science (Honorary) from the Turner Scientific Research Institute for Children’s Orthopedics in Saint Petersburg, Russia (2017). His educational path reveals a strong emphasis on pediatric orthopedics, developmental abnormalities, and rare syndromic disorders. His continuous pursuit of medical education, coupled with his pioneering research, has laid the foundation for significant clinical contributions and novel diagnostic insights into congenital and acquired musculoskeletal diseases.

Experience

Dr. Al Kaissi has held numerous high-level clinical and research positions internationally. Since 2005, he has served as a consultant and scientist at the Orthopedic Hospital of Speising in Vienna, Austria. Previously, he led pediatric orthopedic clinical research at the Children’s Hospital in Tunis, Tunisia (1993–2005), where he also established a national center for early recognition of congenital malformation complexes. He has been involved in key medical posts in Iraq, the UK, and Russia, spanning from senior house officer roles to visiting professorships. His experience encompasses both the clinical management of pediatric orthopedic conditions and pioneering research into rare skeletal dysplasias and syndromes. His extensive global collaborations and ability to identify novel pathologies have positioned him as a leader in diagnostic orthopedic research.

Awards and Honors

Dr. Al Kaissi has been the recipient of numerous international awards recognizing his excellence in clinical research and diagnostics. He received the prestigious Russian Golden Medal for Distinguished Clinicians and the Silver Dagestani Sword in 2019. In 2017, he was conferred an Honorary Doctorate (DSc) from the Turner Pediatric Orthopedic Institute, Russia. His contributions have been acknowledged by ministries of health in Russia and Tunisia, among others. He holds honorary professorships at premier Russian institutions including the Ilizarov Institute and the Pediatric Kidney Clinic of Dagestan. His honors reflect not only individual achievement but also the broader impact of his diagnostic innovations on pediatric care and genetic research.

Research Focus

Dr. Al Kaissi’s research focuses on pediatric skeletal dysplasias, craniofacial anomalies, syndromic disorders, and orthopedic genetics. He has discovered and characterized several new syndromes including “Al Kaissi syndrome” (OMIM 617694) and contributed to the understanding of 3MC syndrome and Desbuquois dysplasia-like conditions. His diagnostic insights into wormian bones and thoracic collapse disorders have redefined clinical approaches in developmental orthopedics. His collaboration with environmental scientists has broadened his scope to ecotoxicology and skeletal pathology in wildlife exposed to toxins, reflecting a unique intersection between human and environmental health. His publications cover radiographic and tomographic evaluations, syndrome delineation, and the interplay of environmental exposures with skeletal disease. His work continues to shape diagnostic criteria and management protocols globally.

Publication Top Notes

• Al Kaissi Syndrome – OMIM (617694): Identified a novel syndrome with growth retardation, spinal malformation, and dysmorphic facies.

• 3MC Syndrome with Baraitser – OMIM (257920): Defined craniofacial and skeletal anomalies in conjunction with Michael Baraitser.

• “Progressive Collapse of the Thoracic Cage” – American Journal of Medicine, 2017.

• “Novel Conception of Wormian Bones” – Diagnostics Journal, 2023.

• “Skeletal Pathology in Arctic Wildlife” – Science of the Total Environment, 2019 & Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 2020.

• “Meticulous and Early Understanding of Cranial Defects Can Save Lives” – Children, 2023.

• “Craniofacial Malformations in Syndromic Entities” – Diagnostics, 2022.

• “Arthrogryposis and Escobar Syndrome” – Minerva Pediatrics, 2024.

• “Non-lethal ZMPSTE24 Mutation in Progeria” – Clinical Genetics, 2023.