The Jury
As an accomplished doctor and Stars of Science alumnus, Dr. Ahmad Nabeel has built an illustrious career at a young age. He competed and became a finalist on Stars of Science’s Season 9 (2017), where he introduced his Virtual Beam and Self-Cleaning Laparoscope (re-branded as Klens). His invention provides a solution for restoring visual clarity during minimally invasive surgery automatically and instantaneously, eliminating the need for the camera to be repeatedly removed from the body. Dr. Nabeel is currently furthering his Klens technology while pursuing a Ph.D. in Surgery and Cancer at Imperial College London, where he is also a distinguished physician and researcher at St Mary's Hospital, under the supervision of Lord Ara Darzi, one of the world’s most renowned surgeons. In August 2024, Gulf Medical Technologies (GMT), the company of Dr. Nabeel and his team, have announced a collaboration with Mayo Clinic, the world’s largest and top- ranked non profit medical institution. This collaboration aims to further advance Klens while leveraging the clinical, technological, business and research expertise of both institutions, integrating strategic planning , system development, regulatory affairs and commercialization rfforts to attempt to address the persistent unmet clinical challenge of compromised vision in surgery.
In recognition of his contributions to the global medical community, Dr. Nabeel was also invited by Mayo Clinic to speak at their flagship, invite-only Beahrs Surgical Innovation Summit. This prestigious event, hosted by the Mayo Clinic's Department of Surgery, gathers the world's foremost experts in surgical innovation, industry leaders, and key stakeholders to discuss and advance the latest technologies and approaches in surgery, marking a significant platform for influencing the future of surgical care.
He won the Young Innovator Award at the 2018 World Innovation Summit for Health for his laparoscopic invention, recognized as one of the best medical innovations in the world. He also received the Best Innovation Award from the International Federation of Inventors’ Association in Geneva and was awarded the Youth Excellence and Creativity Award by the late Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.
The Kuwaiti prodigy continued growing as an inventor within Qatar’s unique innovation ecosystem. In 2018, he participated in the first Arab Innovation Academy, a 10-day startup boot camp organized by Qatar Science & Technology Park and the European Innovation Academy. He was named as the CEO of a team of young entrepreneurs to develop “GoGather,” an app that helps users organize events and activities by efficiently tracking guests, which achieved second place.
Dr. Nabeel was named on the 2019 MIT Technology Review’s Innovators Under 35 List for the MENA region, recognizing outstanding innovators developing new solutions to the world’s biggest problems. This prestigious list has previously included Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Page, and Jack Dorsey.
He was a speaker at the first TED in Arabic conference, a prestigious partnership between TED and Qatar Foundation, where he spoke about his newly launched social media platform called “Rayna”, which focuses on measuring public opinion through polls. “Rayna” aims to reflect reality and public opinion better than platforms like Twitter, providing a more accurate representation of people's thoughts and beliefs.
In Kuwait, Ahmad’s story and achievements were added to the official Arabic language curriculum in schools. He was also chosen as the Ambassador of Kuwait Vision 2035. Additionally, Dr. Nabeel serves as a Committee Member in the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine—one of the most prestigious scientific institutions in the United States, renowned for its role in providing expert advice on some of the most pressing issues in science, technology, and health. Members include Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, David Blackwell, Steven Chu and Jennifer Doudna. In this capacity, Dr Nabeel promotes collaborations between the United States and Kuwait in addressing critical health-related issues. His work and perspectives have been featured in international and scientific media, including Bloomberg's Advancements with Ted Danson, further highlighting his contributions to advancing medical technologies and public health globally.
Returning to the show as a guest juror, Dr. Nabeel’s growth over the past years is evident. Balancing project development, research, and professional obligations, he is eager to contribute back to Stars of Science and guide young Arab innovators.
"Coming back to Stars of Science as a judge has been a deeply rewarding journey. It’s a privilege to guide the next generation of innovators, who are not only shaping the future of the Arab world but also redefining global standards in technology and science. This platform is more than a competition; it’s a catalyst for the transformative ideas that will lead us into a brighter tomorrow."
