Arcera Life Sciences convenes global leaders in Abu Dhabi to advance AI integration in healthcare

UAE—Arcera Life Sciences, a global life sciences company headquartered in Abu Dhabi, has brought together distinguished leaders from academia, government, and industry at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYU Abu Dhabi) to explore how artificial intelligence can responsibly transform healthcare across the Middle East and beyond.

The forum, titled “Catalyst: Collaborating to Turn AI Vision to Value,” featured industry leaders from ADQ, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), Deloitte, Microsoft, IQVIA, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, Dubai Health, Pure Health, and Salesforce.

These participants shared insights on leveraging AI to improve clinical outcomes, enhance system efficiency, and deliver more personalized and accessible care throughout the region.

Held during “UAE Innovates” month, the gathering underscored Arcera’s commitment to building long-term healthcare resilience in the Middle East through innovation, capability building, and responsible digital transformation.

As healthcare systems worldwide grapple with increasing complexity and mounting demands, resilience extends beyond simply withstanding disruption.

It encompasses the capacity to develop, manufacture, and discover through strong partnerships among government, academia, industry, and regulatory bodies.

Isabel Afonso, Chief Executive Officer of Arcera Life Sciences, emphasized that healthcare resilience today transcends business continuity.

It involves building the scientific depth, digital infrastructure, and talent necessary to deliver better outcomes for current patients and future generations.

Afonso stressed that Arcera’s long-term commitment centers on creating a healthier future, which requires innovation with purpose.

The company views AI and digital technologies as powerful enablers across the entire healthcare ecosystem, spanning discovery, manufacturing, supply chains, and meaningful engagement with healthcare professionals and physicians.

However, Afonso pointed out that genuine progress depends on trust, effective governance, and collaboration.

This understanding drove the decision to bring together leaders from various sectors to transform vision into tangible value.

Arcera continues to strengthen its global AI capabilities, enabling teams to implement advanced, scalable, and responsible solutions that enhance engagement across the healthcare professional community.

This initiative aligns closely with the UAE’s National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence and digital health, supporting the country’s ambition to lead responsible innovation and build globally competitive healthcare capabilities.

Dr. Jaap Kalkman, Chairman of the Board of Arcera Life Sciences, described the company’s strategic evolution as a testament to Abu Dhabi’s ambition as a global leader in sustainable healthcare.

He noted that building a healthcare sector that is competitive, technologically advanced, and resilient requires collective effort.

Arcera aims to ensure that investments in innovation, talent, and next-generation AI capabilities remain priorities across its growing portfolio.

Kalkman explained that in the rapidly evolving healthcare sector, simply responding to market needs no longer suffices.

The necessary mindset shift is already underway and producing tangible benefits for companies and patients alike.

Abu Dhabi provides an ideal strategic base to drive this transformation on a global scale.

The event highlighted the power of public-private-academia partnerships in accelerating progress toward a more resilient, data-driven, and patient-centric future.

Arlie Petters, Provost of NYU Abu Dhabi, emphasized the role of academic rigor in technological adoption.

He noted that NYU Abu Dhabi is committed to advancing knowledge and innovation that delivers real-world impact.

Petters explained that hosting landmark events like this forum reflects the university’s role as a global hub for research, education, and dialogue at the intersection of technology and society.

The institution takes pride in collaborating with Arcera and the broader healthcare ecosystem to shape a responsible, evidence-based approach to AI that strengthens healthcare systems, builds local capability, and improves outcomes for patients across the region.