Abu Dhabi’s DoH ties up with Mass General Brigham to boost the life sciences sector
UAE – The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) has forged a strategic partnership agreement with Mass General Brigham (MGB), through its International Center for Genetic Disease (iCGD), to strengthen the life sciences ecosystem in the Emirate.
The Jawaher Boston Medical District Project is led by BEEAH Group, Mass General Brigham, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, to create a healthcare ecosystem of the future.
As the regulator of the healthcare sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the DoH has tied up with Mass General Brigham to advance life sciences across three strategic pillars.
The collaboration will cover 3 focus areas, including clinical and translational research, capacity building, and technology transfer and commercialization.
The signing ceremony was presided over by Dr. Asma Al Mannaei, Executive Director of the Research and Innovation Center at the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, and Dr. Paul Anderson, Acting Chief Academic Officer of Mass General Brigham.
The document was signed in the presence of His Excellency Mansoor Al Mansoori, Chairman of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, and Dr. Alireza Haghighi, Founding Director of the International Center for Genetic Disease.
In an official note, the DoH announced: “The agreement seeks to expand research into the domain of genomic medicine and genetic diseases to increase access to innovative solutions and treatments for patients in the United Arab Emirates and beyond.”
The joint effort will combine Abu Dhabi’s advanced genomics capabilities and Mass General Brigham’s scientific and medical knowledge to drive better healthcare outcomes locally and regionally.
What’s more, both parties will explore opportunities to establish joint laboratories and genetic screening programs in Abu Dhabi to support the discovery of genomic solutions that address international health challenges and needs.
“Abu Dhabi continues to set the stage for a future driven by innovation and technology, reinforcing its position as a leading destination for healthcare and life science,” Dr. Asma Ibrahim Al Mannaei, Executive Director of the Research and Innovation Centre at the DoH, said in a press release.
The latest research collaboration builds on ongoing collaborative efforts between the United Arab Emirates and the United States of America to discover the causes of and new treatments for genetic diseases.
The research collaboration will focus on analyzing whole genome sequencing data of the Emirati Genome Programme, and on translational studies to develop novel therapies and effective medical interventions.
The collaboration complements the Emirati Genome Programme, which is a foundational project within the National Genome Strategy and the world’s largest genomics program taking place in Abu Dhabi.
Commenting on this new pact, Dr. Paul Anderson, the Acting Chief Academic Officer of Mass General Brigham said: “Through our research collaboration with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, we intend to leverage our collective knowledge, experience, and expertise to further advance biomedical science and enhance public health.”
The UAE’s National Genome Strategy sets the stage for a comprehensive and sustainable ecosystem that will accelerate the development of priority preventive and personalized healthcare solutions.
In line with the new partnership framework, the Department of Health will work closely with iCGD and MGB to accelerate the progress of clinical research and new treatments related to prioritized global genetic diseases.
“Through our research collaboration with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, we intend to leverage our collective knowledge, experience, and expertise to further advance biomedical science and enhance public health,” underscored Dr. Paul Anderson.
Accelerating the clinical translation of these promising scientific findings with a focus on rare diseases, oncology, neurology, as well as cardiovascular and metabolic diseases is a top priority of the joint collaboration.
The collaboration between the MGB, iCGD, and Abu Dhabi’s DOH is anticipated to pave the way for significant improvements in clinical diagnosis, effective disease prevention, and management strategies.
For this reason, the Department of Health will partner with iCGD and MGB to co-develop education and capacity-building initiatives focused on clinical genomic medicine and molecular genomic medicine to improve healthcare outcomes for the global community.
“Mass General Brigham is at the global forefront of scientific innovation and medical progress. Genomic medicine is a pivotal focus for us, serving to translate ground-breaking scientific advances into actionable diagnostics and treatments,” underlined Dr. Paul Anderson.
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