UAE-led diabetes research initiative embarks on space mission
SREENIVASA REDDY (ABU DHABI)In a milestone for the UAE's scientific aspirations, a pioneering healthcare research initiative has been launched into space aboard Axiom Space's Ax-4 mission, which took off from Kennedy Space Centre in Florida after several delays. Central to the mission is Suite Ride, a novel research effort developed in partnership between Abu Dhabi-based Burjeel Holdings and Axiom Space, aiming to redefine the potential of space travel for individuals living with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM)—a condition previously seen as incompatible with spaceflight.The Ax-4 mission has now set course for the International Space Station (ISS), where its four-member international crew will undertake 14 days of scientific work in microgravity. Their agenda includes conducting technology demonstrations and biomedical research that promise to advance knowledge across multiple fields.The Suite Ride study is designed to test the effectiveness of Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs)—now standard for diabetes management—under conditions of microgravity. These monitors will collect real-time glucose data throughout the mission, with comprehensive protocols spanning the preflight, inflight and postflight phases. In addition, the mission will examine how insulin behaves in space, evaluating its stability and potency after re-entry.Leading the scientific component of the project is Dr Mohammad Fityan, Chief Medical Officer at Burjeel Medical City and Clinical Lead for the Burjeel–Ax-4 Space Health Research. Working closely with Axiom Space's team, Dr Fityan will analyse CGM data to understand how these technologies perform in orbit, with the aim of translating the findings into practical healthcare solutions on Earth.'After months of preparation, we're excited to see our research project take flight aboard Ax-4. We're confident that the valuable insights gained will help improve healthcare access in underserved and hard-to-reach communities around the world, including in the MENA region,' said Dr Fityan.To commemorate the occasion, Burjeel Medical City is hosting a special exhibition highlighting the Suite Ride initiative, offering the UAE public and scientific circles an opportunity to engage with the broader implications of space health research. The UAE Embassy in Washington, D.C. also recently featured the project as a notable milestone in the country's growing role in human spaceflight.Globally, the Suite Ride mission is taking place against the backdrop of a steep rise in diabetes prevalence. The International Diabetes Federation projects 783 million cases by 2045, with the MENA region expected to see an 87% increase—underlining the urgent need for advanced remote healthcare technologies.
Commanded by NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, the Ax-4 mission crew includes Mission Pilot Shubhanshu Shukla (India) and Mission Specialists Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (ESA/Poland) and Tibor Kapu (Hungary). Collectively, they are set to conduct over 60 experiments sourced from 31 countries.
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