logo
ADGHW2025: DoH signs five strategic agreements with Russian healthcare institutions

ADGHW2025: DoH signs five strategic agreements with Russian healthcare institutions

Al Etihad16-04-2025

16 Apr 2025 22:14
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) has signed five strategic agreements with leading Russian health and technology institutions, during Abu Dhabi Global Health Week (ADGHW) which takes place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) until April 17, 2025. These agreements are the culmination of a strategic DoH delegation visit to Russia earlier this year, further strengthening the robust bilateral healthcare partnerships between Russia and the UAE.In the presence of Mansoor Al Mansoori, Chairman of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), and Mikhail Murashko, Russian Minister of Health, the agreements were signed by DoH with leading Russian entities including Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT), JSC 'BIOCAD' Biotechnology Company, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech), I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), and Dmitry Rogachev National Research Centre. These partnerships enhance international research synergies, attract pivotal investments and foster substantial knowledge exchange. This collaborative approach drives innovation and enhances healthcare outcomes for populations worldwide, further positioning Abu Dhabi as a global life sciences hub and an incubator for responsible healthcare innovation.Commenting on the agreements, Dr. Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of DoH, said: 'Further driving Abu Dhabi's vision of establishing one of the world's most intelligent healthcare systems driven by AI, data and advanced technology, our recent delegation to Russia laid the groundwork for these strategic alliances." She added, "These partnerships exemplify our collective ambition to advance health technology, positioning both nations at the forefront of global health transformation. Abu Dhabi is leading the conversion of the regional healthcare ecosystem, through leveraging sciences and technology, we are positioning the Emirate as a global life sciences hub and incubator for responsible healthcare innovation.'The agreements between DoH and the five leading Russian entities seek to synergise efforts in innovative clinical trials, and enhance medical research, and capacity-building initiatives, underpinned by cross-disciplinary knowledge exchange. Through leveraging state-of-the-art technologies and fostering ongoing cooperation, the agreements aim to strengthen public healthcare systems in both nations and accelerate breakthroughs in medical research and practice.The partnership with the MIPT focuses on advancing gene therapy innovation through cutting-edge clinical trials, enhancing non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) methodologies and fostering educational exchanges, aligning with DoH's efforts to collaborate with global institutions in delivering innovative treatments and breakthrough solutions in the UAE and beyond. The collaboration with BIOCAD promotes technology transfer, commercialisation, and licensing of innovative health solutions, alongside exploring investment in emerging healthcare technologies.With Sechenov University, the focus shifts to advancing academic and technical capacity, promoting collaborative research, and connecting early-career researchers with seasoned professionals to drive innovation in healthcare and research. The collaboration with Skoltech fortifies strategic ties between the UAE and Russian health research ecosystems, amplifying Abu Dhabi's global positioning in the sector through impactful joint projects, policy alignment, and active participation in key global health events.DoH and the Dmitry Rogachev National Research Center will focus on advancing research and clinical trials, particularly in CAR-T therapy models. The agreement promotes the harmonisation of infection prevention and control measures, alongside capacity-building initiatives and student exchange programmes, to enhance educational and practical experiences in the field of pediatric healthcare.ADGHW is a major government initiative from DoH and serves as a platform for innovation and collaboration under the theme Towards Longevity: Redefining Health and Well-being. It places a strong emphasis on community-driven health and wellbeing, with a proactive approach centred around preventive, personalised, and holistic care.
Four core themes will guide discussions and initiatives: Longevity and Precision Health; Health System Resilience & Sustainability; Digital Health & AI; and Investment in Life Sciences. By convening diverse stakeholders from around the world, ADGHW is a community without borders that seeks to advance the future of health and wellbeing.
Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Emirati man with rare blood disorder benefits from new $2 million gene therapy in the US
Emirati man with rare blood disorder benefits from new $2 million gene therapy in the US

The National

time11 hours ago

  • The National

Emirati man with rare blood disorder benefits from new $2 million gene therapy in the US

An Emirati man with a rare inherited disorder has become only the second patient in the world to benefit from a pioneering $2 million gene therapy that eliminates the need for regular blood transfusions. Khalifa Dawood, 22, from Abu Dhabi said he has been given a 'new lease on life' as he recovers from the novel gene treatment he received at Cleveland Clinic Children's hospital in Ohio, which recently won medical approval for the therapy. The UAE has some of the regions highest rates of thalassaemia, also known as sickle cell disease, a condition that limits the body's ability to produce healthy red blood cells. While some carriers show very limited symptoms, others experience bone deformities, shortness of breath, dizziness, organ damage and heart palpitations. The condition can require regular blood transfusions, with research suggesting thalassaemia affects as many as 16.5 per cent of the population. A new treatment used for the first time by the Cleveland Clinic Children's hospital has proven to modify a patient's blood forming cells, and can be delivered as a one-time treatment called Casgevy. Mr Dawood said that he hoped the treatment would allow him to lead a normal life, without the need for regular hospital stays. 'I am hoping this gives me a new lease on life where I am energised to enjoy it,' he said. Life-changing treatment Since its approval by the US Food and Drug Administration in January, the therapy has been delivered to an American woman from Ohio and Mr Dawood. I am hoping this gives me a new lease on life where I am energised to enjoy it Khalifa Dawood Although the treatment is expensive, it is life changing for those who receive it, according to Dr Rabi Hanna, chairman of the paediatric haematology-oncology department at Cleveland Clinic Children's hospital. It is not uncommon for adults to receive specialist care at a children's centre, particularly for conditions they have had since birth, as is the case with Mr Dawood. 'Unlike regular medicines that people take for years, Casgevy is meant to be a one-time treatment that could last a lifetime,' he said. 'It uses CRISPR gene editing, which is a very advanced science. Editing cells safely and precisely takes a lot of time, technology, and testing. 'It is also custom-made, as Casgevy is made from a person's own cells, which are collected, sent to a lab, edited and then returned. That process is complex and individualised.' The innovative treatment uses a gene editing technology called CRISPR/Cas9 to modify a patient's stem cells. The edited cells are then transplanted back into the patient, where they produce more haemoglobin in new healthy red blood cells. The FDA's approval was based on results from a single arm which showed 91 per cent of patients with beta thalassaemia did not need a blood transfusion for at least a year after having the treatment. Costly medical care Despite the therapy's success, it is likely to remain out of reach for the majority with costs of about $2.2 million. Gene therapies are typically the most expensive medical treatments. Etranacogene dezaparvovec, sold under the brand name Hemgenix is a gene therapy used for the treatment of haemophilia B, a potentially life threatening disorder that prevents blood from clotting. Priced at about $3.5 million, it was the world's most expensive drug until the arrival of Lenmeldy in March last year. The gene treatment developed by Orchard Therapeutics costs about $4.2 million and is used to treat life threatening nerve disorders in young children. High costs of certain drugs can be covered by insurers, government health systems or charitable foundations when there are no other treatment options. Drug companies also occasionally offer financial support programmes for families in need. The process of administering Casgevy begins by collecting stem cells from the patient's blood that are then sent to the lab to be edited using tiny, precise scissors. By clipping off the DNA responsible for preventing the body making healthy haemoglobin, the repaired cells can then be returned to the body. A course of chemotherapy is then required to clear out the old, sick marrow cells, allowing new healthy ones to grow in their place. Recovery time in the hospital is about four weeks. As the science behind gene editing improves, it should become faster, easier and cheaper to edit cells with higher accuracy, and fewer side effects. 'It is my hope and prediction that price will come down, but I am not sure how quickly,' said Dr Hanna. 'As the science of gene editing improves, it may become faster, easier, and cheaper to edit cells with higher accuracy and fewer side effects. 'Right now, Casgevy is the first gene editing therapy approved for sickle cell and thalassaemia. 'But more companies are developing similar treatments. When that happens, competition can help drive prices down. 'Also as companies learn how to make these therapies at scale, they may reduce production and delivery costs. 'Think of it like early computers or smartphones – they were expensive at first, but prices dropped as technology improved.' Global health drive Although patients like Mr Dawood must travel overseas for expensive gene therapy, the Gulf is also emerging as a go-to destination for emerging treatments. The King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre in Saudi Arabia is emerging as a leader of regional clinical trials and delivered a breakthrough in haemophilia care, using one-time gene therapy to restore clotting function in eight patients. In the UAE, at Medcare Royal Speciality Hospital Al Qusais, patients are receiving the latest care for rare genetic disorders like spinal muscular atrophy and Duchenne muscular dystrophy, two life-limiting growth conditions. Doctors there said patients were travelling into Dubai from Turkey and elsewhere in the region. Medcare Women and Children Hospital was one of the first private clinics outside the US to administer gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy, and has since delivered 100 infusions. American Hospital, Al Jalila Children's Hospital and Fakeeh University Hospital also offer gene therapy Zolgensma, which can cost about $2 million per dose. Dr Vivek Mundada, a consultant paediatric neurologist at Medcare Royal Speciality Hospital, said the drug had delivered remarkable outcomes in managing complex genetic conditions. 'Dubai is becoming a centre of medical innovation, and Medcare is proud to be leading that movement, especially in the field of rare genetic diseases,' he said. 'Through our comprehensive, patient-centred care model, we are transforming outcomes for children who previously had limited treatment options.'

Emiratis who use several types of tobacco are putting themselves at higher risk, study suggests
Emiratis who use several types of tobacco are putting themselves at higher risk, study suggests

The National

time19 hours ago

  • The National

Emiratis who use several types of tobacco are putting themselves at higher risk, study suggests

A seven-year nationwide study has found more than half of Emirati smokers use at least two forms of tobacco, raising concerns they are putting their health at greater risk as a result. The research – based on information collected from more than 2,500 adult citizens – revealed 47 per cent of those who smoke used one type of combustible tobacco, 35 per cent used two types and 18 per cent used three or more. Based on self-reported data, the new study found that such 'poly tobacco' users on average had higher levels of fats called triglycerides in their blood, which can contribute to an increased risk of stroke, heart attack and heart disease. The research also found that any kind of tobacco use was linked to similar indicators of possible cardiovascular disease, including higher levels in the blood of harmful forms of cholesterol. Dr Sukhant Bagdia, a specialist pulmonologist at Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi, emphasised the dangers posed to health by all forms of tobacco smoking. 'In my practice, I have multiple patients, who use not just cigarettes, but also medwahk, shisha and cigars. 'These are the risk factors for cardiovascular issues, even lung inflammation or bronchitis, or even to a certain extent, they would be also responsible for higher likelihood of cancer in the lungs and other organs. 'Those using multiple forms of smoking would be at a higher risk for cardiovascular and pulmonary disease, more comorbidity illness and other general health related issues. 'None of the smoking forms are safe, they all have their own bad side effects.' Previous research in the UAE has found that medwakh users are more than three times as likely as cigarette smokers to be dependent on tobacco, while medwakh and shisha products have been found to contain larger amounts of metals associated with cancer. Charting Emirati health The findings were gathered between 2016 and 2023 as part of the UAE Healthy Future Study, which has recruited around 15,000 people and will follow many of them over time to assess how lifestyle choices, genetics and environment can impact risk factors for obesity, diabetes and heart disease. The survey was launched in 2016 in a partnership between New York University Abu Dhabi and Tamkeen − which collaborates with leading institutions to deliver social, cultural and educational projects − with the support of the Ministry of Health and Prevention and other health bodies. 'Any tobacco use is associated with potential changes in cardiovascular disease markers. That's the take-home message,' said Andrea Leinberger-Jabari, the first author of the study and the assistant director for tobacco research at New York University Abu Dhabi's Public Health Research Centre. Cardiovascular disease is one of numerous health problems linked to smoking, with others including cancer and respiratory conditions such as emphysema. A 2019 study from the US indicated that the risk of death among cigarette smokers who additionally used other types of tobacco was 'as high as and sometimes higher than those of exclusive cigarette smokers'. Gender gap and global picture Data for the study was supplied by 7,535 Emirati adults, of which 2,550 − 34 per cent − were smokers. The seventh edition of The Tobacco Atlas − a global analysis of smoking – in 2022 found 15.5 per cent of men and 2.5 per cent of women used tobacco. These figures represented the entire UAE population, taking into account both Emiratis and residents, with the Healthy Future Study only surveying citizens. World Health Organisation data from 2022 indicated that 22.3 per cent of the world's adult population uses tobacco. Among Emiratis in the study, there is a huge disparity between the sexes when it comes to smoking, with 50 per cent of UAE national men using some form of combustible tobacco, but just seven per cent of women. The work is part of the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project, which looks at the impact of tobacco-control policies in more than 30 countries that together are home to more than half the world's population. Published in Nicotine and Tobacco Research, the new paper is titled, Factors associated with single, dual and poly combustible tobacco use among Emirati adults in the United Arab Emirates: The UAE Healthy Future and ITC Survey results (2016 – 2023). Ms Leinberger-Jabari said that the UAE Healthy Future Study would provide particularly useful information for researchers about because, being a longitudinal study, it would collect data from the same individuals over many years. 'It's going to be an incredibly helpful study to keep following these individuals over time and look at how tobacco use behaviours might be changing.' Anti-smoking strategy The work will also mean that the UAE can be compared to other countries that are part of the ITC project and could inform global tobacco policy too, Ms Leinberger-Jabari said. Curbing tobacco and e-cigarette use is a top priority for the UAE, with a key public health strategy implementing a smoke-free environment and increased public awareness of the health risks. In 2017 the UAE brought in a 100 per cent tax on tobacco and tobacco products, meaning that 50 per cent of the total retail price is accounted for by tax.

UAE astronomers detect exoplanets orbiting distant stars
UAE astronomers detect exoplanets orbiting distant stars

Dubai Eye

timea day ago

  • Dubai Eye

UAE astronomers detect exoplanets orbiting distant stars

Astronomers in the UAE have detected exoplanets orbiting stars far beyond the solar system, the Abu Dhabi-based International Astronomy Centre announced. Al Khatem Astronomical Observatory, located deep in the Abu Dhabi desert, worked in partnership with the NASA Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission. The astronmers analysed subtle changes in the brightness of stars to detect the transit of planets in front of them - a technique used to discover exoplanets. Eng. Khalfan Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the International Astronomy Center, said the detection of these planets is based on preliminary data provided by the TESS telescope, and is being verified on Earth through a global network of specialised observatories. Eng. Mohammed Shawkat Awda, Director of the International Astronomy Center, said that the Al Khatim Observatory officially joined the TESS Follow-Up Observing Program (TFOP) program in June 2024, after completing a rigorous training program conducted by international experts, followed by a successful practical test to observe one of the candidate planets. He explained that since joining, it has conducted a series of nighttime observations, each lasting between four and seven hours, focusing on 12 stars suspected of having planets. He noted that using its main telescope, it was able to transform the status of 10 of these stars from "candidate planets" to "confirmed planets," an achievement that demonstrates the precision of the observatory's research. Official documents from the Global Programme indicate that the Khatem Observatory achieved these results independently, reflecting the efficiency of its equipment and the accuracy of the observations it provides, especially in light of the environmental challenges facing ground-based observations. Awda emphasised that this contribution represents an important scientific step for the UAE in the field of space exploration, placing it in a leading position in the search for planets that may be habitable, or providing new insights into the formation and evolution of planets in distant galaxies.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store