M42, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Gunma University in Japan to drive innovation in heavy ion therapy for cancer treatment
28 May 2025 13:18
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)M42 and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with Gunma University in Japan to accelerate research and innovation in heavy ion therapy, one of the most advanced and precise forms of radiation therapy for cancer treatment.This collaboration, which took place during M42 and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi's recent delegation visit to Japan, will see the three entities exchange knowledge, expertise, and research to deepen scientific understanding, and to broaden the clinical applications of heavy ion therapy.The collaboration builds on M42 and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi's recent partnership with Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation (Toshiba ESS) to establish the region's first heavy ion therapy facility in Abu Dhabi.This initiative will introduce one of the world's most innovative cancer treatment technologies to the Middle East, positioning Abu Dhabi as a centre of excellence in oncology and precision medicine.With no heavy ion therapy centre within a five-hour flight of the UAE, the upcoming facility—strategically located on the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi campus, adjacent to the Fatima bint Mubarak Centre, the region's first-of-its-kind comprehensive cancer centre—will enhance access to this treatment for patients across the Middle East.Dr. Georges-Pascal Haber, Chief Executive Officer of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, said, "At Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, our vision is to bring the most advanced, evidence-based treatments to our patients, and this partnership with Gunma University exemplifies that commitment. By combining our clinical expertise with Gunma's decades of leadership in heavy ion therapy, we are not only advancing scientific knowledge but also laying the groundwork for a new era of cancer care in the region."President Ishizaki Yasuki at Gunma University, commented, "Gunma University has long been committed to advancing the science of heavy ion therapy through rigorous research and clinical innovation."He added, "Partnering with M42 will enable us to expand the reach of this transformative therapy, fostering international collaboration and ensuring that more patients worldwide benefit from the latest advancements in cancer treatment."
Gunma University has been at the forefront of radiation oncology and nuclear medicine in Japan for decades. The Gunma University Heavy Ion Medical Centre (GHMC), established in 2005, has been instrumental in refining heavy ion radiotherapy by integrating radiation biology, clinical studies, and cutting-edge treatment technologies.
Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
11 hours ago
- Zawya
M42, AstraZeneca, and SOPHiA GENETICS launch UAE broad liquid biopsy initiative to transform cancer diagnosis and care
Partnership will advance cancer diagnosis, inform treatment decisions, and enable real-time monitoring of disease progression in a more cost-effective and less invasive manner The launch is expected in the latter part of Q2 2025, following the completion of an initial validation study at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: M42, a global health leader powered by technology, continues to pioneer artificial intelligence (AI) and medical and clinical solutions as part of its mission to revolutionize health in the UAE and globally. In a major advancement for precision oncology, M42 announced a strategic collaboration with AstraZeneca and SOPHiA GENETICS (Nasdaq: SOPH) to bring cutting-edge liquid biopsy testing to the UAE, aimed at advancing cancer diagnosis, informing treatment decisions, and enabling faster, accurate biomarker testing across a broad range of cancers. As part of the collaboration, M42 will integrate SOPHiA GENETICS' MSK-ACCESS®, powered with SOPHiA DDM™ technology, into its testing infrastructure, enabling non-invasive genomic profiling of cancers through a simple blood draw. This approach does not replace but rather complements routine cancer screenings and is designed for patients who are unable to undergo a solid tumor biopsy, enabling them to be matched with a precision therapy tailored to their specific cancer profile. Over the next 12 months, the partnership will enable liquid biopsy testing access across select leading hospitals across the UAE, providing patients with faster, less invasive biomarker insights compared to traditional tissue biopsies, while also strengthening testing infrastructure and capabilities for a wide range of cancers in the UAE. The new testing program will initially target lung, ovarian, breast, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers, among others, addressing some of the most critical cancer burdens in the region. Validation studies are set to commence shortly at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, marking a key milestone toward the full clinical launch planned for the latter part of Q2 2025. Over time, the collaboration will serve as a foundation for broader expansion across the Middle East, excluding Saudi Arabia, delivering world-class precision oncology solutions to a wider population. Albarah El-khani, Senior Vice President, Operations, Integrated Health Solutions at M42, said: "At M42, we are committed to transforming care through innovation and collaboration. By partnering with AstraZeneca and SOPHiA GENETICS, we are bringing world-class liquid biopsy technologies to the UAE, empowering clinicians to deliver more precise and less invasive cancer care. This collaboration reflects our vision of democratizing health by making advanced diagnostics accessible to more patients, supporting not just early diagnosis but also real-time treatment monitoring and cost-effective, precise, predictive, and personalized care." Sameh El Fangary, Cluster President GCC, AstraZeneca, shared," At AstraZeneca, we are leading the way in the application of precision medicine. Our work, and our collaborations with partners across industry, are driving towards better treatments for patients as well as a more sustainable future for healthcare systems. Through our latest partnerships, we are committed to transforming cancer care for millions in the region by advancing early diagnosis and optimizing patient pathways from detection to therapy.' R oss Muken, President of SOPHiA GENETICS, said: "Expanding access to advanced testing technologies is central to our mission at SOPHiA GENETICS. Partnering with M42 and AstraZeneca in the UAE allows us to equip healthcare providers with the tools they need to personalize care, monitor disease in real-time, and ultimately improve outcomes for patients across the region." About M42 M42 is a global health champion powered by artificial intelligence (AI), technology and genomics to advance innovation in health for people and the planet. Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, M42 combines its specialized, state-of-the-art facilities with integrated health solutions like genomics and biobanks, and harnesses advanced technologies to deliver precise, preventive and predictive care, to impactfully disrupt traditional healthcare models and positively impact lives globally. Established in 2022, following the coming together of G42 Healthcare and Mubadala Health, M42 has more than 480 facilities in 26 countries and over 20,000 employees. M42 includes renowned healthcare providers including Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Danat Al Emarat, Diaverum, Imperial College London Diabetes Centre, Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Hospital, and Moorfields Eye Hospital Abu Dhabi. As well as operating the Emirati Genome Programme, M42 runs Abu Dhabi BioBank and Abu Dhabi Health Data Services (ADHDS), a global tech-enabled healthcare company operating Malaffi.
Al Etihad
13 hours ago
- Al Etihad
M42, AstraZeneca, SOPHiA GENETICS to transform cancer diagnosis, care
3 June 2025 14:30 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)M42, a global health leader powered by technology, announced a strategic collaboration with AstraZeneca and SOPHiA GENETICS to bring cutting-edge liquid biopsy testing to the UAE, aimed at advancing cancer diagnosis, informing treatment decisions, and enabling faster, accurate biomarker testing across a broad range of part of the collaboration, M42 will integrate SOPHiA GENETICS' MSK-ACCESS®, powered with SOPHiA DDM™ technology, into its testing infrastructure, enabling non-invasive genomic profiling of cancers through a simple blood approach does not replace but rather complements routine cancer screenings, and is designed for patients who are unable to undergo a solid tumor biopsy, enabling them to be matched with a precision therapy tailored to their specific cancer the next 12 months, the partnership will enable liquid biopsy testing access across select leading hospitals across the UAE, providing patients with faster, less invasive biomarker insights compared to traditional tissue biopsies, while also strengthening testing infrastructure and capabilities for a wide range of cancers in the new testing programme will initially target lung, ovarian, breast, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers, among others, addressing some of the most critical cancer burdens in the studies are set to commence shortly at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, marking a key milestone toward the full clinical launch planned for the latter part of Q2 El-khani, Senior Vice President, Operations, Integrated Health Solutions at M42, said, 'This collaboration reflects our vision of democratising health by making advanced diagnostics accessible to more patients, supporting not just early diagnosis but also real-time treatment monitoring and cost-effective, precise, predictive, and personalised care.'Sameh El Fangary, Cluster President GCC of AstraZeneca, stated, "Our work, and our collaborations with partners across industry, are driving towards better treatments for patients as well as a more sustainable future for healthcare systems. Through our latest partnerships, we are committed to transforming cancer care for millions in the region by advancing early diagnosis and optimising patient pathways from detection to therapy.' Ross Muken, President of SOPHiA GENETICS, said, "Expanding access to advanced testing technologies is central to our mission at SOPHiA GENETICS. Partnering with M42 and AstraZeneca in the UAE allows us to equip healthcare providers with the tools they need to personalise care, monitor disease in real-time, and ultimately improve outcomes for patients across the region." Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
Zawya
14 hours ago
- Zawya
M42, AstraZeneca, SOPHiA GENETICS to transform cancer diagnosis, care
M42, a global health leader powered by technology, announced a strategic collaboration with AstraZeneca and SOPHiA GENETICS to bring cutting-edge liquid biopsy testing to the UAE, aimed at advancing cancer diagnosis, informing treatment decisions, and enabling faster, accurate biomarker testing across a broad range of cancers. As part of the collaboration, M42 will integrate SOPHiA GENETICS' MSK-ACCESS®, powered with SOPHiA DDM™ technology, into its testing infrastructure, enabling non-invasive genomic profiling of cancers through a simple blood draw. This approach does not replace but rather complements routine cancer screenings and is designed for patients who are unable to undergo a solid tumor biopsy, enabling them to be matched with a precision therapy tailored to their specific cancer profile. Over the next 12 months, the partnership will enable liquid biopsy testing access across select leading hospitals across the UAE, providing patients with faster, less invasive biomarker insights compared to traditional tissue biopsies, while also strengthening testing infrastructure and capabilities for a wide range of cancers in the UAE. The new testing programme will initially target lung, ovarian, breast, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers, among others, addressing some of the most critical cancer burdens in the region. Validation studies are set to commence shortly at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, marking a key milestone toward the full clinical launch planned for the latter part of Q2 2025. Albarah El-khani, Senior Vice President, Operations, Integrated Health Solutions at M42, said, 'This collaboration reflects our vision of democratising health by making advanced diagnostics accessible to more patients, supporting not just early diagnosis but also real-time treatment monitoring and cost-effective, precise, predictive, and personalized care.' Sameh El Fangary, Cluster President GCC of AstraZeneca, stated, "Our work, and our collaborations with partners across industry, are driving towards better treatments for patients as well as a more sustainable future for healthcare systems. Through our latest partnerships, we are committed to transforming cancer care for millions in the region by advancing early diagnosis and optimising patient pathways from detection to therapy.' Ross Muken, President of SOPHiA GENETICS, said, "Expanding access to advanced testing technologies is central to our mission at SOPHiA GENETICS. Partnering with M42 and AstraZeneca in the UAE allows us to equip healthcare providers with the tools they need to personalise care, monitor disease in real-time, and ultimately improve outcomes for patients across the region."
