Latest news with #Burjeel
Al Etihad
14-05-2025
- Health
- Al Etihad
New Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Centre opened at Burjeel Medical City in Abu Dhabi
14 May 2025 22:26 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)Burjeel Holdings has launched a Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Centre at Burjeel Medical City (BMC) in Abu Dhabi, marking a significant step towards redefining the standard of care for individuals with inherited blood launch took place under the patronage and in the presence of Sheikha Shaikha bint Saif bin Mohamed Al Nahyan, wife of Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Advisor to His Highness the President and Chairperson of the Emirates Thalassemia her opening speech on the occasion, Sheikha Shamma said, "In my mother's unwavering commitment to thalassemia patients, I have witnessed how compassion, when paired with vision and persistence, can transform countless lives across generations and beyond borders."The newly inaugurated Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Centre by Burjeel Holdings' state-of-the-art facility will provide compassionate and comprehensive care to patients and their families," she centre was inaugurated in a grand ceremony also attended by Sheikh Khalifa bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil, Founder and Chairman of Burjeel Holdings, Omran Al Khoori, Board Member, and a number of Burjeel opening was also attended by members of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Thalassemia Society, and a number of leaders from the Department of Health in Abu centre supports individuals living with thalassemia and sickle cell disease by delivering a holistic, patient-centric, and evidence-based model of care, supported by a multidisciplinary team of world-renowned experts. The centre offers fully integrated outpatient services and a dedicated transfusion unit operating seven days a week. The centre is distinguished by several key differentiators, including extended transfusion services across the UAE via Burjeel's hospital network, internationally validated MRI quantification of iron overload in the heart and liver, and in-house molecular genotyping capabilities. Prof. Khaled Musallam, Group Chief Research Officer of Burjeel Holdings and Director of the Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Centre, said, "What makes this centre unique is the combination of global clinical expertise, access to the latest therapies, and the ability to deliver care in line with international guidelines authored by the very people leading the services here."With an international advisory board of global key opinion leaders, the centre adheres to leading global standards, including those of the Thalassaemia International Federation, with necessary local adaptations to meet patients' centre will also work closely with the Centre for Research on Rare Blood Disorders (CR-RBD) at BMC, also headed by Prof. Khaled Musallam, to identify and enroll eligible patients in global clinical trials, ensuring access to the latest innovations in treatment, including disease-modifying and curative has swiftly become recognised as one of the most active hubs for research on haheemoglobin disorders globally. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
Al Etihad
14-05-2025
- Health
- Al Etihad
Under the patronage of Sheikha bint Saif, Burjeel Holdings launches Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Centre
14 May 2025 10:11 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)Under the patronage of Sheikha Shaikha bint Saif bin Mohamed Al Nahyan, wife of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Advisor to His Highness the President, and Chairperson of the Emirates Thalassemia Society, Burjeel Holdings has launched a Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Centre at its flagship quaternary care hospital, Burjeel Medical City (BMC) in Abu Dhabi, in a step towards redefining the standard of care for individuals with inherited blood centre was inaugurated in a grand ceremony also attended by Sheikh Khalifa bin Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, Founder and Chairman of Burjeel Holdings, Omran Al Khoori, Board Member, and a number of Burjeel leaders. The opening was also attended by members of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Thalassemia Society and a number of leaders from the Department of Health, Abu Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan said in the opening speech she delivered on this occasion: "In my mother's unwavering commitment to thalassemia patients, I have witnessed how compassion, when paired with vision and persistence, can transform countless lives across generations and beyond borders. The newly inaugurated Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Centre by Burjeel Holdings' state-of-the-art facility will provide compassionate and comprehensive care to patients and their families."The centre supports individuals living with thalassemia and sickle cell disease by delivering a holistic, patient-centric, and evidence-based model of care, supported by a multidisciplinary team of world-renowned centre offers fully integrated outpatient services and a dedicated transfusion unit operating seven days a week. The centre is distinguished by several key differentiators, including extended transfusion services across the UAE via Burjeel's hospital network, internationally validated MRI quantification of iron overload in the heart and liver, and in-house molecular genotyping capabilities. Patients are cared for by experts with decades of experience in managing both pediatric and adult cases of thalassemia and sickle cell disease. With the MENA region reporting considerably high prevalence rates of thalassemia and sickle cell disease, the centre aims to bridge critical gaps in long-term care. The centre's strategic location within a quaternary care facility ensures direct access to advanced medical and surgical subspecialties, enabling seamless referrals and comprehensive management of Khaled Musallam, Group Chief Research Officer at Burjeel Holdings, and Director of the Thalassemia & Sickle Cell Centre, said: 'Our goal is to establish the Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Centre as a regional hub for cutting-edge care and research in rare blood disorders. What makes this centre unique is the combination of global clinical expertise, access to the latest therapies, and the ability to deliver care in line with international guidelines authored by the very people leading the services here. We are not only focused on treatment, but also on improving patients' quality of life and future outcomes through holistic, personalised care.'With an international advisory board of global key opinion leaders, the centre adheres to leading global standards, including those of the Thalassaemia International Federation, with necessary local adaptations to meet the specific needs of patients in the UAE and MENA region. Its continuum of care begins at diagnosis and spans childhood to adulthood, with tailored transition programmes and advanced treatments for conditions including transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia (TDT), non-transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia (NTDT), and sickle cell disease. The centre will also work closely with the Centre for Research on Rare Blood Disorders (CR-RBD) at BMC, also headed by Prof Khaled Musallam, to identify and enrol eligible patients in global clinical trials, ensuring access to the latest innovations in treatment, including disease-modifying and curative therapies. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
Al Etihad
07-05-2025
- Health
- Al Etihad
Abu Dhabi medical team gears up to monitor blood sugar levels of astronauts in space
7 May 2025 19:57 A. SREENIVASA REDDY (ABU DHABI)A team of Burjeel doctors led by Dr Mohammad Fityan is preparing to monitor blood glucose levels of astronauts on the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) scientific mission to the International Space Station (ISS).The Burjeel-led study aims to explore glucose metabolism and aspects of diabetes in microgravity. Ax-4 is a planned private spaceflight to the ISS, operated by Axiom Space in partnership with SpaceX and NASA. Scheduled for launch on May 29, the mission will carry four astronauts from Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 and Crew Dragon the 14-day mission, the crew will conduct around 60 scientific studies from 31 countries, with the Burjeel study among them.'We will study the effect of the space environment on glucose metabolism in the body. This can enhance our understanding of diabetes as well as other metabolic diseases that affect blood sugar levels,' said Dr Fityan said in an interview with Aletihad.'On Earth, it's difficult to isolate the effects of gravity, muscle use, and posture on glucose regulation. In microgravity, changes in muscle mass, fluid distribution, and circadian rhythm provide a new lens through which we can study how glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity are regulated,' he all crew members will wear monitors. 'One or more astronauts will be wearing glucose monitors for the entire mission,' he said. 'A dedicated research team and laboratory experts at Burjeel will monitor real-time health data from the ISS,' he study will also examine insulin stability in space. 'Insulin pens will be sent on the flight, but astronauts will not use them. We are testing the viability and stability of insulin in the space environment.'Burjeel will also send lancets, needles, and point-of-care blood glucose machines. 'Blood samples will be taken during the flight to validate glucose levels,' said Dr Fityan, who is currently serving as Director of Medical Education at Burjeel Holdings and is also its Chief Medical Fityan, a US citizen of Iraqi origin, is a double board-certified physician in Internal Medicine and Obesity Medicine. He has also served as an Assistant Clinical Professor and Student Clerkship Director in the United States. He noted that current spaceflight protocols exclude insulin-dependent diabetics. 'NASA has excluded insulin-dependent diabetics from travelling to space. There are no official exclusions for non–insulin-dependent diabetics, but so far, no astronaut with diabetes has travelled to space' said Dr Fityan, who will be present at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on the day of the proposed launch. 'By understanding blood glucose patterns, validating glucose monitors' reliability, assessing insulin stability, and evaluating data transmission, this research will help ensure the safety of astronauts with insulin-dependent diabetes in future missions.'Dr Fityan believes the findings could benefit Earth-based care as well. 'These findings may help us uncover novel regulatory pathways or early biomarkers for insulin resistance, potentially leading to preventive interventions long before diabetes manifests,' he added: 'The study may also evolve glucose monitoring tools optimised for low-activity or remote settings, benefiting patients on Earth through wearable tech and telehealth innovations.'Ultimately, Dr Fityan sees the Ax-4 study as a stepping stone toward more inclusive space missions. 'Understanding how glucose regulation is affected in non-diabetic individuals in microgravity is the first step toward assessing what might happen in those with impaired glucose metabolism.' 'In the long run, studies like Ax-4 can help rewrite the criteria for spaceflight eligibility—not by lowering standards, but by developing technologies and protocols that make space more accessible for people living with chronic conditions like diabetes.'
Al Etihad
06-05-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
AI will not replace healthcare professionals, it will ‘amplify their impact'
7 May 2025 00:59 TAARIQ HALIM (ABU DHABI)Burjeel Holdings has emphasised that artificial intelligence (AI) is there to 'amplify the impact of healthcare professionals, not replace them,' with the goal of streamlining operations and enhancing the patient proliferation of AI has seen the transformation of industries and economies — with the automation of tasks, functions and jobs previously performed manually by healthcare sector is no exception. At the recent Abu Dhabi Global Health Week, leading UAE healthcare group Burjeel announced an innovative partnership with pioneering US-based firm Hippocratic AI, aimed at revolutionising healthcare by employing generative AI 'agents'.Generative AI is a category of AI techniques in which algorithms are trained on data sets that can be used to generate new content, such as text, audio or 'agents' will be able to engage in 'natural, safety-focused, human-like conversations' through the integration of 'multilingual, empathy-driven' AI, Burjeel said. Functions of AI AgentsThe AI would perform clinical and administrative functions, delivering 'real-time, culturally aware support across a wide range of patient touchpoints, including appointment scheduling, patient education, health risk assessments, and follow-up check-ins.' Hippocratic AI's agents are versed in over 15 languages, including Spanish, Mandarin, and Vietnamese, as well as localised dialects like Emirati AI will be deployed across key specialities, such as oncology, cardiology, neurology, and said the capabilities of the agents extended beyond mere chatbot conversations.'The technology goes far beyond basic chatbot interactions, supporting a wide range of functions. Examples include conversational outreach on care gap closure for underserved communities, ongoing check-ins and patient education for chronic conditions, medication adherence support, including refill reminders and education. 'In many cases, this outreach would not have been possible before due to clinician shortages. Hippocratic AI helps augment clinicians where and when it's needed most,' said Michelle Machon, Chief Nursing Officer, Nursing Professional Development at Burjeel. Empathetic AI Agents The vision for the collaboration is to harness cutting-edge technology to deliver 'hyper-personalised, compassionate' care, according to John Sunil, Group CEO of Burjeel Holdings. But is it possible for tech to be empathetic? Munjal Shah, Co-Founder and CEO of Hippocratic AI, added: 'Our empathic genAI agents are designed to create a more compassionate and effective patient experience.'But how do you train AI to be 'sensitive' when interacting with human clients? 'Hippocratic AI's generative AI agents have unlimited patience,' explained Machon. 'They never rush a conversation no matter how many questions are asked or how long a response takes. They are non-judgmental. These agents strive to understand the individual, not just the condition. Their empathy shines in sensitive, high-impact moments — whether it's checking in during recovery or offering support during a heat wave or cold snap.' Ethics and Limitations of AI AgentsA report published by the World Health Organisation, titled 'Ethics and governance of artificial intelligence for health: Guidance on large multi-modal models', outlined the consensus on ethical principles for the use of AI in health. These included: • Protecting autonomy: Humans should remain in control of healthcare systems and medical decisions. Data privacy and confidentiality to be protected by valid, informed consent through appropriate legal frameworks for data protection. • Promoting human wellbeing, human safety and the public interest: Designers of AI to satisfy regulatory requirements for safety, accuracy and efficacy for well-defined uses or indications. Measures of quality control in the use of AI over time should be available.• Ensuring transparency, 'explainability' and intelligibility: AI technologies should be intelligible or understandable to developers, medical professionals, patients, users, and regulators. • Fostering responsibility and accountability to ensure that AI is used under appropriate conditions and by appropriately trained people. • Ensuring inclusiveness and equity: AI is designed and shared to encourage the widest possible, appropriate, equitable use and access, irrespective of age, sex, income, race, ethnicity, ability or other characteristics. AI to be available for use not only in high-income settings but also in low- and middle-income countries. • Promote AI that is responsive and sustainable: AI technologies to be consistent with the wider promotion of the sustainability of health systems, the environment and said Burjeel adopted a safety-first approach in the design of their AI system. And while their health services have seen a marked increase in AI integration, the expertise and accountability of their qualified healthcare professionals remained indispensable and of paramount importance.'Hippocratic AI is deeply committed to safety and clinical appropriateness, in line with the 'Do no harm' value. They do not diagnose, treat, or prescribe. These are complex, high-stakes decisions that require the expertise and accountability of licensed clinicians. 'Generative AI is a force multiplier, augmenting workflows, improving patient adherence, and providing outreach, while respecting the irreplaceable judgment of human caregivers. Hippocratic AI generative AI agents cover patient-facing, non-diagnostic tasks,' she added.
Al Etihad
06-05-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
AD Ports Group, Burjeel Holdings partner to optimise healthcare logistics in Africa
6 May 2025 17:17 ABU DHABI (WAM)AD Ports Group and Burjeel Holdings have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore creating a joint venture (JV) that would fast-track the delivery of high-quality medical supplies and services across effort seeks to support the UAE's broader humanitarian aid mission to strengthen healthcare infrastructure, and ensure timely access to essential medicines and services in underserved regions of the African Ports Group, with Burjeel Holdings' subsidiaries and its healthcare-management arm Operonix, will assess opportunities to leverage AD Ports Group's extensive logistics footprint to facilitate the handling, inland transportation, specialised warehousing, and distribution of medical supplies, equipment, and pharmaceuticals across Africa.A collaboration would combine AD Ports Group's physical and digital distribution networks with Burjeel's platforms and services to optimise healthcare supply and services delivery through smarter inventory management, and efficient logistics. The JV partners could also co-invest in each other's projects within the scope of their shared objectives, jointly advancing healthcare logistics projects that bring a long-term impact across MoU seeks to build on the healthcare logistics expertise AD Ports Group developed as a member of the Hope Consortium, an Abu Dhabi emirate global medical supplies and services distribution effort set up during the COVID-19 pandemic that distributed millions of vaccines and testing kits to Africa and countries around the Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO, AD Ports Group, said, "This MoU has the potential to accelerate AD Ports Group's transformation into an essential provider of logistics solutions in Africa, by making quality healthcare supplies and services more accessible and affordable. As Africa's population grows, the continent is becoming an increasing driver of the global economy. Sub-Saharan African GDP is expected to rise 3.5% this year, and accelerate to 4.3% annually through 2027, according to the latest World Bank forecast.""With Burjeel, AD Ports Group is committed to following the guidance of our wise leadership in the UAE by deploying the commercial potential of our African business assets to produce tangible benefits for the societies in which we operate, in this case potentially through the delivery of a new long-term source of high-quality medicines, medical supplies, and treatments," he Shamsheer Vayalil, Founder and Chairman of Burjeel Holdings, said, "We look forward to working closely with AD Ports Group, an established logistics and supply chain expert in Africa, to explore the possibility of expediting our delivery of life-saving medicines, medical supplies, and critical care services to the people of Africa. This MoU with AD Ports Group would allow us to capitalise on its advantages and accelerate the delivery of exemplary medical care combined with state-of-the-art technology."AD Ports Group has an extensive portfolio of port terminals, economic zones, and logistics business assets across Africa in Egypt, Republic of Congo-Brazzaville, Angola, and Tanzania. The Group's Noatum Maritime fleet also provides regional service to Africa. Burjeel Holdings has proven expertise in establishing healthcare projects across Africa, delivering high-quality services, and supporting the development of sustainable health systems, in South Sudan, Liberia, Ethiopia, Chad Republic, and Somalia.
