Latest news with #IHLAD
Al Etihad
15-05-2025
- Health
- Al Etihad
ADPHC signs strategic partnership agreement with Institute for Healthier Living Abu Dhabi to enhance community health and wellbeing
15 May 2025 23:40 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)The Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC) has signed a strategic partnership agreement with the Institute for Healthier Living Abu Dhabi (IHLAD) to further enhance the community's health and well-being through innovation, personalised care, and targeted lifestyle early interventions. The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the 25th IUHPE World Conference on Health Promotion, a global event hosted in Abu Dhabi for the first time in the Middle East, under the theme Settings for Planetary Health and and IHLAD are collaborating to improve the lives of Abu Dhabi's residents through preventing and managing lifestyle-related diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, obesity, hypertension, and other cardiometabolic to the agreement, IHLAD will utilise the health data extracted from the comprehensive health screening programme (IFHAS). The institute will enrol participants through voluntary consent. Individuals will be classified according to age, gender and clinical risk factors. Participants will receive specialised care, following an exceptional proactive therapeutic approach, through the integration of advanced diagnostic technologies and evidence-based preventive strategies to more effectively treat lifestyle-related diseases. Dr. Rashed Obaid Alsuwaidi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC), said: 'Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre's strategic partnership with the Institute for Healthier Living Abu Dhabi (IHLAD) serves as a testament to our commitment to enhance the health and well-being of all community members. Through this collaboration, we remain dedicated to empowering our community to lead longer, healthier lives by prioritising proactive preventative approaches, early detection and integration of cutting-edge innovations in data analytics, life science and artificial intelligence (AI) across the healthcare ecosystem.'In Abu Dhabi, we leverage the Malaffi platform and the comprehensive health screening programme (IFHAS) to gather valuable insights on the population's health needs. These initiatives enable us to support community members in adopting healthy lifestyles that enhance their current and future well-being.'Dr. Nicole Sirotin, CEO of the Institute for Healthier Living Abu Dhabi, said: 'The Institute for Healthier Living Abu Dhabi is collaborating closely with Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC) and other UAE government entities to develop a comprehensive, forward-thinking approach to enhancing the health and longevity of the UAE's population. By harnessing advanced technology, artificial intelligence, and precision lifestyle medicine, we are transforming the healthcare system into one that proactively identifies individuals at high risk for disease and implements personalised, preventive strategies to mitigate complications before they arise.'Innovative diagnostics, such as biomarkers, AI-based retinal scans and multi-omics testing, will be introduced to advance early detection and diagnosis. Personalised nutrition and fitness plans, designed with evidence from the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and other prestigious global entities, will empower individuals to make informed health Department of Health – Abu Dhabi has recently announced the introduction of a groundbreaking licensing framework to establish Healthy Longevity Medicine Centres (HLMCs). This initiative, the first of its kind globally, enables the centres to provide a wide range of services to promote wellness, longevity, and disease prevention for the residents of Abu Dhabi. The department has also announced the licensing of IHLAD as the first specialised Healthy Longevity Medicine Centre in the world. Organised by the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC) in collaboration with the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE), the 25th IUHPE World Conference on Health Promotion brings together more than 2,000 global experts, policymakers, and practitioners to explore practical solutions to today's most pressing public health challenges. With a focus on prevention, innovation, and cross-sector collaboration, the event reflects Abu Dhabi's growing role as a hub for sustainable, inclusive, and forward-looking public health systems. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
Al Etihad
16-04-2025
- Health
- Al Etihad
Rise of longevity medicine in UAE shifts focus from reactive to proactive care — experts
17 Apr 2025 00:53 Khaled Al Khawaldeh (ABU DHABI) Conventional healthcare has followed a simple reactive model: When you get sick, you go to a medical centre and get treatment. However, longevity clinics — a rising trend in the industry — promise to revolutionise the way people interact with their health, encouraging them to be 'more present' in their lives. Longevity medicine is an emerging field that aims to extend the healthy human lifespan through a proactive, science-based approach. As Dr. Nicole Sirotin, CEO of the Institute for Healthier Living Abu Dhabi (IHLAD), told Aletihad, medical centres aim to cure a patient's sickness, but longevity clinics seek to keep one healthy over time. 'The current system is based on you getting sick and someone treating you, right? So, part of our role in that is to help build the proactive system where we can live in the population, understand someone's risk and really use that to help understand the biology of ageing,' she said on the sidelines of Abu Dhabi Global Health Week on Tuesday. The rise of longevity medicine was evident at the ongoing Abu Dhabi Global Health Week, where the UAE launched a new Health, Endurance, Longevity, and Medicine (HELM) cluster. The cluster — which aims to serve as a platform for the research and development of biotechnology and new-age health solutions — will see Abu Dhabi take a leading role in the growing longevity medicine industry. The announcement comes as the country sees the emergence of longevity centres, with private companies rushing to establish a footing in the field. This includes pharmaceutical giants like Lilly, which is looking for collaborations with the government to find long-term solutions to reduce obesity. 'We are shifting the paradigm from reactive to proactive care — enabling earlier interventions, health system resilience, and better outcomes across the region, that would benefit patients,' Tony Terzis, Associate VP for Lilly Medical META, told Aletihad at the Abu Dhabi Global Health Week. Building a Framework However, there has been some doubt raised over the effectiveness of many 'longevity treatments' in the market. A recent survey conducted by Dubai-based Detki Family Clinic and Molodost Clinic found that only 10% of clinics claiming to provide longevity therapies were backed by science. As part of her work at IHLAD, Dr. Sirotin has been leading the charge to create a framework that would provide the basic structure around longevity care and ensure that a reputable and science-backed industry flourishes in the UAE. Working in tandem with the UAE authorities, IHLAD has published a foundational document that aims to regulate and standardise the industry. 'What we're aiming to build is a structure that ensures there's someone helping you stay healthy, and that someone has knowledge and experience that has been accredited by somebody,' she said. Dr. Sirotin said longevity medicine was heavily reliant on gathering data points to access an individual's ageing process. 'So, the rate you're ageing is different from the rate that I am, and within your body, the rate your skin is ageing, versus your heart versus your brain, those are all different. So, if I — as a physician — am going to apply treatment, I need to know those things, so I know where to start.' She said programmes like the Emirati Genome Project and investment in state-of-the-art measurement devices ensured that Abu Dhabi would lead in individualised longevity care.
Al Etihad
04-04-2025
- Health
- Al Etihad
Healthy Longevity Innovation Forum attracts global experts to Abu Dhabi to shape the future of aging
4 Apr 2025 11:04 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) and the Institute for Healthier Living Abu Dhabi (IHLAD) convened with the inaugural Healthy Longevity Innovation Forum to drive advancements in longevity science and personalised event brought together an elite group of global experts, policymakers, and healthcare leaders, including dignitaries from DoH, Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC) and esteemed members of the IHLAD Board. The forum served as a pivotal platform to explore cutting-edge research, innovative healthcare solutions, and policy frameworks aimed at fostering healthier, longer lives in the UAE and beyond. The forum further solidified the Department's mission to transform healthcare to meet the needs of a modern aging by Prof Dr Shahrukh Hashmi, Division Director for Medical Research and Development at DoH, a highly exclusive closed-door research session featured scientific luminaries like Dr Eric Verdin, President and CEO (Buck Institute for Research on Aging), Professor Andrea Maier, Co-Director of the Centre for Healthy Longevity (National University of Singapore), and Professor Evelyne Bischof, Professor of Medicine (Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences). The experts engaged in comprehensive discussions exploring advanced longevity medicine, digital biomarkers, and precision health interventions – setting the stage for potential breakthroughs that could enhance healthcare outcomes and quality of life for residents within emirate and Nicole Sirotin, CEO of the Institute for Healthier Living Abu Dhabi, said: "Research is critical to the success and growth of our community. We currently lack sufficient evidence in diagnostics and therapeutics for healthy longevity. Our goal is to ethically build this new specialty. IHLAD, in partnership with DoH, is fostering high-level collaboration to co-create the future of health."Her Excellency Dr Fayeza Alyafei, the Executive Director of the Healthcare Quality Sector at the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi (DoH), said: 'At the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi (DoH), healthy longevity is a cornerstone of our strategic vision for the future of healthcare in the emirate. The department is continuously collaborating with our esteemed partners across the ecosystem to develop a proactive, prevention-focused model of care. "The inaugural Healthy Longevity Innovation Forum, co-hosted with the Institute for Healthier Living Abu Dhabi (IHLAD), served as a pivotal platform to exchange knowledge, expertise and resources that will enable breakthroughs in addressing the needs of our modern aging world. This initiative further advances DoH's mission to implement innovative, preventive approaches throughout Abu Dhabi and beyond, fostering lifelong wellness and empowering community members to adopt healthier lifestyles.'His Excellency Dr Rashed Alsuwaidi, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC), said: 'Abu Dhabi is redefining healthy longevity with a personalised, data-driven approach to health. By leveraging digital innovation and advanced genomics, we are empowering individuals with tailored interventions that evolve over time. From early detection through IFHAS screening to AI-powered personalized care and the Sahatna health app, we are transforming healthcare into a proactive, preventative model.'Public sessions at the forum provided a glimpse into the ambitious vision driving this initiative. High-impact panels and keynote addresses explored the transformative potential of AI and digital health in healthy longevity medicine, advancements in biological age measurement, and the critical role of preventive and precision medicine. Crucially, discussions centred on how to translate these advancements into tangible benefits for the people of Abu Dhabi and beyond.A key theme resonated throughout the forum: moving beyond simply treating disease to proactively promoting health and wellbeing throughout the revolved around basing healthy longevity medicine on the hallmarks of aging – addressing the root causes of age-related decline rather than waiting for the first disease to appear. This aligns perfectly with the Healthy Longevity Vision 2030, a bold commitment to give to the world more than we take from the world. The Healthy Longevity Innovation Forum signals Abu Dhabi's unwavering commitment to becoming a global leader in healthy longevity research and innovation.
