Latest news with #NMSS
Al Etihad
4 days ago
- Health
- Al Etihad
NMSS, Erth Zayed Philanthropies sign Dh25 million grant agreement to mark "World MS Day"
30 May 2025 18:10 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) has signed a strategic agreement with Erth Zayed Philanthropies to advance its national multiple sclerosis (MS) agenda. As part of this agreement, Erth Zayed Philanthropies will contribute Dh 25 million to support NMSS in delivering its core priorities, including advancing UAE's first National Coalition for MS, a multi-sector platform to improve care, research, and inclusion across the agreement was signed by Dr. Fatima Al Kaabi, Vice Chair of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and a representative from Erth Zayed Philanthropies during a formal ceremony in Abu announcement of this strategic agreement coincides with World MS Day, marked this year under the global theme 'My MS Diagnosis: Navigating MS Together,' which highlights the importance of early detection and community year, Erth Zayed Philanthropies joins the National Coalition for MS as a founding partner, marking a pivotal step in the UAE's efforts to advance equitable MS care and inclusion. This strategic partnership reinforces the UAE's commitment to enhancing MS care, accelerating research, and advancing equity, catalyzing broader multi-sector engagement to shape a more inclusive and transformative national response. Coalition members include Sanofi, Axios International, PureHealth and Manzil Healthcare Services, each playing a vital role in advancing care, awareness, and system-wide Fatima Al Kaabi, Vice Chair of NMSS, said: 'The establishment of the National Coalition for MS is a defining step in our mission to drive equitable access to MS care." She added, "This work is inspired by the legacy of our late Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, whose vision was rooted in dignity, inclusion, and access to quality care for all. It is sustained by the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, whose commitment continues to shape the future of health and reinforce the UAE's position as a global leader in innovative, people-centred healthcare."She stated: 'On World MS Day, we are proud to join the international community, not only in raising awareness, but in taking meaningful, coordinated action that has the potential to transform outcomes for people living with MS. Today, we are laying the foundations for long-term impact rooted in compassion, powered by collaboration, and guided by a shared responsibility to ensure that every member of our community has the opportunity to live a full and dignified life.'The grant from Erth Zayed Philanthropies aims to directly support NMSS in delivering on its key priorities and enabling the National Coalition for MS to address the most pressing challenges faced by people living with MS in the the National Coalition for MS was convened by NMSS to bring together government entities, healthcare providers, insurance and pharmaceutical companies, and educational institutions under a unified national agenda for MS. The Coalition's priorities for 2025-2026 are focused on improving access to patient support resources, promoting inclusive workplace policies, strengthening the skills of healthcare professionals through specialised training, increasing public understanding of MS to enable earlier diagnosis, and ensuring long-term sustainability through coordinated fundraising and investment in priorities form an action-oriented framework designed to mobilise resources, strengthen inclusion across sectors, and ensure that the UAE is a world leader in MS care. As the Coalition moves into its implementation phase, its priorities will continue to be shaped by the voices and experiences of the MS community, ensuring that their needs, priorities, and aspirations drive every step of the in shared responsibility and measurable impact, the Coalition's members are onboarded to lead or contribute to key initiatives, with defined commitments that span one to two years depending on the scope of Coalition's priorities reflect a commitment to evidence-based solutions. Since its establishment, NMSS has invested Dh 6.5 million in MS research, with the next NMSS research grant cycle set to launch on June 23, 2025. As the Coalition transitions into its implementation phase, NMSS continues to call on stakeholders across sectors, from policymakers and healthcare institutions to academic bodies and donors, to join this pivotal movement. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
Al Etihad
19-05-2025
- Health
- Al Etihad
National Multiple Sclerosis Society reveals 2024-2025 research grant recipients, driving innovation in care and treatment
19 May 2025 11:15 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) has awarded Dh4 million in research grants to six UAE-based projects that are designed to accelerate progress in the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS), marking a major milestone in its second research grant awarded projects were announced at an event held in Abu Dhabi, attended by key partners, researchers, and representatives from the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH).The announcement follows the release of the NMSS 2023–2024 Research Impact Report, and reflects the growing momentum behind MS research and advocacy efforts in the year's funding has doubled compared to the inaugural cycle, reflecting NMSS's strengthened commitment to advancing MS research. The grant cycle attracted 46 applications, including submissions developed in collaboration with 15 international and regional partners, representing a nearly fourfold increase compared to the first cycle, and demonstrating the UAE's strengthened leadership in MS research. The research grants have been awarded to leading institutions in the country, including Khalifa University for three projects, namely 'Investigating Genetic and Epigenetic Associations with Familial MS', 'Self-Energy Harvesting Sensors for Enhanced Monitoring of MS (SENSE-MS)', and 'Enhancing Myelination in MS through Targeted Electric Field Stimulation'; University of Sharjah for ' Development and Evaluation of Augmented Reality-Based Dual-Task Training to Enhance Cognitive and Motor Function in People with MS'; Mohammed Bin Rashid School Of Government for 'Assessing Geographic and Socioeconomic Disparities in Access to Disease-Modifying Therapies for MS Patients in the UAE'; and Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence for 'NMSS-LLM: The World's First Large Language Model for MS'. Dr Fatima Al Kaabi, Vice Chair of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, said, "The success of the second grant cycle reflects NMSS's commitment to championing innovation across the UAE's growing research ecosystem. The remarkable growth in both the number and caliber of applications we received this year is a testament to the country's expanding scientific capabilities and its vision to become a global hub for healthcare and research excellence. Developed in collaboration with DoH, the programme aligns with national priorities and is driven by the UAE leadership's vision to strengthen the UAE's position as a leader in healthcare innovation.""Each of these projects represent meaningful progress towards our long-term vision of improving quality of life for people living with MS, both locally and globally, and achieving breakthroughs in MS care. The programme is driven by NMSS's commitment to driving transformative research that translates hope into real-world breakthroughs, from earlier diagnosis and improved treatment options to new pathways toward a cure," she Asma Al Mannaei, Executive Director of the Health Life Sciences Sector at the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), said, "At the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, we are deeply committed to advancing the future of MS care through strategic collaboration and shared purpose. Our partnership with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society reflects a unified vision to elevate research, improve patient outcomes, and build a resilient ecosystem for neurological health in the UAE. Together, we aim to drive innovation, shape evidence-based policies, and inspire meaningful progress in the lives of those affected by MS." NMSS continues to invest in future talent through initiatives, such as the joint NMSS MENACTRIMS Fellowship, which offers a postdoctoral research fellowship for young Emirati neuroscientists, supporting their training and development in basic, clinical, or applied MS research. The goal of the programme is to foster scientific exchange and grow the pool of skilled researchers dedicated to addressing MS-related challenges in the UAE and beyond. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
Al Etihad
22-04-2025
- Health
- Al Etihad
National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) partners with 6 UAE universities to integrate inclusion-focused learning into curricula
22 Apr 2025 11:26 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) has partnered with six universities across the UAE as part of the Universal Design for Inclusion Programme. This agreement formalises NMSS's collaboration with higher education institutions, integrating inclusion-focused learning into university curricula and empowering students to develop innovative solutions that enhance to raise awareness on cognitive, mobility, and communication challenges faced by People of Determination, the programme will empower youth to develop innovative, inclusion-focused solutions that address real-world one of NMSS's flagship initiatives, the programme aims to educate university students about multiple sclerosis (MS), while equipping them with the knowledge and skills to develop universally accessible and culturally relevant designs, fostering a more inclusive environment where everyone can be an active part of in partnership with leading universities across the UAE, the Universal Design for Inclusion programme provides students with opportunities to explore inclusive design principles through NMSS-led awareness sessions, expert-led workshops, and interactive discussions with inclusive innovators and, most importantly, the end-users. These sessions allow students to gain a deeper understanding of the barriers faced by People of Determination, empowering them to develop viable solutions that promote accessibility and Executive Officer of Emirates Foundation and Vice Chair of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, His Excellency Ahmed Taleb Al Shamsi, said, 'Empowering youth to become changemakers is at the heart of this programme. The Youth Awareness Programme is a crucial step in supporting a new generation of innovators who are committed to designing a more inclusive future. This initiative is about more than awareness; by combining education with practical design challenges, we are empowering students to become advocates for accessibility and equipping them with the skills to create meaningful solutions that improve lives.''We are especially grateful to the universities and faculty members who have integrated this programme into their curriculum. Their commitment has made this initiative possible, ensuring that students engage with accessibility as a core design principle from the outset of their careers. This initiative is about more than awareness; it's about action. By involving students directly in the creation of solutions, we are nurturing a generation that not only understands accessibility but champions it.'A first-of-its-kind initiative at this scale in the UAE, the programme is being implemented across six leading universities, spanning 11 campuses, including Abu Dhabi University, University of Sharjah, Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (DIDI), Khalifa University, Al Ain University, and six Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) campuses in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, Sharjah, Fujairah, and Ras Al began their journey with Empathy Workshops, which offered them firsthand insights into the lived experiences of People of Determination. These sessions allowed participants to experience and understand daily challenges through interactive activities, ensuring that student-led innovations are informed by real-world mentorship and educational workshops included industry experts inspiring students with their own solutions, start-ups and successful advocates and ambassadors also played a key role in the programme, sharing real-world insights into communication, mobility, and cognitive challenges as will present their final prototypes to a panel of experts, who will assess their feasibility, functionality, and potential for implementation. Outstanding projects will be recognised through an expert jury award, reinforcing the importance of inclusive, solution-driven top three winning student teams will be onboarded into the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) youth incubation platform, Startup Dojo. This collaboration provides young innovators with mentorship, pitch training, and access to grant disbursement guidance, helping them develop their prototypes into real-world of Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa), Her Excellency Sara Belhaif Al Nuaimi, said, "At Sheraa, we're proud to support the final stage of the Universal Design for Inclusion Programme by welcoming the winning teams into our Startup Dojo. This reflects our commitment to empowering youth to turn inclusive ideas into scalable ventures that address real societal needs.''We believe inclusivity is key to strong, thriving communities. This programme provides students with valuable insight into real-world challenges and inspires practical solutions for all. At Sheraa, we're proud to help turn these ideas into reality through mentorship and support, shaping a more inclusive future.'Sheraa will provide a mentorship session for the winners and runners-up, guiding them through the grant disbursement process, as well as a pitch training session to help them prepare for their final presentations at the September awarding with the UAE's national vision for inclusion, the programme reinforces the importance of universal design in education, public spaces, and community engagement. By fostering early exposure to inclusion-driven innovation, NMSS aims to cultivate a future where students of all abilities collaborate to design a world that is not just for People of Determination but with keeping with the UAE's Year of Community slogan, Hand in Hand, the initiative mobilises key players across the ecosystem - including industry leaders, educators, and community members - to drive inclusive design forward. This collaborative effort embeds accessibility at the core of innovation, ensuring that inclusion is a shared responsibility that strengthens society as a whole.
Al Etihad
21-04-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
National Multiple Sclerosis Society advances inclusive design innovation
21 Apr 2025 21:11 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with six leading universities across the UAE as part of the Universal Design for Inclusion Program, aimed at integrating accessibility-focused learning into higher education and empowering students to create innovative, inclusive initiative seeks to raise awareness about cognitive, mobility and communication challenges faced by People of Determination, particularly those living with chronic conditions such as multiple in partnership with Abu Dhabi University, University of Sharjah, Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (DIDI), Khalifa University, Al Ain University, and six campuses of Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT), the programme spans 11 campuses and involves over 500 students, 45 faculty members and more than 15 immersive began with Empathy Workshops offering firsthand insight into the experiences of people with chronic conditions. These were followed by expert-led mentorship sessions and workshops that introduced real-world design challenges and solution Taleb Al Shamsi, CEO of Emirates Foundation and Vice Chair of NMSS, said the programme equips youth to be changemakers, stating, 'This initiative is about more than awareness; it's about action. By involving students directly in the creation of solutions, we are nurturing a generation that not only understands accessibility but champions it.'Students will present their final projects to a panel of experts, with the top three winning teams joining the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) youth incubation platform, Startup Dojo, to further develop their prototypes into viable Belhaif Al Nuaimi, CEO of Sheraa, affirmed the centre's support, saying, 'We're proud to help turn inclusive ideas into scalable ventures. This programme offers students valuable insight into real-world challenges and inspires practical solutions for all.' The programme aligns with the UAE's national inclusion strategy and Year of Community theme, Hand in Hand, by bringing together educators, industry leaders and the community to drive inclusive innovation across sectors.
Zawya
21-04-2025
- Health
- Zawya
National MS Society signs MoU with UAE universities to drive inclusive design innovation
Abu Dhabi — The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with six leading universities across the UAE as part of the Universal Design for Inclusion Program. This landmark agreement formalizes NMSS's collaboration with higher education institutions, integrating accessibility-focused learning into university curricula and empowering students to develop innovative solutions that enhance inclusivity. Designed to raise awareness on cognitive, mobility and communication challenges faced by People of Determination, the program will empower youth to develop innovative, accessibility-focused solutions that address real-world needs. As one of NMSS's flagship initiatives, the program aims to educate university students about multiple sclerosis (MS), while equipping them with the knowledge and skills to develop universally accessible and culturally relevant designs - fostering a more inclusive environment where everyone can be an active part of society. Delivered in partnership with leading universities across the UAE, the Universal Design for Inclusion program provides students with opportunities to explore inclusive design principles through NMSS-led awareness sessions, expert-led workshops, and interactive discussions with inclusive innovators and, most importantly, the end-users—people living with a chronic condition. These immersive, interactive sessions allow students to gain a deeper understanding of the barriers faced by People of Determination, empowering them to develop viable solutions that promote accessibility and inclusion. His Excellency Ahmed Taleb Al Shamsi, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Foundation and Vice Chair of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, said: 'Empowering youth to become changemakers is at the heart of this program. The Youth Awareness Program is a crucial step in supporting a new generation of innovators who are committed to designing a more inclusive future. This initiative is about more than awareness; by combining education with practical design challenges, we are empowering students to become advocates for accessibility and equipping them with the skills to create meaningful solutions that improve lives. 'We are especially grateful to the universities and faculty members who have integrated this program into their curriculum. Their commitment has made this initiative possible, ensuring that students engage with accessibility as a core design principle from the outset of their careers. This initiative is about more than awareness; it's about action. By involving students directly in the creation of solutions, we are nurturing a generation that not only understands accessibility but champions it.' A first-of-its-kind initiative at this scale in the country, the program is being implemented across six leading universities, spanning 11 campuses, including Abu Dhabi University, University of Sharjah, Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (DIDI), Khalifa University, Al Ain University, and six Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) campuses in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, Sharjah, Fujairah, and Ras Al Khaimah. The initiative will involve over 500 students, more than 45 faculty members and industry experts, and host over 15 immersive workshops. Students began their journey with Empathy Workshops, which offered them firsthand insights into the lived experiences of people with chronic conditions. These immersive sessions allowed participants to experience and understand daily challenges through interactive activities, ensuring that student-led innovations are informed by real-world needs. Subsequent mentorship and educational workshops included industry experts inspiring students with their own solutions, start-ups and successful outcomes. Accessibility advocates and chronic illness ambassadors also played a key role in the program, sharing real-world insights into communication, mobility, and cognitive challenges as end-users. Students will present their final prototypes to a panel of experts, who will assess their feasibility, functionality, and potential for implementation. Outstanding projects will be recognized through an expert jury award, reinforcing the importance of inclusive, solution-driven design. The top three winning student teams will be onboarded into the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa) youth incubation platform, Startup Dojo. This collaboration provides young innovators with mentorship, pitch training, and access to grant disbursement guidance, helping them develop their prototypes into real-world solutions. Her Excellency Sara Belhaif Al Nuaimi, CEO of Sharjah Entrepreneurship Center (Sheraa), said: "At Sheraa, we're proud to support the final stage of the Universal Design for Inclusion Program by welcoming the winning teams into our Startup Dojo. This reflects our commitment to empowering youth to turn inclusive ideas into scalable ventures that address real societal needs.' She added 'We believe inclusivity is key to strong, thriving communities. This program provides students valuable insight into real-world challenges and inspires practical solutions for all. At Sheraa, we're proud to help turn these ideas into reality through mentorship and support—shaping a more inclusive future.' Sheraa will provide a mentorship session for the winners and runners-up, guiding them through the grant disbursement process, as well as a pitch training session to help them prepare for their final presentations at the September awarding event. Aligned with the UAE's national vision for inclusion, the program reinforces the importance of universal design in education, public spaces, and community engagement. By fostering early exposure to accessibility-driven innovation, NMSS aims to cultivate a future where students of all abilities collaborate to design a world that is not just for people of determination but with them. In keeping with the UAE's Year of Community slogan, Hand in Hand, the initiative mobilizes key players across the ecosystem - including industry leaders, educators, and community members - to drive inclusive design forward. This collaborative effort embeds accessibility at the core of innovation, ensuring that inclusion is a shared responsibility that strengthens society as a whole. About the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Established in 2022 under the Ministry of Community Empowerment, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) is a UAE-based NGO created to better the lives of people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their communities in the UAE through education, advocacy and advancing global efforts to finding a cure for MS. NMSS is governed by a board of trustees, advised by a local and international Strategic Advisory Committee and Medical Advisory Committee, and supported by MS ambassadors and volunteers. Together, they ensure that people living with MS have access to high quality care and get the guidance they need through reliable resources. NMSS works with leading national medical institutions and renowned global partners to build a trusted network of healthcare providers and support organisations. The society aims to raise awareness of MS, create a holistic ecosystem for the MS community in the UAE, and provide support and resources for individuals affected by MS. For more information about MS and the NMSS, please visit Visit the NMSS's official social media platforms for the most recent updates and insights. Instagram: NMSsocietyUAE Facebook: National MS Society UAE LinkedIn: National Multiple Sclerosis Society UAE YouTube: NMSSocietyUAE X: NMSsocietyUAE
