Emiratis can participate in the project by providing samples at collection centres across Abu Dhabi, including Mubadala Health’s Imperial College London Diabetes Centre, Capital Health Screening Centre, Healthpoint
and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: Mubadala Health today announced that four of its healthcare facilities would serve as sample-collection centres for the Emirati Genome Program, which aims to make the UAE a leader in the field of precision medicine and preventative healthcare. The announcement is aligned with the recent mandate by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) to expand the program across Abu Dhabi and brings total program collection sites to 18.
The Emirati Genome Program is a strategic partnership between the DoH and G42 Healthcare to refine the de novo Emirati reference genome. The program has already referenced the Emirati genome based on DNA samples from 1,000 UAE nationals using next and third-generation sequencing with artificial intelligence and is now being extended to the wider Emirati population.
The announcement was made at an event held at Imperial College London Diabetes Centre, where senior officials toured the facility and officially marked their collaborative efforts. The sample collection centres at Mubadala Health’s Imperial College London Diabetes Centre (ICDLC), Capital Health Screening Centre (CHSC), Healthpoint, as well as Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi (CCAD), will expand on the existing centres supporting the study. In addition, Mubadala Health is granting the use of one of its modern mobile medical units to G42 Healthcare, which will extend the reach of the project at its new location on Hudairiyat island.
Hasan Jasem Al Nowais, CEO of Mubadala Health commented on the collaboration and said: “We are delighted to be supporting the Emirati Genome Program, which promises to have an enormous impact on the future of our healthcare sector. This project is close to our hearts as Mubadala Health has always emphasized the importance of preventative medicine while continuously working towards innovative diagnostic and treatment solutions.”
He added: “We are also excited about the implications of the program for our vast number of Emirati patients. The reference genome will be used as a type-standard to study the genetic makeup of citizens and enhance the prediction, prevention, and treatment of disease. The project therefore aims to improve healthcare, and thus quality of life, for both current and future generations.”
Ashish Koshy, CEO of G42 Healthcare said, “We are pleased to partner with Mubadala Health to significantly expand the number of collection centres across the emirate of Abu Dhabi and ramp up participation in the program. The more participants the program has, the more comprehensive and valuable the research data becomes. The Emirati Genome Program is designed to enable precise and customized medical treatment that will support a more robust healthcare system in the UAE by advancing local and international research, to better understand the nature of genetic illnesses, and support prevention strategies for current and future generations of Emiratis. The small step we are asking all Emiratis to take today will help realize a giant leap forward in preventive medicine in the UAE.”
How to participate: Emirati citizens visiting any of the branches of ICLDC, Healthpoint, CHSC or Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi will be supported by an onsite team of experts. The participants will be required to sign a consent form. More information on the Emirati Genome Program, can be found on http://www.emiratigenomeprogram.ae or by calling 800 UAE GENOME.
About the Emirati Genome Program:
The Emirati Genome Program (EGP) is the world’s first dedicated program to study the Arab genome. This initiative is a strategic partnership between Department of Health, Abu Dhabi (DoH), and G42 Healthcare to understand the genomic make-up of the Emirati population and support the UAE’s futuristic and preventive healthcare vision.
By significantly improving disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, the program aims to future proof the health of the nation. G42 Healthcare, the leading Abu Dhabi based Health-Tech company that was responsible for setting up one of the world’s largest testing and diagnostics laboratory to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, and for conducting 4Humanity trials, the world’s first phase III clinical trial of inactivated vaccines across the Pan Arab region, has established a state-of-the-art research and innovation hub at Omics Centre of Excellence in Masdar City.
The EGP has already referenced the first de novo Emirati genome based on DNA samples from 1,000 UAE nationals using cutting edge next and third generation sequencing with artificial intelligence. and is open to the wider Emirati population, making EGP the most ambitious genomics program worldwide.
About G42 Healthcare:
G42 Healthcare, a leading health-tech company, is on a mission to develop a world-class healthcare sector in the UAE and beyond, by harnessing data and advanced medical technologies to unlock the potential of personalized and preventive care and transforming the traditional healthcare ecosystem.
At the forefront in the battle against COVID-19, we have established Biogenix Labs, UAE’s first COVID-19 accredited large-scale throughput laboratory, facilitated the 4Humanity clinical trials, the world’s first phase three trial for inactivated vaccine against COVID-19 with over 43,000 volunteers from 125+ nationalities across the pan-Arab region, supported UAE’s healthcare authorities on the national vaccination implementation, employed advanced AI techniques and vast computing resources to accelerate the detection of COVID-19, conducted research into new vaccines and drug therapies, and built Omics Centre of Excellence, the region’s largest and most technologically advanced omics facility that is the backbone for the Emirati Genome Program, the world’s most comprehensive population genomics initiative.
Beyond COVID-19 we have plans and R&D encompassing genomics, imaging and diagnostics, digitization programs, to support the health of future generations. At G42 Healthcare, our plans are large in scale and bold in ambition. We partner extensively with governments, leading international entities, scientists and researchers and the wider medical community who subscribe to our values and our mission as we develop solutions to future-proof the health of nations.
About Mubadala Health:
Mubadala Health is the integrated healthcare network of Mubadala Investment Company. Established 2021, Mubadala Health operates, manages, and develops a portfolio of healthcare assets including: Abu Dhabi Telemedicine Centre (ADTC), Amana Healthcare, Capital Health Screening Centre (CHSC), Healthpoint, Imperial College London Diabetes Centre (ICLDC), and National Reference Laboratory (NRL). In addition, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is as an integral part of Mubadala Health. With a vision to transform the regional healthcare landscape, Mubadala Health sets a new benchmark for the UAE and regional healthcare industry through its state-of-the-art facilities and world-class caregivers who strive to put patients first across its continuum of care. Innovation, research, and education are the foundational pillars of Mubadala Health, supporting the further development of a sustainable healthcare sector in line with the vision of Abu Dhabi and the region.
