Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
The UAE has been making significant strides towards personalised, preventive healthcare — and behind the major projects in the sector are collaborations with global institutions and innovators.
Genomics and artificial intelligence (AI) are playing a central role in shaping the future of health and enhancing patient-centred care, experts and delegates at the Abu Dhabi Global Healthcare Week (ADGHW) told Aletihad on Thursday.
“Genomics is a fundamental part of biology; understanding our genome helps us identify risks for diseases like cancer and heart conditions. It also shows us which medicines work best for each individual, said Jacob Thaysen, CEO of Illumina, an American biotech company.
Illumina has been at the forefront of sequencing the entire UAE population’s DNA, a groundbreaking project aimed at creating personalised health profiles.
“Now, our focus is on turning these insights into real steps to improve health and longevity,” Thaysen said. “By understanding polygenic risk scores, people can take action to avoid diseases like cancer.”
The UAE is the first country in the world to implement such a large-scale genomic project, Thaysen said. “It is setting the stage for the future of healthcare worldwide.”
Pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly and Company is also among those who have established strong ties with UAE health authorities, particularly the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi.
“We focus on three main therapeutic areas: diabetes, obesity, neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, and oncology, particularly cancer,” said Nadim Hasbani, Head of Corporate Affairs Strategy, Middle East and Turkey areas at Eli Lilly and Company.
The firm signed two partnerships with the DoH in 2024. “The first is focused on Alzheimer’s, to establish a Centre of Excellence in Abu Dhabi. The second MoU addresses obesity, exploring alternative solutions like medications instead of relying solely on surgery.”
Meanwhile, healthcare provider Mediclinic — another participant at the ADGHW — is focused on promoting a healthcare system built around wellness.
“Prevention is better than cure. Mediclinic is absolutely committed to prevention and to ensuring a balanced healthcare ecosystem,” said Barry Bedford, COO for UAE at Mediclinic Middle East.
Explaining the role of AI and technology in this mission, he said: “AI can help us predict and prevent conditions—but we still need that compassionate human interaction between doctor and patient. Itis critical that we do not take the compassion out of healthcare.”
