Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
On the third and final day of Abu Dhabi Global Health Week (ADGHW), sector leaders highlighted the role of AI and advanced therapies in shaping the future of healthcare landscape in the UAE.
Held at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi from April 15 to 17, the event witnessed the participation of over 15,000 visitors, 1,900 delegates, and 200 speakers from 90 countries.
Speaking to Aletihad, Dr. Mujtaba Ali-Khan, CEO of Burjeel Medical City, shared thoughts about their participation in ADGHW.
“It has been an exciting week for Burjeel Holdings. We unveiled innovations designed to enhance Abu Dhabi’s healthcare ecosystem — from improving patient journeys to introducing advanced treatments like CAR-T cell therapy, produced locally for the first time in the UAE.”
CAR-T therapies, which reprogramme a patient’s immune cells to attack cancer cells, have shown remarkable success in treating certain blood cancers like leukemia and lymphoma.
Previously manufactured abroad, CAR-T cell therapy carried high costs.
Burjeel Holdings has partnered with US-based non-profit Caring Cross to locally manufacture CAR-T cell therapies at up to 90% less than current international costs.
“CAR T-cell therapy has transformed how we treat lymphoma, leukaemia, and multiple myeloma,” said Dr. Ajlan Al Zaki, Director of Burjeel Hematology Oncology and Cellular Therapy Center.
“By producing it locally through a non-profit model, we are making it far more affordable and accessible.”
On the role of emerging technologies, Dr. Ali-Khan: “AI should simplify processes for healthcare providers, easing the burden on doctors and nurses so they can focus more on patient care. We are using ambient listening tech to capture doctor-patient conversations, allowing AI to support diagnosis and documentation.”
“This week reinforced one thing — partnerships are essential. True transformation in healthcare comes from collaboration across sectors,” Dr. Ali-Khan said.
Dr. Hesham Abdullah, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Oncology R&D at GSK, highlighted their collaboration with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office.
“We signed an MoU, to create a cutting-edge Multi-Omics Institute. This collaboration will explore genomics, proteomics, and deep immune profiling to better understand cancer at a biological level. It is about unlocking why some patients respond to treatment while others do not,” Dr. Abdullah told Aletihad.
According to the expert, longevity in cancer care depends on three things: Early diagnosis, better treatment, and quality survivorship. “But living longer is not enough — we want patients to live better,” he said.
Also speaking to Aletihad, Dr. David Bearss, CEO of Halia Therapeutics, highlighted their efforts in developing novel therapies to improve the lives of patients with inflammatory and neurological conditions.
“Chronic inflammation plays a huge role in ageing,” Dr. Bearss said. “With the global population ageing rapidly, we need to help people live not just longer, but healthier lives.”
“Abu Dhabi’s proactive approach to prevention and longevity aligns perfectly with our mission,” he added.
