Today's Edition
AL AIN (WAM)
The United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) and McGill University have announced the winners of the first cycle of their joint research grant programme, with winning projects focussing on machine learning, artificial intelligence, immunotherapy and gene editing research.
The initiative, established to promote collaborative, high-impact research between the two institutions, supports interdisciplinary projects addressing global challenges in science, medicine, and law.
'Reinforcement Learning and Energy-Efficient TinyML Approach for VTOL UAVs', which focuses on enhancing capabilities through advanced machine learning, was one of the grant winners, as was 'SORT: Safety of OIT in a Randomised Trial for Peanuts, Milk, and Eggs', a leading study assessing the safety of oral immunotherapy. 'Creating and Validating Generative AI Models that Synthesise High-Quality MRI Images of Multiple Sclerosis Patients', a project that aims to improve diagnostic imaging using artificial intelligence, was another grant winner, alongside 'CRISPR-Cas9: Advancing Gene Editing and Exploring Its Ethical and Legal Dimensions', which explores the frontiers of gene-editing technology and its social impacts.
Commenting on this initiative, Dr. Rami Beiram, Associate Provost for Research at UAEU, stated: “This collaboration with McGill University demonstrates our strategic commitment to fostering global partnerships that drive impactful, interdisciplinary research. The awarded projects highlight how academic cooperation can generate transformative solutions to complex challenges in health, technology, and society.
"At UAEU, we are proud to support initiatives that not only advance scientific discovery but also align with national priorities and contribute meaningfully to the global research ecosystem."
Dr. Christopher Manfredi, Provost and Executive Vice President of McGill, also stated: “Global research partnerships are critically important for McGill University, and we are pleased to strengthen our partnership with the UAE through these UAEU-McGill research grants.
"We look forward to the contributions that these outstanding researchers will bring to McGill and to the research and scientific ecosystem at UAEU. This joint programme marks an important milestone in deepening academic relations and driving transformative research that benefits both regional and international communities.
The initiative signifies UAEU’s commitment, as the nation’s flagship university, to academic excellence and impactful research that aligns with national priorities and global needs. The partnership with McGill University, one of the world’s leading research-intensive institutions, further enhances the position of both universities as innovation-driven leaders across various fields.
The joint research grant programme also marks a strategic step toward deepening academic ties and driving transformative research that serves both regional and international communities. It opens new horizons for achieving a sustainable, knowledge-based collaboration between the Arab World and Canada.
