By Rafiq Vayani
DUBAI: Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) – the emirate’s pioneering health and wellness destination – is galvanizing key partners for a major drive focused on its research and development (R&D) capabilities at Arab Health 2021, the Middle East’s leading healthcare exhibition which opens a four-day, in-person run at the Dubai World Trade Centre on June 21.
Adopting the theme ‘Research & Innovation’ DHCC will highlight the inspirational behind-the-scenes research capabilities and innovative initiatives of its community partners as part of its drive to evolve the destination to becoming a global research hub and a transformer of healthcare for the next 50 years.
“We have a great story to tell. It’s a story of a collaborative environment where scientists, medics, academics and healthcare providers are coming together in a powerful ecosystem of knowledge, scientific abilities and advanced technologies that are now cornerstones of DHCC’s transformative ecosystem,” explained Jamal Abdulsalam, Chief Executive Officer, DHCA.
The pioneering ecosystem will be demonstrated at Arab Health by DHCC partner zones where organizations, including Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital (AJCH), Al Jalila Foundation (AJF) and the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU), will demonstrate some of their past, current and planned ground-breaking R&D projects.
“We anticipate our partner’s combined credentials will strike a collaborative chord with our hosted private-sector organisations which include some of the industry’s biggest global names including Clemenceau Medical Center (CMC), AstraZeneca, Mediclinic, Moorfields Eye Hospital and ClinArt,” added Abdulsalam.
In collaboration with its long-standing partners, DHCC’s ecosystem has completed 70 research projects over the past two years and is currently progressing 75 active research studies, ranging from COVID-19, cancer, diabetes, autism, gastroenterology, depression, kidney disorders, and a number of pediatric conditions. It has also implemented three Phase III Clinical Trials and two, Phase II Clinical Trials, that shed new light on treatments for a number of conditions and will ultimately contribute to saving lives.
DHCC will also mount a thought-leader series where some of healthcare’s brightest minds, leading scientists and researchers will deliver invaluable insights into the sector’s future.
“This will clearly position us as a scientific knowledge hub and a destination where the sharing of expertise is actively encouraged,” said Abdulsalam.
“We believe Arab Health 2021 is key to pushing our global research hub agenda as it is the industry’s first, live in-person event since the start of the pandemic and it coincides with our 8th themed campaign of ‘DHCC Research & Innovation Season. We will have the chance to underline the exemplary efforts of teams of experienced researchers operating across DHCC which is fully aligned with Dubai’s and the national goals, including the National Advanced Sciences Agenda 2031, Dubai Urban 2040, and the UAE Centennial 2071 Plan.
“Our Arab Health partnership approach represents key pillars of DHCC’s ecosystem of Education, Philanthropy, Next Generation and Business Partners delivering healthcare excellence and there could not be a better time for it. The COVID-19 pandemic has awakened recognition of the essential role of research and development in healthcare advancement.
DHCC and its partners will also be showcasing the latest research and innovation capabilities through their specialised research labs, including Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital’s Genome Lab, a state-of-the-art center offering a broad range of genetic testing and counselling services; and Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) showcasing ground-breaking research and development breakthroughs.
“Researchers and scientists were once unsung heroes – that’s no longer the case. There is now public recognition that these professionals are key to the health of our communities. DHCC is now in the process of implementing clinic trials in a bid to minimize the impact of the novel coronavirus and our partners have played a leading role in Dubai’s fight against the pandemic.”
