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Latest News & Events
Students from Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU), the learning and discovery arm of Dubai Health, have once again made an impact on the global stage at the ‘Design for Change’ international bootcamp, organized by Queensland University of Technology (QUT). The 2025 edition convened more than 100 participants from six countries, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, and the UAE, under the theme ‘Sustainability in Healthcare.’ Medical, nursing, design, and engineering students were immersed in this interdisciplinary and intercultural environment to develop innovative solutions that advance sustainability in the healthcare sector.
This year, MBRU’s Year 5 Doctor of Medicine (MD) student Sara Vidha and her team received the Best Problem-Solving Award for their solution to enhance energy efficiency in radiology departments. Krish Bhatia, a Year 2 MD student, and his team were nominated for the Best Team Strategy. This builds on MBRU’s success from last year’s bootcamp, where student projects received international recognition from Prototype4Humanity, and another earned Gold at the 2024 UNESCO Future Designer International Innovation Design Awards.
Dr. Yacine Hadjiat, Associate Professor of Innovation in Health Science and Digital Health at MBRU, and Head of Innovation and Digital Health, commented: “It’s truly inspiring to witness our students collaborate with peers from medicine, nursing, design, and engineering at this innovation bootcamp each year. Their ability to work across disciplines and cultures to develop sustainable, patient-centered solutions reflects the kind of innovation we strive for at Dubai Health. I congratulate all our students for their dedication, ingenuity, and for representing our university at this international program.”
The achievements of MBRU students at the International Innovation Bootcamp reflect a broader effort of Dubai Health to embed innovation across every level of its academic health system. As the learning and discovery arm of Dubai Health, MBRU contributes to this vision by equipping learners with the skills to apply innovation principles and design thinking methodologies. This commitment will continue to evolve with the opening of a Center for Innovation and Technology, a dedicated hub that will bring together students, clinicians, scientists, and industry partners to co-develop real-world solutions that improve health outcomes and patient experiences.
Scientists at the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU), the learning and discovery arm of Dubai Health, have published the first Arab Pangenome Reference, marking a major milestone in both regional and global genomic research. The study, released in Nature Communications, a leading scientific journal, provides a crucial foundation for advancing precision medicine and personalised healthcare for Arab populations, while also supporting the UAE’s National Genome Strategy, a 10-year initiative launched in 2023 by the Emirates Genome Council to advance personalised, preventive, and precision healthcare through cutting-edge genomic science.
The reference was built using high-quality DNA sequencing from 53 people of diverse Arab backgrounds in the UAE. The work, conducted in MBRU’s state-of-the-art Center for Applied and Translational Genomics (CATG), uncovered over 110 million base pairs of novel DNA sequences and identified nearly nine million small differences and more than 235,000 larger structural differences specific to Arab populations that have not been reported before. These findings are significant, as global DNA references have historically underrepresented Arab populations — a gap this research helps to close.
The Arab Pangenome Reference supports national and regional precision medicine initiatives by enabling the development of population-specific biomarkers, risk models, and therapeutic targets. One notable discovery was the duplicated gene TAF11L5, found highly enriched in Arab individuals studied but absent from global references. This gene may play a role in regulating other genes and could have implications for understanding disease risk and individual variation in treatment response.
Professor Alawi Alsheikh-Ali, Director General, Dubai Health Authority, and co-author of the study, said: “This achievement strengthens the UAE’s position in genomic science. By building a reference that reflects the genetic diversity of Arab populations, we are enabling more precise and equitable healthcare. It’s a foundational step towards realising the goals of our National Genome Strategy and ensuring that future medical innovations are shaped by data from our own communities.”
Dr. Hanan Al Suwaidi, Acting Provost of MBRU, and co-author of the study said: “The capabilities of the CATG lab were central to the success of this project. From genetic sequencing to advanced bioinformatics, every stage of the research was completed in-house. This level of integration gave us full control over quality and timelines, reflecting Dubai Health’s commitment to building world-class infrastructure and fostering national scientific leaders."
While genomic research has advanced rapidly over the past two decades, much of the foundational data has come from a narrow subset of global populations. This has created blind spots in how genetic risk is understood and addressed across different communities. The Arab Pangenome Reference contributes to a growing international effort to correct this imbalance by introducing high-quality data from a historically underrepresented population.
Dr. Mohammed Uddin, Director of CATG and Associate Professor of Genetics at MBRU, and senior author of the study, said: “This pangenome reference marks a major advancement in our understanding of Arab genomic diversity. It serves as a critical resource for both research discovery and clinical genome diagnostics, with lasting impact for future generations across the region.”
The project also developed ‘PanScan’, a bioinformatics tool to support more complex analysis of human pangenomes. Although not the central focus of the study, PanScan enables researchers to detect gene duplications, novel DNA changes, and complex DNA structures. Now publicly available on GitHub, a common resource used by scientists worldwide, the tool was created to support the Arab Pangenome Reference and similar efforts globally.
Dr. Nasna Nassir, lead author of the study and Assistant Professor at MBRU, said: “To support the Arab Pangenome Reference study, we developed PanScan, a tool designed to identify novel variants, gene duplications, and complex haplotype patterns specific to Arab populations. PanScan was key to uncovering unique genomic insights in our study and is now publicly available to support similar research globally.”
The research reflects Dubai Health’s commitment to advancing learning and discovery through MBRU. The university’s research strategy is focused on contributing to global scientific progress. By investing in foundational genomic research, Dubai Health is helping to ensure that Arab populations are represented in the future of precision healthcare.
The full study is available at:
Al Jalila Children’s Hospital, part of Dubai Health, and the only children’s hospital in the UAE, has completed over 100 treatments for patients with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), with the first administered to a five-month-old patient in 2020. The latest recipient, Syrian child Yaqeen Ibrahim Kanaker received treatment supported by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai.
The treatment involved a one-time intravenous infusion of Zolgensma. Administered at Al Jalila Children’s Hospital’s specialized infusion unit, the therapy was completed within an hour. Post-treatment, the patient will undergo a short observation period followed by regular outpatient visits over the next few months to monitor progress and ensure optimal outcomes.
Dr. Mohamed Al Awadhi, Executive Director of the Dubai Health Women and Children’s Campus, said: “Reaching more than 100 treated cases of SMA reflects Dubai Health’s commitment to making world-class care accessible to all children. At Al Jalila Children’s Hospital, we follow an integrated, patient-centered approach that supports every phase of the treatment journey. Every step is managed with precision and compassion to put the patient first. Yaqeen’s case highlights the strength of our multidisciplinary model and our commitment to ensuring that children with complex conditions like SMA receive the highest standard of care under one roof.”
Dr. Haitham Elbashir, Consultant Pediatric Neurorehabilitation at Al Jalila Children’s Hospital, said: “Zolgensma is a transformative therapy that offers children with SMA the chance to regain strength and function early in life. In Yaqeen’s case, the treatment is being delivered through a carefully coordinated, multi-specialty care plan. Our team will continue to monitor her closely in the weeks and months ahead to ensure the best possible outcome. Every case is unique, and our approach is always tailored to each child’s specific needs.”
The completion of over 100 SMA treatments at Al Jalila Children’s reflects the strength of Dubai Health’s specialized pediatric services and its commitment to delivering high-quality care for children with complex medical needs.
Dubai Health and GE HealthCare, a leading global medical technology and digital solutions innovator, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on enhancing Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) practices and co-developing innovative AI solutions to support clinical decision-making, ultimately enhancing patient care and outcomes across the UAE and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
The collaboration combines Dubai Health’s academic and innovation expertise with GE HealthCare’s advanced technological capabilities to enhance medical education, strengthen clinical decision-making, and improve health outcomes throughout the UAE and the broader MENA region.
The MoU will establish Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) as a POCUS Education Center of Excellence and a pioneer in Point-of-Care Ultrasound education across the MENA region.
Key initiatives include: a ‘Train-of-Trainer (TOT)’ structured program to build capacity in certified facilitators and trainers. The Facilitator Training Program will also enhance the scalability and effectiveness of POCUS program delivery and execution across a broader geographical region, enabling wider participation of attendees, students, and delegates.
In addition, the collaboration will extend to the co-development of AI solutions through Dubai Health Innovations, which supports transformative solutions that enhance patient care, drive medical advancements, and improve health outcomes. This partnership will focus on the development and validation of emerging AI technologies in areas of mutual interest, such as radiology and computer vision, aiming to improve diagnostic accuracy, streamline clinical workflows, and facilitate early detection of medical conditions. Through this joint effort, both parties seek to foster innovation, accelerate adoption of cutting-edge AI tools, and contribute to the advancement of healthcare delivery in the region.
Dr. Hanan Al Suwaidi, Acting Chief Academic Officer of Dubai Health and Provost of MBRU said: “This collaboration reflects Dubai Health’s commitment to delivering on our “Patient First” promise through the integration of care, learning, and innovation to elevate healthcare standards. By building capacity in POCUS education and co-developing AI-powered solutions, we are empowering clinicians with next-generation technologies to improve patient outcomes.”
President of GE HealthCare EAGM (Eurasian and African Growth Markets), Konstantinos Deligiannis, said: “This MoU marks a pivotal moment for POCUS advancement in the MENA region. We are excited to partner with Dubai Health to build skills, accelerate knowledge transfer, and strengthen the local and regional healthcare expertise. By combining our advanced ultrasound technology with innovative AI solutions, we are committed to enhancing diagnostic accuracy and efficiency, ultimately contributing to the region’s broader healthcare objectives.”
Dr. Rasha Buhumaid, Vice Dean of Graduate Medical Education, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, and Program Director of POCUS at MBRU, further commented: “This partnership is a significant step toward realizing our vision of positioning MBRU as a Center of Excellence for Point-of-Care Ultrasound education. Through the Facilitator Training Program and other initiatives, this collaboration enables us to strengthen the integration of POCUS into clinical practice, build sustainable expertise, and support better outcomes at the point of care and across the health system.”
Professor Nabil Zary, Senior Director of the Institute of Learning at Dubai Health, also noted: “Education is at the heart of sustainable healthcare transformation. This partnership with GE HealthCare enables us to deliver high-impact, evidence-based training in POCUS that not only equips clinicians with advanced skills but also fosters a culture of continuous learning and innovation.”
The MoU between the two parties will be in effect for two years and is renewable by mutual agreement.
