Sheikh Mohammed inaugurates Dhs300m medical research facility in Dubai

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, inaugurated a new medical research facility in Dubai on Tuesday, August 11.

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Medical Research – the first independent multi-disciplinary biomedical research centre in the UAE with its own board of trustees – will focus its research on communicable diseases in the country, in addition to research on Covid-19.

It was established with an initial investment of Dhs300m focused on equipping specialised researchers and funding scientific projects.

.@HHShkMohd: We have launched the Mohammed Bin Rashid Centre for Medical Research at a total value of AED 300 million. The Centre will focus on research on communicable diseases in the country, in addition to research on COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/vh3VfPUWiZ

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) August 11, 2020

The UAE’s first medical research endowment is expected to bring a 4 per cent return on investment amounting to Dhs10.5m annually, which will be reinvested in healthcare and research programmes, reported official news agency WAM.

The institute is part of the Al Jalila Foundation, an entity under the umbrella of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives.

“Medical research is an integral part of prevention and medical security in the UAE. Supporting research helps ensure sustainable economic, social and human development,” said Sheikh Mohammed.

“Everyone can access the institute’s research. The new centre is an important addition to the global network of research institutions. It is part of the UAE’s contribution to biomedical research in the world and its research findings will be shared with other centres.”

.@HHShkMohd: Medical research is an important part of our society’s health security system and a guarantee for the sustainable development of our country. It also brings the revival and resumption of Arab scientific excellence seen throughout our Arab history. pic.twitter.com/snBYWobYgz

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) August 11, 2020

The institute seeks to forge local and global partnerships with research institutions specialised in biomedicine and medical innovation.

It also aims to promote collaborations to find treatments and vaccines for viral diseases and pandemics.

The UAE is also one of only a handful of countries in the world where Phase III trails of the Covid-19 vaccine has commenced.

The facility will use immersive and augmented reality technologies for genetic mapping, proactively monitor potential outbreaks using biomarker analysis techniques for individuals and deploy artificial intelligence, algorithms and machine learning to predict disease patterns.

“The Mohammed bin Rashid Medical Research Institute will help boost medical innovation and empower the next generation of professional researchers in different biomedical fields. It will support new pharmaceutical and therapeutic innovations that can help advance the country’s healthcare sector,” added Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Al Jalila Foundation.