Abu Dhabi: The Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DoH), the regulator of the healthcare sector in the Emirate, has announced the first batch of winners for the Healthcare Research and Innovation Grant. Reaffirming the emirate’s position as a pioneering destination for healthcare innovation, the grant awarded the top eight leading submissions with a monetary prize in the award ceremony at the department’s headquarters during DoH’s Innovation Week.
Mr. Mansoor Ibrahim Al Mansoori, Chairman of the Department of Health Abu Dhabi, handed the awards to the winners of the Healthcare Research and Innovation Grant in the presence of Dr. Rashed Al Suwaidi, Executive Director of Healthcare Workforce Planning at DoH, and Dr. Asma Al Mannaei, Executive Director of the Research and Innovation Centre at DoH.
The grant, launched in September 2022, received over 70 complete submissions, including 50 entries on research and the other 20 covering innovations and/or Proof of Concept (PoC). The eight winning entries included a total of six research submissions by each of Burjeel Medical City, Tawam Hospital, SEHA, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City Abu Dhabi (SSMC), and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, in addition to two innovations or proofs of concept (PoCs) from SSMC and SEHA.
The winners will have the opportunity to conduct clinical trials and commercialise their ideas with the support of DoH’s Research and Innovation Centre and other leading partners from across the Emirate’s healthcare sector.
Dr. Asma Al Mannaei, Executive Director of the Research and Innovation Centre at DoH, commented that “under the directives of the UAE’s wise leadership, we are proud to witness Abu Dhabi’s leading research and innovations that ultimately drive better healthcare outcomes and elevate operations across all levels. We are delighted by the number of participants and proposals we have received, which reflects the dedication and capabilities we have in Abu Dhabi today.”
A specialised committee of 11 members led by Dr. Al Mannaei evaluated all entries. The grant translates DoH’s continuous efforts to leverage science and technology in order to establish a knowledge-based economy and support the Emirate’s endeavours in positioning itself as a leading life science hub in the region.
In addition, it seeks to encourage a culture of research and innovation among healthcare professionals, promote clinical research, increase the amount of intellectual property (IP) generated in Abu Dhabi, and establish advanced platforms for clinical research in the Emirate.