Abu Dhabi: The Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DoH) and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn Medicine) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand mutual cooperation in education, research, and innovation programs.
The collaboration is aimed at supporting the development of the life sciences research ecosystem with a focus on expanding translational research capabilities, enabling new discoveries to develop into fresh approaches to disease treatment.
In line with the DoH Abu Dhabi’s vision to achieve the highest quality of care for its residents, the department is pleased to work alongside the great minds at Penn Medicine. Under the directives of the UAE’s wise leadership, Abu Dhabi continues to host partnerships with leading international bodies in an effort to further cement the Emirate’s position as a hub for innovation and life sciences.
Dr. Jamal Mohammed Al Kaabi, Undersecretary of DoH, shared.
“Our collaboration with Penn Medicine reflects our belief in cooperation across all sectors, including healthcare and academia, to provide a holistic ecosystem for various stakeholders to translate their creative ideas into real-life solutions. We look forward to witnessing the fruitful results that this MoU will yield within the fields of innovation, healthcare technology, and artificial intelligence (AI),” Mr. Al Kaabi added.
Mr. Glen Gaulton, Vice Dean and Director of the Center for Global Health at Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine, remarked that “Penn Medicine has become a global leader in precision medicine and innovation, which has resulted in more than 20 new drugs and therapies approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in the past five years.”
“These accomplishments were enabled by a translational research model and ecosystem developed over the past 20 years. We look forward to applying the experience and expertise of Penn Medicine to develop an ecosystem and an international partner model that will help support Abu Dhabi in working towards its vision to become a true innovator in the biomedical sciences and a regional leader that will make a global impact,” Mr. Gaulton added.
DoH and Penn Medicine will work towards expanding research capacity and developing new programs that enhance innovation capacity and related infrastructure, including the establishment of a regional precision medicine innovation hub. These efforts will further support Abu Dhabi’s aim to make a global impact while boosting the role of the healthcare sector in its contribution to the larger economy.