Unveiling an era of promise and possibilities: Abu Dhabi’s blueprint

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ET: Advancing neurodegenerative disease patient care and employing data-driven technologies for prevention were prominent discussions during the Abu Dhabi Global Health Week (ADGHW). Early intervention is recognised as vital for enhancing treatment efficacy and mitigating disease progression. What was covered during the conference, and how do you see ADGHW supporting investment in this area in the future?
Dr. Asma Ibrahim Al Mannaei: Improving neurodegenerative disease patient outcomes and providing high-quality care and breakthrough treatments is an essential part of what the Department of Health (DoH)—Abu Dhabi offers, and an area that we are seeking to improve upon. One of the significant partnerships we announced at ADGHW was with Eli Lilly Suisse S.A., a global pharmaceutical and healthcare company, to establish a framework for renewed collaboration through the enhancement of neurodegenerative disease patient care in the Emirate.

The agreement will pave the way for the region’s transformative journey of addressing disease, using innovation, life sciences, and valuable partnerships with global players in the field. We seek to leverage existing and emerging neurodegenerative disease treatments and care technologies.

This collaboration will aim to transform early detection and elevate patient care standards. It will leverage innovation in neurodegenerative disease care with investment in pioneering therapeutic, personalised medicine, and leading-edge diagnostic technologies.

DoH is building on its partnership with Lilly to improve patient outcomes, providing quality care and breakthrough treatments available to patients globally.

It’s important that we refine the diagnostic processes and implement early detection and this partnership will help to advance the management of neurodegenerative disease proactively. The partnership will pave the way for the region’s journey here and will facilitate a much-needed transition from healthcare to health, a departure from the traditional reactive model of treating illnesses to a proactive focus on promoting holistic health and wellness.

ADGHW provided both DoH and Lilly the opportunity to highlight our partnership and showcase how we plan to work together in the future. Additionally, partnerships of this magnitude will not only have a significant impact on improving our wider healthcare system but will also attract talent and additional partners and initiatives into Abu Dhabi when they see our commitment and the support available to them. All our partnerships are conducted with a long-term view in mind, and we look forward to providing updates on the initiatives announced in May, and additional activities to address positive patient outcomes.

ET: There has been a noticeable growth in the amount of research being published by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities alongside recognised international institutions. Can we expect to see more health research being launched via ADGHW in the future? Where do you see the future opportunities coming from in this space?
Dr. Asma Ibrahim Al Mannaei: Abu Dhabi has a strong track record of excellence and future-forward, data-enabled services powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI)—which continues to expand. The region seeks to serve as a hub for healthcare data and existing substantial computing power has enabled us to harness the potential within this data, transforming it into valuable information.

Through international collaborations, Abu Dhabi seeks to lead research groups supported by global partners to explore the resilience and sustainability of the healthcare sector worldwide as well as expand access to high-quality care for patients around the world.

For example, at the inaugural ADGHW Summit, we announced a partnership with Roche as part of which we will work together to support the evolution of the real-world evidence (RWE) framework in Abu Dhabi as two entities. Together we work on potential evidence-generation activities that are targeted to monitor rare and priority diseases, as assigned by DoH and agreed upon by Roche.

Enhancing DoH’s ability to track and monitor therapeutic outcomes will support us in making more informed clinical and policy decisions, leading to better optimisation of patient outcomes. Furthermore, DoH and Roche will strengthen the research network across Abu Dhabi and improve collection for potential clinical trials.

The two entities will advance critical research using real-world data (RWD) to study and assess spinal muscular atrophy in Abu Dhabi, as well as assess the potential conduction of research and the facilitation of real-world data collection to monitor Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) disease. A key priority will be to support real-world data research and the development of a data collection framework for the agreed-upon disease areas, to enable DoH to address local and regional health needs.

Our future goals are focused on reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading destination for healthcare life science while enhancing innovation, health services, and treatments available. Working with partners of the size and scale of Roche will be vital to the further development of the health sector in this region.

ET: Biotech and life sciences were central themes throughout ADGHW. What steps are being taken to ensure that Abu Dhabi retains a leading edge over its competitors in this area?
Dr. Asma Ibrahim Al Mannaei: Abu Dhabi is well-recognised for its commitment to supporting business development and growth, and the Emirate has taken great strides in both local business growth and opportunity for investors looking for locations to establish. This includes the healthcare space and the pioneering efforts towards developing startAD, the Abu Dhabi-based startup accelerator powered by Tamkeen and anchored at NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD). Furthermore, DoH agreed to launch HealthX.

HealthX has been envisioned as a startup programme that seeks to advance Abu Dhabi as a hub in the biotech and health life-science industry over the long term and looks to advance 30 global cutting-edge health and life-science startups into the UAE’s healthcare ecosystem over the next two years. I think that’s a great example of how we are investing in the future health needs of the population while creating new jobs and opportunities at the same time.

In addition, we have opened applications for the inaugural incubator cohort on generative AI in healthcare and health life science. This new incubator will offer six weeks of intensive training, personalised support, and the potential to secure customers in the UAE. It will assist global and local entrants in developing a highly customised pilot proposal and a deep understanding of the UAE market.

We’re expecting future AI incubator cohorts to focus their operations on genomics, precision medicine, neurodegenerative disease, advanced therapeutics, drug discovery, mental health, and assistive technology for people of determination.

Successful applicants will benefit from access to the DoH regulatory sandbox and UAE anonymised data to help refine their product, along with access to labs and opportunities to collaborate on cutting-edge research at leading academic institutes.

The business-support clinic includes finance, legal, licensing, IP support, ongoing mentorship, and introduction to venture capitalists. Networking prospects include pilot discussions with healthcare partners, licensing opportunities from the DoH, along with an interconnected ecosystem with key players such as Burjeel Holdings and Harley Street Medical Centre, and onboarding to the startAD alumni programme.

DoH continues to spearhead borderless collaborations, research, and innovation to enable a healthier future for all, positioning Abu Dhabi as a leading destination for healthcare and life sciences on the global stage.

The HealthX initiative is open to global and local pre-seed to series B startups developing innovative technologies with a clear use case for the Abu Dhabi healthcare industry. Startups with a product or minimum viable product (MVP) that is ready to test and implement with corporate customers, and a clear roadmap showcasing scalability potential are encouraged to apply.

Health life science and biotechnology, which combines the power of biology, genetics, and technology, are rapidly developing fields that show great promise in addressing pressing health challenges today and in the future. These areas can also be used to develop health products and therapeutics, from bioengineered tissues to next-generation vaccines, at lower costs than traditional solutions with higher efficacy.

The Abu Dhabi healthcare market is ripe for advanced technology startups to make a tangible impact by providing emergent companies with an existing ecosystem of best-in-class healthcare providers, a wealth of data and digital infrastructure, and a globally leading genomics programme. The vision of the HealthX programme is to provide a strong platform for startups to address critical challenges in healthcare delivery, improve patient outcomes, and streamline operations across the healthcare value chain.

ET: Manufacturing capability will be central to the completion of a self-sustaining infrastructure for Abu Dhabi, particularly in light of the difficulties seen in the supply chain during the pandemic. What steps are being taken to improve in this area and did ADGHW showcase any new developments?
Dr. Asma Ibrahim Al Mannaei: Projections have suggested that the local pharmaceutical market could hit $4.7 billion in value by 2025. Traditionally, the UAE has imported about 80% of its pharmaceutical products but is keen to localise a lot of that production and sees the opportunity that it could provide to the local economy.

As we look to the future, we are continuing to develop facilities such as KIZAD Life Sciences Park, which is already leading in vaccine production but we are looking to increase manufacturing capabilities in the short term and invest in cutting-edge technology that allow us to close the gap on pharma manufacturing in the region.

Additionally, one of the biggest announcements at ADGHW was a partnership with GSK to establish a regional Vaccine Distribution Hub in Abu Dhabi. This announcement included collaboration on plans aimed at enhancing innovation capabilities, health services, and disease prevention in Abu Dhabi.

The key pillars on which the collaboration will be based will be the establishment of a regional vaccine distribution hub in Abu Dhabi; working together to maximise the strategic and healthcare impacts of the establishment of the hub; collaborating to ensure its successful establishment and operation; exploring opportunities to foster knowledge exchange and capability building through collaboration between GSK and the UAE; and jointly focusing on prevention strategies to effectively address public health challenges.

The department’s collaboration with GSK reinforces Abu Dhabi’s commitment to enhancing healthcare services, ensuring drug and vaccine security, and fostering resilience in the healthcare sector. By cultivating global partnerships, Abu Dhabi has earned a catalyst role in strategically mapping the future trajectory of the healthcare industry, focusing on improving patient outcomes, strengthening healthcare systems, and promoting equitable access to essential medicines and vaccines.

The collaboration underscores our dedication to fostering innovation, technological advancement, and sustainability in the healthcare sector, ultimately contributing to the well-being of our local population and those in need around the world.

ET: Biotechnology was also a central topic of discussion at ADGHW. Is Abu Dhabi expecting to be a leader in this area and are you seeing concern from patients and professionals on the development of the sector?
Dr. Asma Ibrahim Al Mannaei: As with any relatively new field or technology area, there is more education to be done to ensure people are aware the description of biotechnology is the fusion of biology and technology. The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi believes we are at the threshold of redefining the very fabric of healthcare through the biotech revolution.

Biotechnology has the power to transform future societies and economies but also offer unquantifiable possibilities when it comes to human health, preventing and treating disease. It heralds a new era of possibility and promise in healthcare—one where diseases are prevented; not just treated; moving from reactive solutions to proactive; and where the boundaries of healthcare are continually pushed forward.

We hope that—with the help of our global community and platforms for engagement like ADGHW—we can shift our knowledge base and change the global healthcare landscape forever. Biotech startups are the beating heart of any healthcare ecosystem—fuelling innovation, driving progress, and transforming how we approach care delivery.

Along the way, it is important to continually celebrate the achievements, contributions, and immense value that biotech startups bring to societies, economies—and, of course, to our people and communities.

In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare innovation, visionary entrepreneurs are the driving force behind transformative breakthroughs that have the power to revolutionise the way we prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases. However, startups cannot solve healthcare challenges alone— it takes an entire ecosystem.

DoH is committed to establishing a hub for local and global innovators and startups. Guided by a vision of a healthier word for all, our health ecosystem welcomes startups and early-stage companies, providing the financial support, regulatory insights, and collaborative guidance they need to thrive.

An example of this commitment is our partnership agreement with Hub71. Established as a dedicated startup incubator, Hub71 brings together technology disruptors, founders, champions, and investors to grow and scale solutions across many sectors, healthcare included.

Every year since our initial partnership, we have provided dozens of startups with access to our network of health experts and global partners, alongside valuable commercialisation support. This support has been welcomed and—we believe—it has been effective.

To date, Hub71 has attracted over 260 startups—including 40 in the healthtech space alone— and raised the equivalent of $1.5B in investment. It is this spirit of co-creation that I believe will shift the dial, transforming reactive healthcare into holistic, preventative health.