logo
Department of Health - Abu Dhabi, Boehringer Ingelheim ink strategic partnership

Department of Health - Abu Dhabi, Boehringer Ingelheim ink strategic partnership

Al Etihad17-06-2025
17 June 2025 13:56
ABU DHABI (WAM) The Department of Health - Abu Dhabi (DoH) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Boehringer Ingelheim, one of the world's leading research-driven pharmaceutical companies.This strategic partnership aims to advance scientific research and innovation, foster groundbreaking research and development, and cultivate an environment of scientific excellence, further cementing the emirate as the MENA region's premier hub for healthcare, life sciences, and innovation.In the presence of Dr. Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi and Ousama Alhaj, General Manager and Head of Human Pharma, Near East and UAE at BI, the agreement was signed during BIO International Convention in Boston at the Abu Dhabi Pavilion by Dr. Asma Al Mannaei, the Executive Director of the Health Life Sciences Sector at the DoH and Ghaleb Al Ahdab, Head of Public and Government Affairs, Near East and UAE at BI.Through this strategic partnership, the two parties seek to strengthen the Emirate's research ecosystem by facilitating access to and harnessing the capabilities of Boehringer Ingelheim's OpnME platform.Researchers, scientists, and innovators across Abu Dhabi will be able to leverage the platform's cutting-edge data and resources to address critical biological challenges and accelerate scientific discovery.Through four flagship programmes, Molecule to Order (M2O), Molecule for Collaboration (M4C), opn2EXPERTS (o2e) and opnTALENTS (o25), the platform empowers the research community with access to advanced compounds, collaborative opportunities, expert networks, and support for emerging talent.OpnME connects visionary researchers to champion transformative, research-driven medical innovation for generations to come.Al Mannaei said, 'Our partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim reflects our commitment to pioneering innovation and scientific research as part of our efforts to advance health outcomes and improve the quality of life for communities around the world.We're empowering Abu Dhabi researchers with the opnMe platform, an open portal offering top-tier pharmaceutical compounds, fostering collaboration and safeguarding researchers' rights to their findings. This is about transforming our emirate into a global life sciences hub, speeding up breakthroughs, and building a healthier, resilient future for all.'
Alhaj said, 'At Boehringer Ingelheim, we are proud to partner with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) to empower the scientific community through our OpnMe platform. This collaboration supports research, innovation, and the next generation of researchers in the region.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Why the UAE's story at World Expo matters to the world
Why the UAE's story at World Expo matters to the world

Khaleej Times

time11 hours ago

  • Khaleej Times

Why the UAE's story at World Expo matters to the world

Fifty-five years ago, Abu Dhabi participated in its first World Expo in Osaka in 1970 with quiet ambition and a clear message: we are ready to engage with the world. Today, the UAE is back in Osaka not as observers, but as convenors, collaborators and catalysts of change. Expo 2025 is not just a global gathering; it is a proving ground for shared progress. The UAE Pavilion stands as a working model of what it means to lead with purpose, build with vision and partner with humility. World Expos have evolved. They are no longer stages for grand statements alone. They are now incubators of cooperation, places where policy meets creativity, and where nations test ideas that might shape the global future. This evolution mirrors the UAE's own journey, from a newly formed federation to a nation that places innovation, sustainability and human potential at the heart of its identity. Our experience as the host nation of Expo 2020 Dubai marked a defining moment in the UAE's global engagement. For six months, we welcomed visitors from across the world, creating a platform that celebrated innovation, culture and cooperation across 192 participating countries. Expo 2020 was not only the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia region, but also a demonstration of how the UAE brings together ambition and inclusion on a global scale. That legacy lives on through our participation in Expo 2025 Osaka, where we continue the dialogue we began on home soil The theme of the UAE Pavilion, Earth to Ether, captures our philosophy. It represents the nation's commitment to empowering life across every spectrum: from tangible environmental action to boundless ambition in space exploration. The Pavilion's three narrative zones, Explorers of Space, Catalysts of Healthcare, and Stewards of Sustainability, are not static exhibitions. They are dynamic stories of people and partnerships building the future. Take our journey into space. The UAE was the first Arab nation to reach Mars. But beyond that achievement lies purpose. The data from the Emirates Mars Mission is freely shared with the global scientific community. As a founding member of Nasa's Artemis Accords and a core contributor to the Gateway project, the Moon's future orbital station, the UAE is shaping the future of space not in isolation but in solidarity. This is diplomacy through science and it is being showcased live at the pavilion. In healthcare, our story begins with necessity but now drives global innovation. With partnerships ranging from Kyoto University to the World Health Organisation, the UAE is investing in genomic research, preventative medicine and AI-powered diagnostics. Through institutions like PureHealth, M42, and the Abu Dhabi Biobank, we are developing healthcare systems designed not just to treat, but to predict and personalise care. Our efforts on sustainability are deeply rooted in tradition. The Pavilion's architecture is inspired by the date palm tree, a symbol of resilience and generosity, and reimagined through cutting-edge circular design. Constructed from cross-laminated timber using Japanese joinery techniques, the Pavilion is demountable and sustainable by design. But the symbolism is greater than structure. Our ancestors built with what they had. We now build for what the world needs. Yet what truly distinguishes this Pavilion is not the design or technology, but the spirit within. Youth Ambassadors warmly welcome visitors, showcasing hospitality shaped by generations of Emirati culture. Artists, performers, scientists and artisans have transformed the space into a vibrant, living experience. Our values of openness, resilience and ambition are brought to life through human connection. In a time of geopolitical tension, climate anxiety and digital fragmentation, the UAE's story offers something essential: a model of balanced modernity. Here is a nation that embraces progress without abandoning its identity, that celebrates diversity while preserving its roots and that seeks global relevance without demanding conformity. And this is precisely why the UAE's story at Expo 2025 matters. It is not about projecting an image; rather, it is about proposing a pathway — one that is collaborative, grounded and future-facing; one where space missions serve Earth, where sustainability is integrated into everyday life and where diplomacy is practised through architecture, education and shared discovery. The UAE Pavilion is also a tribute to the deep and enduring relationship between the UAE and Japan. This partnership, built on decades of trust and trade, now expands into co-innovation in energy, healthcare, logistics and sustainability. At Expo 2025, we are not just neighbours on the Expo map. We are partners in purpose. As Commissioner General and as Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Japan, I have had the privilege of witnessing how Japanese visitors engage with the Pavilion. What resonates with them is not grandeur. It is sincerity. Not scale, but substance. It is in these moments of connection that the true success of an Expo lives. We are now past the opening fanfare. The Pavilion is alive with questions, conversations, and curiosity. The next phase of our Expo journey is to turn engagement into collaboration and collaboration into legacy. Already, new ideas are emerging, from educational exchanges and business partnerships to sustainability pilots and joint research. We invite the world to join us in shaping what comes after Expo. The UAE's participation at Expo 2025 Osaka is not just an exhibit. It is an invitation to engage with us, collaborate with us and co-create a future that serves all life, from the Earth to the ether. That is why our story matters and we are proud to tell it once again in Osaka.

Department of Energy launches summer awareness campaign to promote electricity and gas safety
Department of Energy launches summer awareness campaign to promote electricity and gas safety

Zawya

timea day ago

  • Zawya

Department of Energy launches summer awareness campaign to promote electricity and gas safety

Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE) has launched an awareness campaign under the theme Your Safety is Our Priority, as part of its ongoing commitment to promoting public safety and the safe, responsible consumption of resources. The campaign targets various community groups, including individuals and companies, with the objective of raising awareness on the prevention of electricity and gas-related risks – particularly during the summer, when high temperatures lead to increased reliance on electrical power. Eng Ahmed Alsayed Mohamed Sheebani, Executive Director of the Regulatory Affairs Petroleum Products Sector at the DoE, said: 'Safety in the use of energy sources is one of the fundamental pillars of our regulatory framework. Through this campaign, we aim to enhance community awareness of best practices, and encourage safer, more sustainable behavior in energy use, aligned with Abu Dhabi's vision to build an efficient and secure energy sector that serves both people and the environment. Collaboration between regulatory entities and the community is key to reducing gas-related incidents and ensuring everyone's safety.' Eng Abdul Rahman Al-Alawi, Health, Safety, and Environment Director at the DoE, said: "At the start of summer, the difficulties linked to energy usage grow, be it inside residences or within commercial and service facilities. Our part, at the Department of Energy, is to foster a safe and sustainable environment in the emirate through sustained outreach and education. The Your Safety is Our Priority campaign is a clear manifestation of our duty to enhance a culture of safety, and to affirm that the conscious and responsible utilisation of energy is a joint responsibility between regulatory authorities and society. 'Prevention is rooted in community awareness. Therefore, this campaign was conceived to connect with people through straightforward language and actionable content that aids in reducing accidents and encourages the sustainable consumption of energy." A key focus of the campaign is to provide essential information that helps Abu Dhabi residents safely manage electrical appliances and gas systems throughout the summer. The campaign will include the distribution of digital awareness materials via social media and websites, as well as the organisation of workshops and visits in collaboration with partners from both the public and private sectors. This approach is designed to ensure that the campaign's messages reach the widest possible audience. The DoE has called on all residents and establishments in the emirate to actively engage with the campaign and take part in its events. The DoE reiterated that safety is a collective responsibility, beginning at home and extending to every workplace. It also highlighted the importance of following campaign updates and daily tips shared on DoE's official social media channels and website.

Improving UAE air quality could save $596 million a year
Improving UAE air quality could save $596 million a year

The National

time2 days ago

  • The National

Improving UAE air quality could save $596 million a year

Improving air quality in the UAE to meet World Health Organisation guidelines could generate savings of $596 million a year, a report has found. The savings would come from lower rates of respiratory illness, hospital admissions and premature deaths. Access to health care and health education for limited-income communities could also save lives and generate billions of dirhams in economic value each year, the Health Inclusivity Index said. The report, developed by Economist Impact in partnership with global consumer health company Haleon, was launched in Abu Dhabi. It assessed how 40 countries can remove barriers to good health through enhanced policy, systems and community initiatives. 'Air pollution is one of the most urgent health challenges,' said Gerard Dunleavy, a senior consultant at Economist Impact and lead author of the report. 'The savings come not just from fewer hospital visits, but from healthier, more productive lives across society.' According to the report, 94 per cent of people globally breathe air with pollution levels that exceed WHO recommended levels, which harms their health. Reducing air pollution brings clear health and economic benefits across the board, with the greatest gains for lower-income populations, the report stated. While the UAE scored highly in several categories, the research also included findings that, if addressed, could lead to major public health and economic gains. Among them is the challenge of improving air quality, with the index finding that reducing levels of PM2.5, or particulate matter up to 2.5 micrometres in diameter, to meet WHO guidelines could prevent almost 4,000 premature deaths a year. In 2024, the concentration of PM2.5 in the UAE was 33.7 micrograms per cubic metre. The WHO recommends a maximum of five micrograms per cubic metre, a figure met by only seven countries in last year's World Air Quality Report from Swiss company IQAir. Countries with the worst air pollution Improved understanding The Economist Impact report found that, across the 40 countries studied, medical expenses are 2.8 times higher for people with low health literacy compared with those who have a better understanding of their health. Here in the UAE, a national effort to improve health literacy by 25 per cent could save as much as $2.3 billion a year. 'People with low health literacy are more likely to end up in emergency rooms, take the wrong medication and struggle with long-term health issues,' Mr Dunleavy said. 'That puts enormous pressure, not only on the health system, but also on families and the wider economy.' He called for a 'life-course approach" to address this, with education and outreach efforts beginning from a young age. 'This means not just teaching children to brush their teeth, but helping older adults understand and use digital health tools,' he said. 'It's about finding the right message for each stage of life and each segment of the population.' The index also emphasised the value in dental care. Addressing gum disease could save $809 million over 10 years, while focusing efforts to tackle tooth decay among limited-income communities could yield savings of $572 million. Dr Omniyat Al Hajeri, executive director of the community health sector at Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, said many of the costs identified in the report were preventable. 'This report confirms what we already know: most of these health expenses can be avoided with early action,' she said. 'From obesity to dental pain, the burden on the healthcare system is often avoidable through education, awareness and policy.' Making progress Speaking at a launch event for the report, Dr Al Hajeri praised the UAE's progress. 'We are doing well, but there is always room for improvement,' she said. 'The goal is to empower every individual, from early childhood to late adulthood, to take control of their health, make informed choices and unlock their full potential.' She cited community campaigns, school health programmes and workplace wellness policies as examples of how the UAE is enhancing the focus on health. Heat awareness campaigns for outdoor workers and workplace wellness initiatives have helped to reach limited-income and high-risk groups. 'Health is not only about treating disease, it's about creating the conditions where people can live well,' she added. 'That starts at home, at school and in the workplace.' Arda Arat, general manager of Haleon for the region, said: "The place to begin is health literacy – that's why our global goal is to empower 50 million people each year to take charge of their everyday health." Economist Impact is in discussions with UAE authorities about potential follow-up studies, including the development of a national health literacy database. The latest report said the UAE was 'well positioned to lead' in future rankings. 'There's no doubt the infrastructure is strong,' Dr Al Hajeri said. 'The next step is changing behaviour, empowering people to be proactive, informed and confident in managing their health. That's where we will see the real transformation.' What the UAE is doing The UAE has taken significant steps in recent years to promote a green agenda, at home and abroad. In June, President Sheikh Mohamed set out the country's efforts to champion meaningful climate action to help protect the planet for future generations. Dubai hosted the Cop28 climate change conference in 2023, where countries came together to deliver the landmark UAE Consensus. The deal called for the international community to transition away from fossil fuels to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, while it also set targets to greatly increase global renewable energy capacity. The UAE has introduced policies including a ban on single-use plastic bags, which began in Abu Dhabi in 2022 and was extended across the country. In Abu Dhabi, the move led to about 360 million plastic bags being taken out of circulation by the end of 2024. Large-scale energy projects such as the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, which aims to prevent the release of up to 22.4 million carbon emissions each year, and Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the world's largest single-site solar park, are at the heart of the country's environmental ambitions. Dubai has focused on air pollution, with the Air Quality Strategy 2030 announced in June by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence. The initiative aims to reduce carbon emissions through car-free residential areas and an expansion of green spaces. Such moves have achieved a measure of success. While the concentration of PM2.5 in the UAE remains above the WHO guidelines, it dropped by more than a fifth from 2023 to 2024, from 43 micrograms per cubic metre to 33.7. Habiba Al Marashi, chairwoman of Emirates Environmental Group, told The National in March that every emirate monitored air quality and steps had been taken to reduce pollution. Reductions in the amount of traffic may have helped to improve air quality, she added. Diana Francis, who leads the Environmental and Geophysical Sciences Lab at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi, said that, since 2010, the UAE had experienced a decrease in the levels in the air of aerosols – all types of dust and pollution.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store