Abu Dhabi hosts 2-day oncology conference
The third edition of the Best of ASCO UAE Conference opened on Saturday in Abu Dhabi.
Organised by SEHA, part of the PureHealth Group, in collaboration with Tawam Hospital, the event is taking place at Dusit Thani Hotel and continues until Sunday June 23, bringing together a distinguished line-up of oncology experts from around the world.
Held under licence from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the conference features more than 70 international, regional and local speakers, including oncology leaders from across the Gulf Cooperation Council and the UAE.
The programme includes over 70 scientific papers that have significantly influenced oncology treatment strategies this year.
Professor Julie Gralow, Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President of ASCO, told the Emirates News Agency (WAM) that the annual ASCO meeting highlighted key developments, including the use of circulating tumour DNA for diagnosis and the role of artificial intelligence in supporting pathologists with more accurate tumour assessments.
Gralow emphasised the importance of healthy lifestyle habits in improving patient outcomes, citing a recent randomised study that found regular exercise following a colon cancer diagnosis led to reduced recurrence and mortality rates. She underscored the benefits of combining physical activity with a balanced diet and weight loss to enhance treatment effectiveness.
She also highlighted rapid advances in immunotherapy, particularly in antibody-drug conjugates and immune checkpoint inhibitors, which are now being used in new therapeutic indications and earlier stages of cancer.
On the subject of precision medicine, Gralow explained that the approach aims to identify molecular mutations that transform cells into cancerous forms and to develop treatments that precisely target those mutations. Many such targeted therapies have demonstrated efficacy in treating abnormal cancer-causing cells.
Dr. Khalid Saeed Balaraj, Chair of the Oncology Centre at Tawam Hospital, and Vice-Chair of the Conference, said the event includes more than seven specialist scientific workshops designed for junior doctors.
These sessions aim to equip them for future roles in cancer care and provide valuable opportunities for direct engagement with leading international oncology researchers.
WAM
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Etihad
2 days ago
- Al Etihad
UAE-funded maternity clinics bringing hope to Afghan families
26 June 2025 21:05 JALALABAD, AFGHANISTAN (WAM)The UAE-funded maternity clinics are bringing hope to Afghan Jalalabad, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, Shazia Mohammadi cradles her newborn daughter, Fatima, her seventh child, but the first to be born in a medical the first time, Shazia experienced childbirth with access to doctors, medicines, and professional care. Her daughter was also the first baby delivered at one of ten new maternity clinics built by the UAE across Afghanistan, marking the start of a new chapter for maternal health in rural areas.'Our economic condition was pretty bad all through. Now, thanks to the help we have received, we are much better off. We thank the UAE for this transformation in our lives,' Shazia husband, Ramadan Mohammadi, recalled their struggles to access care in the past. 'Six of our children were born at home because we couldn't afford transportation to distant hospitals. This is the first time a clinic has been built near our house, and it has been a blessing for us.'These UAE-funded clinics have brought much needed medical care to communities that have long lacked access to even the most basic health services. Located in seven provinces – Nangarhar, Balkh, Herat, Paktia, Paktika, Helmand, and Kandahar – the facilities offer maternity and paediatric care, counselling, contraceptive services, emergency care, medicines and referrals for high-risk cases. They also serve as hubs for community outreach, offering health education, awareness programmes, and life-saving vaccinations, including for COVID-19 and BCG to protect against tuberculosis, to more than 20 people each Ikramullah, a doctor at one of the clinics described the change underway, 'Previously, childbirth happened at home, without any medical support, in unsafe, unhygienic conditions. It is changing now, and the people here are so delighted. We not only ensure safe deliveries, but also provide vaccinations, nutritional assistance, and continuous medical care for mothers and newborns.'He pointed to a young child named Ayesha Qamari as an example of the progress being made, 'The impact of these maternity centres is already being felt. This baby is just one of hundreds of children receiving crucial health checks and vaccinations. This will help bring down the high infant mortality rate in Afghanistan, one of the highest in the world.' According to UNICEF, more than 57 children out of 1,000 in Afghanistan die before reaching the age of mother shared her experience, 'We have come to the clinic three or four times. Earlier, we could not afford the cost of transport to the city hospital. Many times, the sick children would not survive the long journey. We are deeply indebted to the UAE for building this clinic in our vicinity.'Beyond healthcare, the initiative is also revitalising the local economy. Small businesses – offering services such as transportation and food supply – have emerged around the clinics and over 100 Afghans have been employed in a range of roles, from medical support to Ameenullah Sharif, Health Director of Nagarhar Province, noted the broader impact, 'We thank the UAE for their investment in Afghanistan's healthcare. This clinic was urgently needed, and now, the poor have access to essential services, including vaccinations, maternal care, and nutrition support.'The clinics are all state-of-the-art, equipped with advanced medical equipment, solar power, mobile units, and ambulances – and staffed by dedicated healthcare professionals. They reflect the UAE's commitment to improving quality of life, empowering women and children, and strengthening local communities in Afghanistan. Expected to impact the lives of more than 100,000 women in the coming years, these facilities represent a transformative step toward accessible healthcare in some of the country's most underserved areas.
Al Etihad
2 days ago
- Al Etihad
ISAM commemorates World Drug Day with call for science-based, compassionate global addiction care
26 June 2025 16:47 ABU DHABI (WAM)The International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM), a globally recognised body of over 15,000 professional members and 55 national and regional societies, marked World Drug Day 2025 with a renewed commitment to advancing evidence-based, humane, and collaborative approaches to substance use and behavioral addiction reinforces that addiction is a complex health condition with profound implications for individuals, families and it effectively requires a multidisciplinary response, one that integrates medical, psychological, social, and public health perspectives.'Addiction is not a moral failing; it is a treatable condition influenced by a host of social, economic, and psychological determinants,' noted Dr. Hamad Al Ghafri, ISAM President.'On this World Drug Day, we call upon the international community to support treatment grounded in science and human rights.'ISAM's global engagement includes partnerships with the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA), and the US National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).Through these collaborations, ISAM contributes expert guidance to global panels and commissions; builds healthcare capacity in low- and middle-income countries; supports the development and evaluation of national addiction-related policies, and promotes culturally responsive and evidence-informed public health Society continues to prioritise education, training, research and innovation, upholding its core values of equity, dignity, diversity, and scientific also pays tribute to the researchers, clinicians, peer advocates, and individuals with lived experience whose contributions are essential to reducing harm and fostering recovery. 'Addiction medicine is not solely the practice of treating individuals — it is the collective endeavour to reform health systems and social attitudes through knowledge, humility, and purpose,' ISAM said in a statement. Related News Arab Parliament condemns Israeli attack on Iran
Gulf Today
6 days ago
- Gulf Today
Abu Dhabi hosts 2-day oncology conference
The third edition of the Best of ASCO UAE Conference opened on Saturday in Abu Dhabi. Organised by SEHA, part of the PureHealth Group, in collaboration with Tawam Hospital, the event is taking place at Dusit Thani Hotel and continues until Sunday June 23, bringing together a distinguished line-up of oncology experts from around the world. Held under licence from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the conference features more than 70 international, regional and local speakers, including oncology leaders from across the Gulf Cooperation Council and the UAE. The programme includes over 70 scientific papers that have significantly influenced oncology treatment strategies this year. Professor Julie Gralow, Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President of ASCO, told the Emirates News Agency (WAM) that the annual ASCO meeting highlighted key developments, including the use of circulating tumour DNA for diagnosis and the role of artificial intelligence in supporting pathologists with more accurate tumour assessments. Gralow emphasised the importance of healthy lifestyle habits in improving patient outcomes, citing a recent randomised study that found regular exercise following a colon cancer diagnosis led to reduced recurrence and mortality rates. She underscored the benefits of combining physical activity with a balanced diet and weight loss to enhance treatment effectiveness. She also highlighted rapid advances in immunotherapy, particularly in antibody-drug conjugates and immune checkpoint inhibitors, which are now being used in new therapeutic indications and earlier stages of cancer. On the subject of precision medicine, Gralow explained that the approach aims to identify molecular mutations that transform cells into cancerous forms and to develop treatments that precisely target those mutations. Many such targeted therapies have demonstrated efficacy in treating abnormal cancer-causing cells. Dr. Khalid Saeed Balaraj, Chair of the Oncology Centre at Tawam Hospital, and Vice-Chair of the Conference, said the event includes more than seven specialist scientific workshops designed for junior doctors. These sessions aim to equip them for future roles in cancer care and provide valuable opportunities for direct engagement with leading international oncology researchers. WAM
