The Brain & Performance Centre Raises Autism Awareness with Everest Base Camp Trek Initiative
In honour of Autism Awareness Month, Dubai-based Brain & Performance Centre — a DP World company — is embarking on an extraordinary mission to shine a spotlight on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Backed by a powerful message of resilience and inclusion, the centre is supporting a high-profile Everest Base Camp trek led by famed British adventurer and former UK Special Forces operator, Ant Middleton.
The awareness initiative, launched this April, unites local and global organisations to promote evidence-based, multidisciplinary support for children facing cognitive and physical developmental challenges in the UAE. A team from The Brain & Performance Centre will participate in the expedition, with the experience being documented and shared across media platforms to extend the reach of the campaign.
'Every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential,' said Dr. Craig Cook, CEO of The Brain & Performance Centre. 'Through this campaign, we're raising awareness and mobilising support for children with autism and their families.'
Ant Middleton, who is leading the trek, described the mission as a symbol of the strength shown by children and families affected by ASD:
'Trekking to Everest Base Camp is a powerful metaphor for their daily battles and triumphs. It's an honour to support such an important cause.'
💡 Advancing Autism Care in the UAE
At the heart of the initiative is The Brain & Performance Centre's pioneering youth treatment programme, designed using internationally recognised medical research. The programme, exclusive to Dubai, supports children with autism, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injuries, and other developmental challenges.
The treatment model incorporates hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), tailored cognitive and physical training, and nutritional planning — offering children improved mobility, cognitive function, and quality of life.
Before enrolment, every child undergoes a comprehensive medical assessment, and only those deemed likely to benefit are admitted. This ensures each child receives the best possible chance at progress, while maintaining the highest standards of ethics, privacy, and regulatory compliance.
🎗️ How You Can Support
A dedicated fundraising campaign is currently underway to assist families in accessing treatment. Contributions can directly support the care of children with ASD in the UAE.
Interested donors and supporters can contact: Dr. Craig Cook
CEO, The Brain & Performance Centre
📧 craig@braindubai.ae
As the team treks to Everest Base Camp, the mission is clear: to raise voices, inspire change, and help children with autism thrive. Through determination, innovation, and community support, The Brain & Performance Centre is scaling new heights — both literally and figuratively — in the pursuit of inclusive healthcare.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Insider
17-06-2025
- Gulf Insider
UK Turning Into 'National Health State', Says Think Tank
The UK is turning into a 'National Health State,' the Resolution Foundation has said, after Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a £29 billion annual increase in NHS funding. The think tank's analysis of Reeves's Spending Review estimates that by the end of financial year 2028–29, the health service will account for half (49 percent) of all day-to-day public services spending, up from 34 percent in 2009–10. On Wednesday, the chancellor announced a record £29 billion funding injection, which the Treasury said will deliver on the government's promise to cut waiting lists, improve patient care, and modernise services. Resolution Foundation Chief Executive Ruth Curtice said in a statement, 'Health accounted for 90 per cent of the extra public service spending, continuing a trend that is seeing the British state morph into a National Health State, with half of public service spending set to be on health by the end of the decade.' The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) noted in its initial response to the Spending Review that the funding increase for the NHS was substantial, but questioned whether it will be enough to get the health service back to meeting its 18-week target for hospital waiting times within this Parliament, something which the think tank said was 'enormously ambitious.' Click here to read more…
Trade Arabia
09-06-2025
- Trade Arabia
Marhaba, Prime Health partner for services to medical tourists
Marhaba, part of dnata and a leading global airport hospitality brand, has partnered with Prime Health to provide premium travel services for passengers arriving in Dubai for medical treatment. Driven by a commitment to patient well-being, the partnership ensures a smooth and stress-free travel experience that complements the quality of care provided by Prime Health, a statement said. Marhaba will provide its full airport hospitality offering to support medical travellers, including its signature Meet & Greet, Chauffeur and Lounge services. In addition, its recently announced Check-in Anywhere and Land & Leave solutions will further enhance the journey, enabling a smooth, hands-free experience from arrival to departure. Jaffar Dawood, dnata's Divisional Senior Vice President - UAE Airport Operations, said: 'We are pleased to partner with Prime Health to further enhance the medical tourism experience in Dubai. With marhaba's personalised service and Arabian hospitality, twinned with Dubai's world-class infrastructure, we ensure medical travellers feel looked after from the moment they land. This partnership reflects our shared focus on care, comfort and service excellence.' Dr Jamil Ahmed, Founder and Managing Director, Prime Health, said: 'At Prime Health, we believe exceptional care starts well before a patient enters the hospital. Our partnership with marhaba ensures international patients receive a warm, stress-free welcome the moment they land. By combining world-class hospitality with trusted medical expertise, we are redefining the healthcare journey — making it as seamless and supportive as possible from arrival to recovery.' Dubai welcomed over 691,000 people for medical treatments in 2023, with spending on healthcare services exceeding AED1.03 billion ($280 million). The emirate is rapidly positioning itself as a leading global destination for medical tourism, combining advanced healthcare with world-class luxury and personalised care. According to Prime Health, international patient flows to Dubai have grown across diverse medical specialisms, with dentistry, dermatology, cardiology, and fertility treatments leading demand. Medical tourists increasingly seek Dubai's orthopaedic treatments, particularly joint replacement surgeries, and the city's range of the latest cosmetic treatments also remain popular with visitors. As part of its growing network, Prime Health also operates medical centres within terminals one and three at Dubai International airport (DXB), providing convenient access to high-quality care for travellers. Marhaba, which means 'welcome' in Arabic, was launched in the UAE to help passengers arriving in or departing from Dubai International airport. The popularity of meet & greet services has grown exponentially in line with Dubai's growth as a major international travel hub, and marhaba has continually expanded its product offering with a growing list of services and extra options designed to make the passenger airport experience as comfortable as possible.
Trade Arabia
03-06-2025
- Trade Arabia
M42, partners launch liquid biopsy testing in UAE
M42, a global health leader powered by technology, continues to pioneer artificial intelligence (AI) and medical and clinical solutions as part of its mission to revolutionise health in the UAE and globally. In a major advancement for precision oncology, M42 announced a strategic collaboration with AstraZeneca and SOPHiA Genetics to bring cutting-edge liquid biopsy testing to the UAE, aimed at advancing cancer diagnosis, informing treatment decisions, and enabling faster, accurate biomarker testing across a broad range of cancers. As part of the collaboration, M42 will integrate SOPHiA GENETICS' MSK-ACCESS, powered with SOPHiA DDM technology, into its testing infrastructure, enabling non-invasive genomic profiling of cancers through a simple blood draw. This approach does not replace but rather complements routine cancer screenings and is designed for patients who are unable to undergo a solid tumor biopsy, enabling them to be matched with a precision therapy tailored to their specific cancer profile. Over the next 12 months, the partnership will enable liquid biopsy testing access across select leading hospitals across the UAE, providing patients with faster, less invasive biomarker insights compared to traditional tissue biopsies, while also strengthening testing infrastructure and capabilities for a wide range of cancers in the UAE. The new testing programme will initially target lung, ovarian, breast, colorectal, and pancreatic cancers, among others, addressing some of the most critical cancer burdens in the region. Validation studies are set to commence shortly at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, marking a key milestone toward the full clinical launch planned for the latter part of Q2 2025. Over time, the collaboration will serve as a foundation for broader expansion across the Middle East, excluding Saudi Arabia, delivering world-class precision oncology solutions to a wider population. Albarah El-khani, Senior Vice President, Operations, Integrated Health Solutions at M42, said: "At M42, we are committed to transforming care through innovation and collaboration. By partnering with AstraZeneca and SOPHiA GENETICS, we are bringing world-class liquid biopsy technologies to the UAE, empowering clinicians to deliver more precise and less invasive cancer care. This collaboration reflects our vision of democratizing health by making advanced diagnostics accessible to more patients, supporting not just early diagnosis but also real-time treatment monitoring and cost-effective, precise, predictive, and personalized care." Sameh El Fangary, Cluster President GCC, AstraZeneca, shared:"At AstraZeneca, we are leading the way in the application of precision medicine. Our work, and our collaborations with partners across industry, are driving towards better treatments for patients as well as a more sustainable future for healthcare systems. Through our latest partnerships, we are committed to transforming cancer care for millions in the region by advancing early diagnosis and optimizing patient pathways from detection to therapy.'
