DoH partners with Gilead Sciences to propel healthcare innovation, cell therapy advancement
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)As part of its commitment to advance healthcare innovation, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), the regulator of the healthcare sector in the emirate, has announced a dual Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with Gilead Sciences, a global biopharmaceutical company, on the sidelines of Abu Dhabi Global Healthcare Week 2025 (ADGHW).As part of the agreement, both parties aim to broaden collaboration in clinical research, advanced therapies and healthcare accessibility, while also enhancing treatment options and driving cutting-edge medical innovation in the emirate.In the presence of Dr. Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Under-Secretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), the MoU was signed by Dr. Asma Ibrahim Al Mannaei, Executive Director of the Health Life Sciences Sector at the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) and Vitor Papao, General Manager, Middle East, Russia, Turkiye at Gilead Sciences.Reflecting Abu Dhabi's standing as a global leader in healthcare innovation, these agreements are set to propel the emirate to the forefront of medical research and development. By focusing on advancements in virology and cell therapies, the partnership aims to expand access to pioneering treatments and enhance healthcare outcomes for communities.This strategic collaboration reinforces Abu Dhabi's commitment to integrating state-of-the-art medical technologies and research capabilities, thus ensuring the emirate remains a hub for healthcare excellence and a model for world-class healthcare practices.Dr. Asma Ibrahim Al Mannaei, Executive Director of the Health Life Sciences Sector at the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), said, 'Research and development are crucial for fostering innovation and ensuring the sustainable advancement of the health and life sciences ecosystem. This commitment ultimately supports proactive and holistic care for our communities. In alignment with Abu Dhabi's vision to establish one of the world's smartest healthcare systems, we are dedicated to empowering our community with the tools necessary for maintaining healthy populations for generations to come. Furthermore, we continue to forge strategic partnerships that enhance our capacity to deliver best-in-class care to community members in the emirate and beyond.'
Vitor Papao, General Manager, Middle East, Russia, Turkiye at Gilead Sciences, commented, 'These MoUs reaffirm Gilead and Kite's commitment to healthcare innovation and underscore our contribution to the healthcare ecosystem in Abu Dhabi. By collaborating with leading institutions, we are proud to support Abu Dhabi's vision of becoming a leader in medical research and advanced therapeutics backed by a robust knowledge economy. This collaboration aligns with national efforts to strengthen healthcare systems, advance medical research, and expand access to life-changing treatments, such as our innovative CAR T-cell therapies.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
a day ago
- Khaleej Times
Look: How this UAE hospital is bringing colour and hope to children's cancer unit
Yas Clinic Hospital and the Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Centre (ADSCC) have turned the walls of their pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) unit into a series of cheerful murals as part of a new initiative called 'Colours of Hope.' The project aims to brighten the treatment journey of young patients by surrounding them with images that spark imagination and build hope. It was launched under the UAE's Year of Community campaign and painted by Mariam AlHarthi, an Emirati artist and Yas Clinic employee. One wall features cartoon-style drawings of frontline workers standing beneath a falcon. Another shows a young Emirati boy and girl wandering through a desert and coming across a treasure chest near a watchtower and palm trees. A third painting shows two gazelles. According to a press release issued by ADSCC, the murals reflect themes of discovery, strength, and national pride, helping children imagine a future beyond illness. 'Every colour that brightens the walls of our pediatric bone marrow transplant unit reflects a powerful strength I witness daily in our young patients and in our medical team at Yas Clinic Hospital and Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Centre,' said Dr Fatema Al Kaabi, executive director of the Bone Marrow Transplant Programme. 'My ongoing wish is that these vibrant paintings breathe new hope into children as they go through their treatment. Through art and imagination, we strengthen each child's resolve and celebrate a unique journey toward healing.' Dr. Mansi Sachdev, consultant in Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplant, added: 'When a child enters the bone marrow transplant unit, the road ahead can seem so long and difficult. My hope is that, through 'Colours of Hope,' every child and their family finds in these paintings a source of happiness, strength, and inspiration. "These aren't just images on walls, they tell a story of renewed potential, opening a door to laughter and light even in the hardest times. We are here to heal their bodies, and with compassion and creativity, we care for their spirits as well.' ADSCC said the project is part of its ongoing effort to make the healing environment more child-friendly and emotionally supportive for both patients and their families.
Gulf Today
2 days ago
- Gulf Today
UAE hosted 17,600 Afghans before departure to their final destinations
In a move that embodies its humanitarian commitment and urgent response in times of crisis, the UAE has hosted 17,619 Afghans evacuated from their country since August 2021, before being resettled in third countries. This came as part of the UAE's co-operation with international partners to support the Afghan people amid the exceptional circumstances the country experienced. Abu Dhabi-based Emirates Humanitarian City (EHC) welcomed the Afghan citizens and provided them with high-quality facilities and services before they departed to 21 final destinations. The total cost of hosting the refugees amounted to Dhs1.348 billion ($367 million). An Afghan child gets treated at a health centre in UAE. The UAE also facilitated the evacuation of 41,000 Afghans and foreign citizens who were residing in Afghanistan, out of its belief in the need to assist friendly countries that had requested the UAE's assistance in evacuating their respective citizens from Afghanistan, prior to their repatriation to their home countries. During their stay, the UAE met all the needs of the Afghan citizens including healthcare, logistical and diplomatic services, communications, shelter and food, while ensuring their comfort, decent life and well-being and provided them with financial support to help families stabilize their lives in the destinations they were set to move to. To facilitate their departure to their final destinations, services related to departure procedures were provided within the EHC. As many as 17 offices were opened for the embassies of the concerned countries in addition to one office for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, another for the United Nations Migration Agency, another for US Customs and Border Protection, and 2 offices for international non-governmental organizations. As far as healthcare is concerned, the UAE exerted exceptional efforts to look after the Afghans and foreign citizens residing in the EHC, especially during the COVID-19 crisis. Emirati officials give gifts to Afghan families at Emirates humanitarian city. This included providing 34,923 vaccines to all the residents, taking exemplary care of 303 newborns, performing 303 surgeries in various specialties, treating three cases outside the UAE and rendering 254,572 medical services to the residents, thereby ensuring comprehensive healthcare throughout their temporary stay. As for education and vocational training for Afghans residing in the city, the UAE provided school education for 3,764 Afghans and enrolled 800 children in nurseries, while providing school transportation and ongoing follow-up. The concerned authorities also organized 39 cultural and educational training courses for EHC's residents as well as professional training and development workshops, benefiting 2,589 Afghans. Emirati officials welcome Afghan families at a reception hall in Emirates humanitarian city. Thanks to its privacy-conscious design and compliance with the highest standards of security and safety, the EHC offered the best daily services. Its outdoor spaces included a number of playgrounds and entertainment facilities for children, women, and the elderly, a preventive health centre, and all necessary means of subsistence, including medicine, food and other essentials for a residence that reflected the values and traditions of Emirati society. The UAE spared no effort to assist the Afghan people and was at the forefront of countries taking the initiative to support Afghanistan, reflecting its humanitarian mission based on the values of giving, charitable work, spreading peace, and consolidating coexistence, tolerance, and the principles of human fraternity. Caring for people and preserving their dignity has been a constant approach of the UAE since it was founded. Taking no ethnic, religious or geographic backgrounds into consideration, the UAE has been consistent with its noble humanitarian principles until it has become a global symbol of humanitarian giving and sustainable goodness.
Zawya
2 days ago
- Zawya
"Colors of Hope Initiative": Yas Clinic Hospital and Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center transform Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant unit into an artwork of hope for young patients and their families
Abu Dhabi: Within the healing walls of Yas Clinic Hospital and the Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center, care, hope and dream now radiate from every surface of the pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) unit. The newly inaugurated 'Colors of Hope' project is more than a collection of paintings; it's a heartfelt mission to surround every young patient, their family, and dedicated caregivers with an atmosphere of inspiration and boundless possibility. Stepping into the Bone Marrow Transplant unit takes you on an exciting journey painted across walls, a world compassionately envisioned by the Cente's and hospital leadership team, who echo their mission of providing latest innovative solution that inspire hope and confidence in our future. Brought to life by Emirati artist Mariam AlHarthi, a Yas Clinic employee. Their goal: transform the experience of serious illness into a celebration of courage and imagination, where each child is seen as a future leader, scientist, explorer, or artist. The vibrant paintings and artwork that decorate the walls of the Bone Marrow Transplant unit are inspired by the remarkable achievements and culture of the United Arab Emirates. These paintings plant seeds of confidence in young hearts, assuring each child that their dreams are possible, no matter the challenges they might face. In these halls, laughter mingles with hope, resilience sparks children's imagination, and above all, hope becomes the strongest medicine of all. Dr. Fatema Al Kaabi, Executive Director of the Bone Marrow Transplant Program at Yas Clinic Hospital and Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center, shared: 'Every color that brightens the walls of our pediatric bone marrow transplant unit reflects a powerful strength I witness daily in our young patients and in our medical team at Yas Clinic Hospital and Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center. My ongoing wish is that these vibrant paintings breathe new hope into children as they go through their treatment. Each painting is a promise to our children and their families that their dreams will always be treasured in our hearts. Hope is the bridge that carries families and care teams over every challenge. Through art and imagination, we strengthen each child's resolve and celebrate a unique journey toward healing.' The "Colors of Hope" initiative is part of the UAE's national "Year of Community," demonstrating how Yas Clinic Hospital and Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center bring together art and community spirit to enhance the care of young patients. These paintings are far more than simple decorations, they are a living honour to healing, hope, and the unity of the Emirati community in all its diversity. Here, patients, families, and caregivers walk the healing journey together, hand in hand. Dr. Mansi Sachdev, Consultant in Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplant, added: 'When a child enters the bone marrow transplant unit, the road ahead can seem so long and difficult. My hope is that, through 'Colors of Hope,' initiative every child and their family finds in these paintings a source of happiness, strength, and inspiration. These aren't just images on walls, they tell a story of renewed potential, opening a door to laughter and light even in the hardest times. We are here to heal their bodies, and with compassion and creativity, we care for their spirits as well.' At Yas Clinic Hospital and Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center, "Colors of Hope" is a daily celebration of the limitless possibilities that reside within every child. About Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center (ADSCC) Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center (ADSCC) is a renowned healthcare institution in Abu Dhabi, UAE, specialising in advanced stem cell therapy, research, and regenerative medicine. ADSCC is the incubator of the Abu Dhabi Bone Marrow Transplant (AD-BMT©) program, the first comprehensive programme to provide autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells transplant (HSCT) for adult and paediatric patients in the UAE since 2020. As a Center of Excellence in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation accredited by the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi, ADSCC's holistic service model includes advanced research, clinical trials, translational care, and manufacturing capabilities. ADSCC has one of the region's most advanced and sophisticated research labs and a robust multidisciplinary hospital. It is the only center in the UAE to encompass a cell processing laboratory, a state-of-the-art apheresis unit, a stem cell collection unit, a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) laboratory, and dedicated multi-specialty outpatient clinics and inpatient wards. As the UAE's first and most experienced stem cell transplant center, ADSCC has received multiple prestigious recognitions and conducted strategic collaborations, solidifying its position as a center of excellence. In 2024, ADSCC received accreditation from the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) for its cellular therapy processing laboratory, the first in UAE and one of only two in Middle East to receive this global accreditation.
