MEA A quarter-century after the Human Genome Project revolutionized biology, genomic sequencing has matured from an ambitious scientific frontier into an indispensable clinical reality. Today, molecular insights routinely guide everything from targeted oncology to rare disease diagnostics. Yet, this genomic revolution harbours a profound systemic bias: nearly 90 percent of all…
Qatar Dr Tawfeg Ben-Omran, Division Chief of Genetic and Genomic Medicine at Sidra Medicine, discusses Qatar’s pioneering advancements in rare disease treatment. He explains how whole genome sequencing and expanded newborn screening drastically reduce diagnostic delays and how breakthrough gene therapies are transforming previously fatal paediatric genetic disorders into proactively treatable…
Qatar Sidra Medicine is building a vertically integrated academic medical centre where clinical care, research, and education operate as a single system to accelerate precision medicine, particularly in rare and complex paediatric diseases. In this interview, Professor Khalid Fakhro explains how the institution leverages national-scale patient cohorts, genomics infrastructure, and global…
MEA A new generation of biotechnology companies is beginning to rethink the foundations of drug discovery. At the intersection of population genomics, biomarker-driven trials, and artificial intelligence, Halia Therapeutics is exploring a different approach: studying the biological mechanisms that allow certain individuals to remain healthy despite strong genetic risk factors. In…
UAE Prof. Fatma Al Jasmi, Professor of Biochemical Genetics at the UAE University’s College of Medicine & Health Science and the UAE’s first biochemical genetics consultant, has spent nearly two decades building a rare and genetic disease infrastructure from the ground up. Prof. Al Jasmi traces that journey – from persuading…
UAE H.E. Dr Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, sets out the emirate’s ambition to build the world’s most integrated and intelligent healthcare system. Drawing on the Emirati Genome Programme, a pioneering newborn and premarital screening infrastructure, and a rapidly expanding life sciences ecosystem,…
MEA Mohamed Abu Shawish of Kyowa Kirin discusses how the company is reducing the time to diagnosis for rare diseases, increasing patient identification, and building local capacity across the GCC. He highlights the steps taken to disease awareness, genetic testing pathways, family mapping approaches and supporting access to rare disease medications.…
USA For many years, the US has been considered the unequivocal champion in the global war against cancer. Not only does the country presently account for approximately 57 percent of worldwide cancer research funding, but American per capita investment in oncology research averages as much as seven times higher than that…
UAE As Abu Dhabi translates strategy into execution, the focus turns from platform design to operational delivery. Albarah Elkhani, COO of Integrated Health Solutions at M42, details how large-scale genomics, clinical pathways and regulatory alignment are embedded into day-to-day healthcare practice. From premarital and newborn screening to rare disease management and…
UAE Healthcare systems across the world continue to struggle with fragmentation, rising costs and reactive models of care that intervene too late. Dimitris Moulavasilis, Group CEO of M42, outlines how an integrated platform spanning care delivery, genomics, digital infrastructure and policy seeks to realign incentives, embed intelligence at scale and reposition…
MEA For decades, the Middle East has faced a disproportionately high burden of rare genetic disorders, fuelled both by deep-rooted cultural practices and an overreliance on Western genomic data. Fast forward to 2026, and massive genome projects across the Gulf region are attempting to shift the narrative. Backed by immense sovereign…
MEA Dr Said Ismail, geneticist and professor of genomics at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, reflects on his role as the founding director and one of the architects of the Qatar Genome Programme (QGP), one of the Middle East’s most established and globally recognised population‑level genomics initiatives. He describes the pivotal decisions…
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