ABU DHABI – The Abu Dhabi Department of Health (DoH) and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn Medicine) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen mutual cooperation in education, research and innovative projects.
In line with the department’s efforts to foster innovation in Abu Dhabi, the two parties plan to collaborate to support the development of the life sciences research ecosystem, with a focus on expanding translational research capabilities to further develop new discoveries into new approaches to treating diseases.
DoH and Penn Medicine will work together to expand research capabilities and develop new programs to expand innovation capabilities and related infrastructure, including establishing a regional precision medicine innovation center.
These efforts will support Abu Dhabi’s goal of having a global impact while elevating the role of the healthcare industry in its contribution to the larger economy.
Dr Jamal Mohammed Al Kaabi, Undersecretary of the DoH, said: “At the direction of the UAE’s wise leadership, Abu Dhabi continues to forge partnerships with leading international institutions to further strengthen the UAE’s position as a hub for innovation and life sciences.
“Our partnership with Penn Medicine reflects our belief in collaboration across all sectors, including healthcare and academia, to provide a holistic ecosystem for various stakeholders to translate their ideas into real-life solutions program. We look forward to witnessing the fruitful outcomes that this MOU will bring to bear in innovation, healthcare technology and the benefits of artificial intelligence (AI).”
Dr. Glen Gaulton, associate dean and director of the Center for Global Health at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, commented: “Penn Medicine has become a global leader in precision medicine and innovation, which has led to the approval of more than 20 new drugs and therapies the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the past five years.”
“We look forward to applying Penn Medicine’s experience and expertise to develop an ecosystem and international partnership model that will help support Abu Dhabi in realizing its vision of becoming a true innovator and regional leader in biomedical sciences, which will enable global impact.”
Penn Medicine is one of the world’s leading academic medical centers dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research and excellence in patient care. Penn Medicine is comprised of the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and the Penn Health System.