All posts by Abdullah Zafar

Newsletters

Giving the Gift of Smiles

May 2018

Ramadan is a time of reflection, spending time with family and most importantly, giving to those who are in need. We consider it a privilege to be in a position where we can make a difference in people’s lives. Nothing makes us happier than to receive an email that says, “My son has a chance at life”; the smile from the young woman who can walk down the aisle on her wedding day; or the phone call of overwhelming joy from the mother whose son has called her ‘Mom’ for the first time after a successful cochlear implant.These are the moments that make our job at Al Jalila.

Newsletters

Today’s Investments, Tomorrow’s Gains

April 2018

Thanks to the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Al Jalila Foundation was established to position the UAE at the forefront of medical innovation with research as the bedrock of our strategy. At Al Jalila Foundation we consider it a great honour, to be part of this vision and to support the UAE’s inspiring efforts to be number 1. It is very heartening to see our efforts to attract top local researchers gaining momentum guiding us in our mission to improve lives through.

Research Matters, Stories of Hope

Research tackles world’s greatest disease

According to the World Health Organisation, cardiovascular diseases are the number one cause of death globally and it is estimated that 30% of fatalities in the UAE are attributed to cardiovascular disease. While improvements in lifestyle can support successful treatment there is much research to be done to provide better treatment options.

Dr Maria Baias, Al Jalila Foundation grant recipient from New York University Abu Dhabi, is conducting a study to determine the structure of a new polymorph of aspirin using nuclear magnetic resonance crystallography.

This project will study the crystal structure of a new form of aspirin, which could have improved pharmaceutical properties and therefore be more effective in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Experimental and computational techniques will be combined to find an accurate crystal structure for this molecule from a pool of computationally predicted structures. The methodology used could, later on, be utilised to determine the structure of other important pharmaceutical compounds.

Click here to read about Al Jalila Foundation research.

Press Release

Al Jalila Foundation invites UAE scientists and students to apply for biomedical research grants and fellowships

Al Jalila Foundation, a member of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, announced today that application for its fifth cycle of seed grants and fellowships has opened. The global philanthropic organisation dedicated to transforming lives through medical innovation and research aims to improve healthcare in the UAE by supporting talented biomedicine academics in the areas of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and mental health.

The fellowships are available exclusively to Emirati biomedical students and professionals, offering them the opportunity to train at world-renowned institutions and centres of excellence. Two international fellowship types are available: a Student Elective Fellowship of up to AED 50,000 supporting a 3-month placement and a Research Training Fellowship of up to AED 200,000 supporting a 12-month placement.

Researchers are invited to apply for seed grants of up to AED 300,000 over a 2-year period, which will give them the opportunity to investigate regional health issues through basic science, applied, or clinical research projects. The grants are available to all nationalities, provided the research is conducted in the UAE. Applicants should hold positions at local universities, research institutions or hospitals/clinics and will be assessed through an international peer review process.

Her Excellency Dr Raja Al Gurg, Member of the Board of Trustees of Al Jalila Foundation and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Al Jalila Foundation, commented: “Scientists around the world continue to search for answers into the causes, prevention and treatment of diseases affecting mankind. Our investment in medical research reaffirms our commitment to embed research and innovation in the fabric of the nation’s long-term healthcare strategy. Medical research has the potential to save lives and our efforts today will pave the way for a healthier world for future generations.”

Sehamuddin Galadari, Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Cell Biology and Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee of Al Jalila Foundation, said: “Research and training play an important role in developing the UAE’s medical sector and eventually will lead to life-changing discoveries. As we launch the 5th cycle of research grants and fellowships, we hope to attract local talents to medical research and look forward to supporting ground-breaking research projects.”

In efforts to advance medical research in the UAE, Al Jalila Foundation has to date awarded over AED 20 million for 76 research projects and supported Emirati scientists to train at international fellowships at global leading institutions in the UK, USA and Japan. With this investment the Foundation has brought together 277 scientists from around the world to further boost scientific medical research in the UAE. The grants have created training opportunities for more than 200 young students and post-doctoral associates and contributed to 148 publications in a number of international scientific journals.

By supporting talented scientists, Al Jalila Foundation is building on its mission to transform lives by paving the way and developing the next generation of innovators in health sciences.

The application deadline for the fellowships is 30 April 2018 and for seed grants 15 May 2018. Fellowship recipients will be announced by 1 July 2018 and the seed grant recipients by end of October 2018.

For more information and application details please visit Al Jalila Foundation website:
www.aljalilafoundation.ae/research