Al Jalila Foundation, a member of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, dedicated to transforming lives through medical innovation, today announced it has partnered with Fundación Iker Casillas and IDOVEN to improve monitoring of cardiac health through the use of technology, artificial intelligence and innovation applied to health to improve lives.

Together with Al Jalila Foundation, the parties will lead a pilot study to monitor cardiac health of a cohort of 100 people who will undergo extensive professional medical assessment and provide their ‘heartbeat data’ to contribute to research and prevention of sudden death among groups at high risk of heart disease.

Fundación Iker Casillas is a non-profit entity chaired by the world famous football legend Iker Casillas who created the foundation to support, promote, and develop activities that help improve the health and quality of life.  IDOVEN is a European HealthTech startup company based in Madrid that seeks to prevent cardiac diseases, myocardial infarction, and sudden death.

According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death globally with almost 20 million lives being lost every year. It is also the primary cause of death in the UAE contributing to 30% of fatalities annually. The partnership aims to reduce preventable heart disease.

Dr Abdulkareem Al Olama, CEO of Al Jalila Foundation, welcomed Iker Casillas, the Founder of Fundación Iker Casillas, and Dr. Manuel Marina Breysse, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of IDOVEN, and took them on a tour of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Medical Research Institute and briefed them on the Foundation’s education and research programmes.

Dr Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olama, CEO of Al Jalila Foundation, said: “From telemedicine to artificial intelligence and robotic surgery, technology is revolutionising the healthcare industry. Advances in medical technologies are beyond anything we could have ever imagined. These innovations have allowed us to advance patient treatment and, sometimes, even predict the onset of illnesses to prevent serious complications and even premature death. Today, thanks to advances in medical research, people are living longer and healthier lives. With remote patient monitoring, physicians can now know what is going on with a patient without physically being close. This pilot study will give us new insights into preventing heart attacks and other heart problems, which can contribute to saving lives and benefiting millions of people.”

The partnership will pioneer the implementation of automatic cardiac diagnostic systems, making it possible to remotely monitor patients through scalable technology in the future and at the same time contributing to research and prevention of cardiovascular diseases in the UAE.

Iker Casillas, Founder of Fundación Iker Casillas, said: “I am proud to foster prevention and health beyond the borders of my country. Thanks to Al Jalila Foundation, today I can strengthen my Foundation’s commitment to reduce heart diseases. Through this alliance with IDOVEN and its artificial intelligence, we will achieve more accessible health and a healthier population in the UAE.”

Dr Manuel Marina Breysse, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of IDOVEN SL, said: “At IDOVEN, we are proud to collaborate with Al Jalila Foundation and Fundación Iker Casillas bringing our cardiac technology to the UAE. It is our belief that this project will contribute to the health and wellbeing of the country’s diverse population to support the UAE’s national healthcare strategy and its drive to deliver innovative healthcare programmes to its people.”

Since its inception in 2013, Al Jalila Foundation has led opportunities to increase innovative and impactful medical research investing AED28 million to award 100 research grants and nine international research fellowships to discover solutions for the region’s biggest health challenges: cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity, mental health and emerging diseases.  In 2021, Mohammed Bin Rashid Medical Research Institute, a subsidiary of Al Jalila Foundation, pledged AED 8 million annual funding to Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences to advance biomedical research.

Al Jalila Foundation, a member of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, announced that it will establish the UAE’s first robotic biobank, in partnership with the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) and the Dubai Health Authority (DHA). The collaboration is set to advance medical research in the areas of genetic disorders, cancer and other chronic diseases and pandemics.

Set to open in 2023 with a capacity to manage seven million specimens, the biobank will be one of the world’s largest in terms of sample capacity. The facility will be located at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Medical Research Institute, part of Al Jalila Foundation, in Dubai Healthcare City.

Due to the vital role biobanks play in progressing research and advancing medical discovery, the biobank will become an indispensable resource for the new Hamdan Bin Rashid Cancer Charity Hospital and other healthcare facilities in the UAE to conduct research and offer effective treatment.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Al Jalila Foundation Board of Trustees, said: “Access to genetic and imaging data through biobanks is driving forward pioneering approaches to analysis that would have been impossible just a few years ago. The launch of the UAE’s first robotic biobank reflects Dubai’s commitment to strengthening the capabilities of the healthcare sector and advancing efforts to improve people’s health. The biobank will serve as a major contributor to the advancement of modern medicine and will enable scientific discoveries that will help enhance the health and wellbeing of the community.”

A biobank is a place to store all types of human biological samples, such as blood, tissue, cells, or body fluids. It also stores data related to the samples as well as other biomolecular resources that can be used in health research. Biobanks have become an important resource in medical research, supporting many types of contemporary research like genomics and personalised medicine, and the development of diagnostics and therapeutics.

Her Excellency Dr Raja Easa Al Gurg, Chairperson of Al Jalila Foundation Board of Directors and Member of the Board of Trustees, said: “Biobanking is a game-changer for healthcare and will revolutionise medical research, leading to better outcomes for patient treatment. The biobank will provide an opportunity for people in the community and researchers to work together to build a better, healthier future for generations to come. Scientific progress will shape the nation’s economy by influencing our knowledge about human health, disease, therapeutics, personalised medicine, and more.”

Al Jalila Foundation is investing AED17 million to build a state-of-the-art facility and will manage seven million human biological materials. An automated, robotic, Artificial Intelligence based system will ensure biological samples are secured in cryogenic storage (below 80 degree Celsius) maintaining proper sample integrity and retrieval.

Dr Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olama, CEO of Al Jalila Foundation, said: “Biorepositories are places where you can store patient samples and really serve as a hub of collaboration between scientists for doing either population health studies, or looking at cohorts of patients who have specific diseases, and trying to find better therapeutics and diagnostics to treat patients and save lives.”

Patient confidentiality will be a priority in line with UAE’s laws and regulations. The biological and medical data will be used by scientists for research to make new discoveries about common and life-threatening diseases such as cancer, heart disease and stroke in order to improve public health.

Professor Alawi Alsheikh-Ali, Deputy Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority said: “The establishment of the robotic biobank is a clear reflection of Dubai’s vision for advancing healthcare and being at the forefront of discovery. I am confident the planned biobank will bring significant value to the healthcare system in Dubai and the region. It is a clear example of how the integration of care with discovery, supported by advancement, can set the foundation for better outcomes for our current and future patients.”

The UAE’s diverse population, with people from varied ethnicities and nationalities, will provide a valuable platform for comparative studies on genetic, environmental, nutritional habits and behavioral aspects. Biobanks can give researchers access to data representing a large number of people. Samples in biobanks and the data derived from those samples can often be used by multiple researchers for cross-purpose research studies.

The UAE’s first robotic biobank will attract strategic collaboration opportunities with key healthcare authorities and partners across the region and globally. The collaborations will support pioneering biomedical research and accelerate medical discoveries to transform patients’ lives.

It will operate in the best practices in biobanking and adhere to the highest compliance regulations and ethical standards for the collection, processing, storage and analysis of biological samples and data for research into genetic and environmental factors that impact on human health and disease.

Al Jalila Foundation, a philanthropic not-for-profit organisation dedicated to transforming lives through medical innovation, announced that Landmark Group, the region’s leading retail and hospitality conglomerate, will support the Foundation’s A’awen diabetes treatment programme with a total contribution of AED5 million over the next five years. The pledged amount is being raised by Landmark Group as part of  its flagship social initiative ‘Beat Diabetes’.

Launched in 2013, the Al Jalila Foundation’s A’awen (‘support’ in Arabic) treatment programme seeks to provide financial assistance to UAE citizens and residents who suffer from life-threatening illnesses and cannot afford access to quality healthcare. The Programme supports patients by alleviating a significant portion of the financial burden on them.

As part of its ‘Beat Diabetes’ initiative, Landmark Group raises funds across its extensive network of brand outlets in the UAE for Al Jalila Foundation’s diabetes research and treatment programmes. Going one step further for the cause, the Group matches the donations raised in stores dirham-for-dirham, to double the amount collected, and will continue to do so in the future.

Funds raised by Landmark Group will support diabetic patients who are eligible for financial support following a review by Al Jalila Foundation’s A’awen committee that comprises subject matter experts and physicians. Al Jalila Foundation addresses patients’ needs by working with its healthcare partners on treatment plans and will provide a report on the progress of the fundraising initiative and its positive impact.

Renuka Jagtiani, Chairwoman and CEO of the Landmark Group, said: “We have been committed to the fight against diabetes for more than a decade in the UAE, with a long-standing vision to create awareness related to this crippling, but preventable disease. Diabetes is a major cause of some of the world’s most debilitating health conditions and many patients facing financial hardships are unable to get the treatment they need. Our five-year pledge to the Al Jalila Foundation’s A’awen treatment programme is a vital step towards ensuring easier access to life-saving medical for those who need it.”

Dr Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olama, CEO of Al Jalila Foundation, said: “Through our partnership with Landmark Group, we have been able to make meaningful progress in diabetes research to improve patient treatment. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 422 million people worldwide have diabetes, and 1.5 million deaths are directly attributed to diabetes each year. This calls for urgent action and collaboration. Investing in research will help us uncover relevant and innovative solutions to one of today’s most pressing healthcare challenges and we thank Landmark Group for its unwavering support and contribution to diabetes research, prevention and treatment.”

Beat Diabetes initiative

Since 2014, Landmark Group’s ‘Beat Diabetes’ initiative has raised and pledged more than AED13 million towards diabetes research and treatment. In 2021, Landmark Group hosted the 12^th edition of its Beat Diabetes Walk, a dedicated day-long event that brought together more than 10,000 participants to educate the public about the condition.

In recognition of its dedication to tackling diabetes, the conglomerate is the first and only corporation from the GCC region included on the members list of the Global Diabetes Compact Forum. Founded by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Forum aims to create a world where the risk of diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2) is reduced, and where people who are diagnosed with the condition have access to equitable, comprehensive, affordable and quality treatment and care.

Al Jalila Foundation, a member of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, announced that Yaseen M. Jaffer, CEO of Proclad Group, has donated AED10 million to support the UAE’s first charity hospital ‘Hamdan Bin Rashid Cancer Charity Hospital’, which seeks to help cancer patients in need.

The 250-bed hospital, named after the late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, will provide best-in-class outpatient, ambulatory and diagnostic services as well as inpatient and surgical services in a nurturing environment that prides itself on personalised patient care. Phase 1 of the hospital is expected to open in 2024 with 150 beds and the capacity to treat 30,000 patients a year.  The UAE’s first cancer charity hospital aims to redefine cancer care for those in need and become a beacon of hope for cancer patients and their families. Yaseen Jaffer’s wife is a cancer survivor and his donation honours her brave journey and is dedicated to anyone who has ever been touched by cancer.

Dr Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olama, CEO of Al Jalila Foundation, said: “The health and wellbeing of the UAE’s citizens and residents is one of Al Jalila Foundation’s top priorities. The Hamdan Bin Rashid Cancer Charity Hospital is set to become a leader in cancer care serving patients in need. Donor support is an integral part of our success in developing the state-of-the-art hospital and we are grateful to Yaseen Jaffer and his family for their generous donation. The hospital will offer unparalleled cancer expertise and make an invaluable contribution to the country’s healthcare sector putting patient care first.”

Yaseen Jaffer said: “My wife’s fight against cancer inspires me to express my appreciation and immense gratitude for the care and treatment that she received. I am proud to support Al Jalila Foundation in its mission to provide cancer patients with quality treatment in the UAE. This charity hospital will be a symbol of hope for patients who will be able to receive treatment at home while receiving the support of their families.”

“With cancer survival rates improving, there is a great need to support local cancer programmes and initiatives and help strengthen the support network available to cancer patients and their families. I hope to inspire others to support the Foundation’s noble cause and contribute towards the building of the Hamdan Bin Rashid Cancer Charity Hospital in Dubai,” he concluded.

Yaseen visited the newly opened cancer drop-in centre, Majlis Al Amal, to see how it’s impacting women’s lives. Majlis Al Amal, which in Arabic means Hope Lounge, is the first community centre of its kind dedicated to female cancer patients and their wellbeing. Al Jalila Foundation established Majlis Al Amal to support patients, survivors and their loved ones as they navigate the disease and its challenges. The Centre provides a support network in a nurturing environment and aims to keep the message of hope alive. All services offered at the centre are free of charge.

Since the announcement of the hospital earlier this year, Al Jalila Foundation has already raised AED350 million, towards the AED750 million fundraising target, with major donations received from a number of philanthropists, government and non-government organisations, UAE businesses and corporates to support the hospital’s development.

Al Jalila Foundation, a member of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, dedicated to transforming lives through medical innovation, announces that the Chalhoub Group, the leading partner for luxury across the Middle East since 1955, partners with the Foundation to support in the advancement of local medical research to improve patients’ lives.

Al Jalila Foundation CEO, Dr Abdulkareem Al Olama, welcomed Patrick Chalhoub, the Group President of the Chalhoub Group, his family, and team of volunteers to the Foundation to tour the Mohammed Bin Rashid Medical Research Institute and learn more about the Foundation’s healthcare programs. Patrick Chalhoub thanked Al Jalila Foundation for its humanitarian contributions and for giving Chalhoub Group the opportunity to be part of its mission to make a difference to patients’ lives.

Dr Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olama, CEO of Al Jalila Foundation, said: “Our investment in medical research reaffirms our commitment to embed research and innovation in the fabric of the nation’s long-term healthcare strategy and to adapt to the changing landscape. We are extremely grateful for our partnership with Chalhoub Group who, like us, believe that investing in medical research is critical to the longevity and sustainability of future generations.”

Patrick Chalhoub, President of Chalhoub Group, said: “Impacting the lives of people and communities around is deep-rooted into our values since the Group inception in 1955, it is close to our family’s heart and part of Chalhoub impact. We are proud to be a key contributor to Al Jalila Foundation, to extend our support for advance local medical research and improve patients’ lives. Our Chalhoub Impact strategy was created to support our community needs in the regions we operate and will always count on the participation of family members and employees to create a positive impact.”

“Medical and scientific advancements can change the course of history for the better, and sustainable funding is vital to developing better treatment options and cures to diseases affecting mankind. Today, thanks to advances in medical research, people are living longer and healthier lives. With sustainable funding we can respond to the emerging health needs and pursue research opportunities that will make the greatest impact.” Dr Abdulkareem continued.

Since its inception in 2013, Al Jalila Foundation has lead opportunities to increase innovative and impactful medical research investing AED 28 million to award 100 research grants and 9 international research fellowships to discover solutions for the region’s biggest health challenges: cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity, mental health and emerging diseases.

As a non-profit organisation Al Jalila Foundation relies on the support of its partners and donations are invested in healthcare programs to transform lives.

Al Jalila Foundation, a member of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, dedicated to transforming lives through medical innovation, today announced the launch of Majlis Al Amal (Hope Lounge), a unique ‘cancer drop-in centre’ and the first of its kind community centre dedicated to female cancer patients and their wellbeing.

In the UAE, approximately 4,500 new cases of cancer are reported annually, making cancer the third leading cause of death affecting more women than men. Due to the high prevalence of the disease, Al Jalila Foundation is building Hamdan Bin Rashid Cancer Charity Hospital, a state-of-the-art facility in Dubai to provide quality specialist care to cancer patients who cannot afford treatment expenses.

The announcement of the new centre marks the end of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Al Jalila Foundation’s month-long #PINKtober campaign in partnership with ‘Brest Friends’, the UAE’s first cancer support group, founded by Dr Houriya Kazim in 2005. The cancer drop-in centre draws on the success of Brest Friends support group that has proven a strong support network is integral to the patient’s healing journey.

Dr Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olama, Chief Executive Officer of Al Jalila Foundation, said: “Cancer remains one of the most serious health challenges and in addition to investing in medical research and supporting patient treatment, Al Jalila Foundation is also committed to supporting patients and survivors’ wellbeing. Around the world community drop-in centres have proven to contribute greatly to the healing process and now we look forward to contributing to bring this unique, life-changing community service to the UAE for the first time.”

Al Jalila Foundation has been working with Brest Friends since 2015 and the inspiration for the cancer drop-in centre was modelled on the support group which has helped hundreds of women across the Emirates.  Medical intervention plays a significant role in the treatment process while the emotional fragility of the patient is often overlooked. Individuals affected by cancer, and their families, are impacted psychologically and emotionally during the process and even after treatment ends.

Located on the ground floor of Al Jalila Foundation, the cancer drop-in centre is a safe space for cancer patients and their family members to enhance their emotional health in a relaxed, supportive environment. The Centre is ready to receive patients who can drop-in at any time for information, a chat over tea or coffee, use the in-house library, take part in classes, or attend educational sessions presented by specialists volunteering their time to make a difference to the lives of women affected by cancer. All services are offered free of charge. The Centre is run by volunteers and many opportunities are available for people in the community to donate their time and expertise to support cancer warriors.

Dr Houriya Kazim, President & Founder of Brest Friends said: “Dealing with cancer is one of the hardest challenges that patients and their families could face. With the opening of Majlis Al Amal women now have a place to drop-in at any time for the emotional support they need in a safe and comforting environment. The first of its kind cancer drop-in centre in the UAE is another milestone in our journey of hope to support cancer patients.

The UAE Marriott Business Council, a longstanding partner and supporter of Al Jalila Foundation’s healthcare programs, sponsored the design and fit-out of the Centre.  Marriott strives to be a force for good and encourages its employees to make a positive, sustainable impact in the communities they operate in.

Pam Wilby, Chair of the UAE Marriott Business Council, said: “On behalf of the UAE Marriott Business Council, it gives us such pleasure to unite as a team of 62 Marriott International hotels and 13,000 associates in the UAE to enable the design and fit-out of the cancer drop-in centre. We have been on an immensely gratifying, philanthropic journey with Al Jalila Foundation for several years now, and with many fundraising initiatives planned for this year and beyond, we remain committed to the relationship and to saving the millions of lives of those suffering from cancer.”

Earlier this year, Al Jalila Foundation announced that it will open the Hamdan Bin Rashid Cancer Charity Hospital in 2024 to provide life-saving treatment to cancer patients unable to afford quality care.

“Al Jalila Foundation puts patients at the heart of everything we do and we believe that everyone should have access to emotional support to help navigate their illness and improve the way they live with it. As cancer is one of Al Jalila Foundation’s healthcare priorities, Majlis Al Amal is the perfect complement to the cancer hospital providing holistic 360 patient care.” Dr Abdulkareem concluded.