Category Archives: Stories of Hope

Stories

Research Matters, Stories of Hope

Exploring treatment options for COVID-19

With the world now reaching over 300 million confirmed cases since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic the urgency to find a cure is ever present.

Al Jalila Foundation is dedicated to supporting the global fight against COVID-19 and has invested in several vital research studies. While vaccines tackled some challenges, with continuously-evolving variants it is necessary to develop new antiviral agents that can work in parallel with vaccines to put an end to the global crisis.

Professor Mohammad Ghattas, from Al Ain University is researching new drug candidates as potential treatments for COVID-19 via targeting the main protease enzyme (Mpro) of the virus. Inhibiting such an enzyme by a small drug molecule was proven efficient in stopping the high virulent capability of the virus, introducing Mpro as the most promising drug target in the COVID-19 therapy.

The research group has utilised advanced computational approaches to screen a huge ligand library of more than 3.8 million ligands. This was followed by experimentally testing 57 compounds for their inhibition activity against the viral enzyme; two of which have been able to show promising inhibition activity and drug-like character.

The findings in this project can provide a strong basis for developing clinically useful drugs for the treatment of COVID-19 and potentially provide an extra tool to end the current long-lasting pandemic.

Stories of Hope

Community rallies together to help Marwan

9-year-old Marwan, from Sudan and living in Dubai, had been suffering from high pulmonary pressure and fibrosis in the lungs and needed urgent surgery. Unfortunately, his parents were struggling to fund the life- saving treatment.

The team at I Love Supersport Dubai, a UAE-based endurance training sports school, heard about young Marwan’s difficulties and organised a fundraiser ‘Challenge 50/50/50’ to support him. The aim of the challenge was to celebrate the UAE’s values of giving on the 50th National Day by raising AED 50,000 to fund Marwan’s surgery.

Endorsed by the Dubai Sports Council and coinciding with the UAE’s Golden Jubilee, 50 sports enthusiasts swam, biked, and ran for 50 consecutive hours, covering a total distance of 2,511km which is equal to the distance from Dubai to Khartoum, Marwan’s hometown.

Thanks to the I Love Supersport Dubai heroes’ incredible efforts and successful challenge, Marwan was able to undergo surgery right away and is now well on the road to recovery.

Marwan’s parents are overwhelmed but the incredible support they have received by the athletic community in Dubai: “We cannot thank Al Jalila Foundation enough for the support and all the kind strangers that became family. We are overwhelmed with emotion to find out how the community rallied together to help our son”.
Research Matters, Stories of Hope

Emirati researcher leads the fight on obesity

The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified obesity as one of the top five mortality risks globally and is targeted for priority action as it is responsible for 5% of deaths associated with non-communicable diseases.

In high-income countries more than 50% of adults are overweight and over 20% are obese. The UAE has undergone rapid urbanisation and economic growth in the last 50 years, and it is well recognised that transitioning nations experience increased incidence of obesity associated with urban sprawl, sedentary lifestyles, change in diet and other risk factors.

Due to the rising obesity rates in the UAE, Al Jalila Foundation supported a research study lead by Professor Yousef AlBastaki at Dubai Health Authority to determine the UAE population reference standard charts for weight, height, body mass index, skinfold thickness, and eating habits at ages 0–18 years.

For reliable estimates of obesity in children, valid measures should be used as using body weight alone does not allow for differences in height and stature.

The aim of this study was to determine a range of anthropometric measurements including skinfold thickness measurements in four different areas of the body, to construct population growth charts for body mass index (BMI), skinfolds in UAE national children.

This study enabled the comparison of UAE growth charts with the growth charts from other countries and provided a better picture of the prevalence of obesity healthcare providers can deliver to the policy makers on the trends of BMI and obesity among children in the UAE.

Stories of Hope

Talia has regained her spark

4-year-old Talia’s parents noticed that she was always tired, lacked energy for simple tasks and did not want to play anymore. She had even lost her happy spark and had become withdrawn.

After several doctor visits, it was discovered that she suffered from a perforated atrial septal defect and mitral valve prolapse – also known as a hole in the heart – and needed urgent open-heart surgery.

Talia is one of two daughters and with only one income in the family her parents were unable to afford Talia’s medical expenses.

Talia’s parents were desperate to get her the life-saving treatment she needed to regain her health and joyful spirit so Al Jalila Foundation stepped in to set-up an A’awen Giving crowdfunding campaign to raise awareness and funds for Talia’s treatment. The campaign gained great momentum from the community with donors offering funds and words of encouragement for Talia and to her parents’ delight one generous anonymous donor fulfilled the full remaining amount needed.

Talia’s parents are overjoyed, “We are so thrilled that our daughter will be healthy again. Thanks to all the support we received we will see her sweet smile light up the room once more.” 

Talia’s operation was successful, and she is now in full recovery with a bright future ahead.

Stories of Hope

Ali gets access to life-saving treatment

In 2019, husband and father Ali Kakaire began feeling unwell and daily life was becoming more and more of a struggle. In 2020, after many doctor appointments and tests Ali was diagnosed with ‘refractory Hodgkin lymphoma of nodular sclerosis subtype’. This meant that Ali needed to undergo treatment right away.

Ali’s insurance was able to cover much of the costs of his treatment, but it didn’t cover two vital new medications he needed which were very expensive. With a small salary and a family to support back home, this life-saving treatment seemed to be out of reach.

He was advised by his medical team to apply to Al Jalila Foundation’s A’awen treatment program to support his much-needed medication. Ali was overjoyed when his request was approved, and he was able to start his medication in February 2021.

Today Ali’s condition has improved greatly, he is responding very well to the treatment and is able to life a full life.

Ali expressed “I want to offer great appreciation to Al Jalila Foundation for their support and encouragement throughout my healing journey. I would also like to offer thanks to the donors of the Foundation for their generosity of heart and spirit to make a difference in the lives of patients like me.”

Research Matters, Stories of Hope

Identifying susceptibility to diabetes after pregnancy

Approximately one in five women develop gestational diabetes mellitus during pregnancy, which has serious complications for both baby and mother, but fortunately reverses after delivery.

Women with this condition are at seven-fold higher risk of developing adult diabetes within 7-10 years after childbirth. However, it is difficult to predict which women with gestational diabetes would develop adult diabetes.

Professor Riad Bayoumi from Mohamed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) is leading a gestational diabetes research study “A novel model for investigating the genetic and environmental components of type 2 diabetes mellitus; a proof of principle’ to help foresee future diagnosis.

The study looked at Emirati women with a history of gestational diabetes who either developed or did not develop adult diabetes 10 years later. The team established a modified oral glucose tolerance test that enabled them to predict which of the women would develop adult diabetes in the future.

The analysis showed that women with predominant peripheral resistance to insulin, with raised fasting blood glucose levels during pregnancy, were at a greater risk of developing adult diabetes, compared to women with raised blood glucose following a meal.

The outcome suggested that women who identify at higher risk for diabetes, should follow a certain regimen after childbirth through frequent follow-ups, lifestyle modifications, and specific treatment protocols, to slow down the development of diabetes and improve their quality of life.

To learn more about this study please click here.

Stories of Hope

Mohammad’s adventurous spirit is blossoming

The Ta’alouf program has had a transformative effect on many families in the UAE who have become empowered to guide and support their children of determination to flourish and live to their full potential.

Mohammad Abdulla Alshehhi is a 16-year-old boy with autism whose mother, Alya, had the opportunity to attending of the Ta’alouf Parents Training in 2020.

Throughout the training Alya learned various strategies and technics and implemented them at home to discover which approach best worked for Mohammad to be successful and independent.

“The Ta’alouf program gave me great hope and tools that today I can use which have proved to be so beneficial for Mohammad and our family. It is wonderful to see how we now communicate and thrive together as a family.” Alya shared.

Mohammad has a passion for exploring the world around him and loves to travel. Alya is enthusiastic to nurture his adventurous nature and takes every opportunity to encourage his free spirit. With the World Expo 2020 held in Dubai is like a dream come true for Mohammad who is delighted to explore each pavilion and partake in activities.

Mohammad is always looking to expand his horizons and is even now applying to participate and compete in various sports activities alongside other children of determination to see how far he can really go.

Stories of Hope

ADCB rallies the community in the fight against breast cancer

Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank (ADCB) is a leading financial institution in the UAE driving innovation and service excellence in the industry that also spearheads impactful locally relevant CSR initiatives. Every October for the past 12 years ADCB has dedicated the Pink Month initiative to support breast cancer awareness.

The ADCB Pink Run is held at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi annually and is one of the most popular sports events to mark #PINKtober. The Pink Run is more than just a run, it is a highlight on the UAE sporting calendar with as many as 1200 people from different backgrounds and abilities participating to show their solidarity with breast cancer patients and survivors. The Pink Run, now in its 10th edition, has raised hundreds of thousand of dirhams for Al Jalila Foundation to support breast cancer research.

In addition to the Pink Run, ADCB offers a host of other pink-themed initiatives.

The ADCB Tree of Hope is available at pink events throughout October and spreads the message of hope while raising awareness and funds for breast cancer research. With a minimum donation of AED 10, guests can leave messages of hope on pink leaves on the branches of the tree bringing the tree to life.

ATM users can ‘Donate A Dirham’ when using ADCB ATMs throughout the month of October and online customers can donate through ADCB’s Internet Banking to support Al Jalila Foundation all year-round.

Research Matters, Stories of Hope

Research is the answer to curing breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women affecting 1 in 8 women and studies show the average age of diagnosis in the UAE is 10 years younger than elsewhere in the world.

In efforts to fight breast cancer, Al Jalila Foundation invested in an important study with Dr Farah Benyettou from New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) who is working on a drug delivery system to target the cancer directly and minimise the side effects.

Potent chemicals have long been used to fight cancer. These drugs are a vital mode of treatment, but they have a major drawback: they kill both healthy and cancerous cells, and patients who undergo chemotherapy experience serious side effects, such as hair loss and nausea.

Dr Farah Benyettou collaborated with Dr Ali Trabolsi, assistant professor of chemistry at NYUAD, to create a magnetic nanoparticle that can carry the chemotherapy drug Doxorubicin straight to tumour sites.

Breast cancer tumors tend to be accessible and localised and nanoparticles tend to naturally accumulate when injected into the bloodstream. The approach uses therapeutic magnetic nanoparticles that travel directly to the tumor when injected into the bloodstream and destroy it without damaging healthy tissues, thus avoiding the systemic toxicity usually associated with chemotherapy.

A new nanoparticle could change the future of how drug delivery systems are used, and help doctors directly target cancer cells, thus increasing the efficacy of chemotherapy and avoiding damage to healthy cells.

Stories of Hope

First Emirati female surgeon leads the fight on breast cancer

Dr Houriya Kazim, the UAE’s first female surgeon, has spent more than 20 years campaigning to raise awareness of the importance of early detection in saving lives.

Dr Houriya was inspired to become a breast surgeon as a young doctor in her hometown of Dubai after seeing many patients with advanced stages of breast cancer due to lack of awareness of the disease and cultural barriers that prevented them from seeking life-saving medical attention.

After obtaining her fellowship in general surgery and specialising in breast surgical oncology from the Royal College of Surgeons in the UK, Dr Houriya returned home inspired to help her community and established the Well Woman Clinic.

In 2005 Dr Houriya launched Dubai’s first breast cancer support group, Brest Friends, to support women through their journey. Brest Friends provides a safe space for patients and survivors to learn, share experiences and offer emotional support to each other which has proven to be instrumental in a woman’s healing process.

In 2015 Al Jalila Foundation partnered with Brest Friends with a joint mission to encourage early detection of breast cancer, facilitate medical treatment and fund locally-based research. The partnership lead to the annual #PINKtober campaign which rallies the community together to fight breast cancer, honour survivors and bring hope to patients.

Dr Houriya underlines “I cannot emphasise enough the importance of early detection is in the treatment of the disease – it saves lives.”