Al Jalila Foundation, a global philanthropic organisation dedicated to transforming lives through medical education and research, celebrated the graduation of 120 parents and 72 teachers from its flagship programme Ta’alouf (‘harmony’ in Arabic), which provides carers of children with special needs with life-changing skills to help them lead more productive and happier lives.

The ceremony was attended by Her Excellency Dr Raja Easa Al Gurg, Member of the Board of Trustees and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Al Jalila Foundation; Dr Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olama, Chief Executive Officer of Al Jalila Foundation; His Excellency Dr Abdulla Al Karam, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA); Professor Reyadh Al Mehaideb, Vice President of Zayed University; Professor Abdullah Al Shamsi, Vice Chancellor of The British University in Dubai (BUiD); and Mr Saoud Al Otaibi, Director of Al Ain Initial Service Center, Zayed Higher Organization.

Her Excellency Dr Raja Easa Al Gurg commented on the programme “Today’s event reinstates our commitment to fostering a unified and inclusive society where parents, educators, strategic partners and the wider community work together to empower children with disabilities. At the heart of Ta’alouf is social inclusion and we will continue to champion it in our classrooms, our playgrounds and our communities so that every child, no matter their ability, has the chance to be an active member of society.”

The milestone graduation ceremony marked the second cohort of teachers and principals, hailing from 9 private and government schools in Dubai, to have successfully completed the six-month training course. The teacher training programme was established in partnership with Zayed University and supported by the Ministry of Education and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority.

The ceremony also celebrated four cohorts of parents to complete the Ta’alouf parents training programme, bringing the total number of graduated parents to 420 since inception in October 2013. The six-week course has been taught in both English and Arabic to participants from 29 different nationalities across the UAE. So far Al Jalila Foundation has invested more than AED 5 million in its Ta’alouf programme, which has benefited a huge cross-section of the special needs community, including families living with Autism, Down Syndrome and other developmental delays. It was the first time that the course was delivered in Abu Dhabi – following the expansion to Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah in the past – to accommodate a larger number of parents in the UAE.

Dr Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olama said “At Al Jalila Foundation, we are committed to delivering the most effective educational programme for carers of children with special needs. The number of participants who we have been able to reach has exceeded our expectations since the programme started in 2013. Learning is not just confined to the classroom and we are proud to have had the opportunity to empower these parents and teachers by providing them with life-changing skills to ensure a continuum of care between the child’s home and school.”

Ms Samar Abouhosn from Dubai International School in Al Garhoud and Ms Mervat Abdullah, whose young son suffers from cerebral palsy, gave heartfelt testimonials of their experience. Both parent and teacher praised Al Jalila Foundation for giving them the opportunity to attend the Ta’alouf training course and explained how it had enriched their understanding of special needs and international best practices.

Al Jalila Foundation aims to deliver the programme to 800 parents and their children by 2018.

For more information on Ta’alouf please visit www.aljalilafoundation.ae.

Al Jalila Foundation, a global philanthropic organisation dedicated to transforming lives through medical education and research, today announced that the Easa Saleh Al Gurg (ESAG) Charity Foundation has donated AED 10 million to support children with heart disease. The grant is an extension of the Dubai-based charity’s contributions to a number of humanitarian projects around the world, including healthcare programmes.

A’awen (‘support’ in Arabic) is Al Jalila Foundation’s medical treatment programme which works directly with healthcare partners in the UAE to offer financial aid to patients without access to quality healthcare.  To date Al Jalila Foundation has invested more than AED 15 million to sponsor specialised medical treatment for hundreds of patients in the UAE, including children suffering from a range of life-threatening illnesses.

Dr Abdulkareem Al Olama, Chief Executive Officer of Al Jalila Foundation, said “ESAG Charity Foundation is a long-term supporter of Al Jalila Foundation and has been instrumental in helping us realise our vision to transform lives through medical advancements. As we continue to champion life-changing improvements that benefit future generations, we are delighted to partner with ESAG Charity Foundation again to bring hope and opportunity to children with heart disease in the region.”

ESAG Charity Foundation was setup in 2010 by prominent philanthropist and business man, His Excellency Easa Saleh Al Gurg, and was declared one of the best charitable institutions by the Dubai Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD) for its significant aid to various causes both within the UAE, and around the world.

ESAG Charity Foundation was the first donor to pledge support to local medical research when Al Jalila Foundation was launched in 2013.

Mrs Maryam Easa Saleh Al Gurg, Vice Chairperson of ESAG Charity Foundation, confirmed that the foundation will continue its partnership with Al Jalila Foundation and will keep supporting its work in various medical fields, from medical research to treatment. “Our latest contribution has been in the treatment of children suffering from heart diseases whose family cannot afford to pay costly treatment expenses”, she stated noting that ESAG Charity Foundation focuses on providing medical treatment to disadvantaged families.

Al Jalila Foundation, a member of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, continues to invest in innovative healthcare programmes to position Dubai at the forefront of medical innovation. 100% of donations are invested in medical treatment, education and research to improve lives in the UAE and the region.

Al Jalila Foundation, a global philanthropic organisation dedicated to transforming lives through medical education and research, announced that for the fourth consecutive year the postgraduate medical scholarships program is open for application. AED 4 million has been allocated for the 2016/17 scholarships programme, which is open to all Emirati students who wish to pursue postgraduate studies in medical and health sciences in the United Arab Emirates.

Dr Abdulkareem Al Olama, CEO of Al Jalila Foundation, commented: “If we look at the global frontrunners in healthcare, what sets them apart are their investments in developing their human capital. We are pleased to once again extend financial support to aspiring Emirati healthcare professionals to help them specialise and further build the skills and credentials needed to contribute to the wellbeing of the nation. Not only will our scholarships help to develop capabilities, they will build capacity, continuity and sustainability in the UAE’s healthcare sector. Each stream of graduates will contribute to the country’s quality of healthcare – and, by extension, the quality of life.”

Since its inception Al Jalila Foundation has awarded 34 local scholarships for postgraduate medical studies including nursing, dentistry, public health, pharmacy, molecular biology and biotechnology, among others. Two of the first scholarship recipients funded by Al Jalila Foundation graduated in 2015 from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland – Dubai and two are expected to graduate in August 2016: one from Hamdan Bin Mohammed College of Dental Medicine at the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, and one from RAK Medical Health Sciences University.

Al Jalila Foundation has also awarded two international scholarships which includes a partnership with Harvard Medical School. Emirati Dr Dalia Al Nuaimi a graduate from the UAE University commences the Master of Medical Sciences degree in Global Health Delivery at Harvard Medical School in July 2016. The two-year postgraduate training program focuses on the ‘last mile’ of health care delivery and the optimization of treatment outcomes. The program includes a HMS-based curriculum followed by a 9-month mentored research project in the UAE.

The application deadline for Al Jalila Foundation postgraduate medical scholarships in the UAE for the 2016/17 academic year is 31 July 2016. Interested applicants can find more information and application guidelines by visiting www.aljalilafoundation.ae.

Al Jalila Foundation, a member of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, has partnered with The Carter Center to develop and implement a United Arab Emirates (UAE) Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism (RCJF). This program will be the first mental health fellowship program for journalists in the Middle East.

The announcement of this mental health program was made on Tuesday at a signing ceremony at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Academic Medical Center at Dubai Healthcare City. The signing was attended by Her Excellency Dr Raja Easa Al Gurg, Member of the Board of Trustees and Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Al Jalila Foundation; Dr Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olama, CEO of Al Jalila Foundation; Jason Carter, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, The Carter Center; Curtis Kohlhaas, Chief Development Officer, The Carter Center; and a number of leading healthcare and media representatives.

For nearly two decades, the Center has awarded one-year fellowships to 165 journalists to connect them with resources and experts to increase the quality and accuracy of mental health reporting around the world. The program is currently in the U.S. and Colombia and was previously in New Zealand, South Africa, and Romania. It is the first time that the program will be offered in the UAE and the Middle East.

Her Excellency Dr Raja Easa Al Gurg said: “Journalists have immense power to inform, educate and influence society. Their support is essential to raise awareness and create a dialogue about mental health in the region. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that people with mental illnesses are not marginalized and that they receive the required support to live happy productive lives.”

“Reporting by Rosalynn Carter fellows has contributed to more awareness and coverage of mental health issues and more balanced and accurate reporting in the participating countries,” said Jason Carter. “In partnership with Al Jalila Foundation, we are proud to extend the reach of this program to reduce stigma and discrimination against those with mental illnesses in the UAE.”

The Carter Center will provide trainings, educational materials, mentorship, evaluation tools, and technical assistance to develop a sustainable and tailored program in the UAE.

Al Jalila Foundation will manage the program and will be responsible for the selection of journalists, facilitating media trainings, adapting the program to meet the needs of the Emirates, and local evaluations.

Dr Abdulkareem Al Olama said: “It is a huge privilege to launch the mental health journalism program for the first time in the region and continue the incredible work that former US First Lady Rosalynn Carter has done to combat the stigma associated with mental illnesses.”

Since the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism were established in 1996, fellows have produced more than 1500 stories, documentaries, books, and other works during and after their fellowship year. Their projects have garnered Emmy Awards, nominations for the Pulitzer Prize, and other awards.

For more information on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism (RCJF) program please contact info@aljalilafoundation.ae.

Al Jalila Foundation, a global philanthropic organisation dedicated to transforming lives through medical education and research, today hosted the highly-anticipated third edition of Destination Medicine Summit, a student conference aimed at inspiring Emirati students to pursue careers in medicine. Following the success of the 2014 and 2015 edition, this year the event is being held over 3 days to accommodate 2000 students from schools across the UAE.

The opening ceremony was attended by over 670 students and a number of VIPs including HE Dr Raja Al Gurg, Member of the Board for Trustees and Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Al Jalila Foundation; HE Marwan Al Sawaleh, Assistant Undersecretary of Support Services, Ministry of Education; Dr Abdulla Al Karam, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General, Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA); Dr Abdulkareem Al Olama, CEO of Al Jalila Foundation; Professor Sehamuddin Galadari, CEO of Al Jalila Foundation Research Centre; Bader Hareb, CEO of Dubai Healthcare City; Members of the Board of Directors of Al Jalila Foundation and a number of leading healthcare professionals and representatives from the education and healthcare sectors. The VIP delegation toured the exhibition and workshops which featured more than 20 organisations showcasing a number of healthcare innovations.
In partnership with the Ministry of Education, Abu Dhabi Education Council, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, and Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), and Global Partner Enable Community Foundation, Destination Medicine Summit was held at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Academic Medical Centre at DHCC.

The children, dressed in lab coats and stethoscopes, participated in a series of interactive workshops including first aid and emergency response training, introduction to medical robotics, innovations for visually impaired individuals among others medical advancements. The exhibition featuring leading organisations such as Siemens, Johnson & Johnson, GE Healthcare and Unilever showcased a number of healthcare technologies and innovations.

For the first time in the UAE students were able to experience how the heart works from the inside out by stepping inside a giant human heart exhibit. With cardiovascular disease being the number one health challenge in the region, the interactive educational experience aimed to increase awareness of heart health and give the students a better understanding of the complexities of heart anatomy.

Speaking at the event were leading UAE physicians and medical pioneers Dr Manal Taryam, Consultant Ophthalmologist, Dubai Health Authority and Dr Alawi Alsheikh Ali, Consultant Cardiologist, Mohammed Bin Rashid University. Dr Manal is the CEO of Noor Dubai Foundation, the Dubai-based charity that has treated millions people worldwide who suffered from various forms of visual disabilities. Dr Alawi developed the Cardiac Arrhythmia Service at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) and under his leadership, SKMC became a leading referral center for arrhythmias and electrophysiology across the UAE.

The children were given a glimpse into the world of medicine through a series of activities and discussions with real life doctors, nurses, paramedics, surgeons, philanthropists, paramedics and volunteers in the humanitarian field. Medical students from the UAE University shared their challenges and rewards of studying medicine.

One of the summit highlights was a 3D printing workshop in partnership with US-philanthropy Enable Community Foundation. The World Health Organisation estimates that approximately 1 in 2000 births each year involve upper-limb reductions. 3D printing technology has provided a solution that is accessible and affordable. e-NABLE hands and arms are innovative, inexpensive, and child-friendly. For the first time in the region, students had the opportunity to assemble 3D printed prosthetic-like upper limb devices (hands and arms) that will be donated to children around the world as part of Al Jalila Foundation’s global movement that no child should live without a limb.

Her Excellency Dr Raja Easa Al Gurg, Chairperson of the Board of Directors and Member of the Board of Trustees of Al Jalila Foundation, said: “The summit aims to expose the students to the world of medicine and the rewards of working in the humanitarian field. Nothing would make us prouder than to see these students join one of our programs in the future – and become doctors, save lives and give back to their community. That is the essence of Destination Medicine Summit.”

Dr Abdulkareem Al Olama, Chief Executive Officer of Al Jalila Foundation, said “Al Jalila Foundation aims to develop a generation of home-grown medical professionals and Destination Medicine Summit is the perfect platform to connect aspiring young minds with leaders in healthcare. We have been impressed by the students’ enthusiasm and we hope that this experience will instill in them the spirit of medical discovery and innovation.”

Dr Jon Schull, President of Enable Community Foundation, said: “The jobs of tomorrow will not only require new skills, but new ways of thinking. Cultivating a new generation of connected humanitarians to address the challenges of our day is our mission, and we are proud to work directly with Al Jalila Foundation to help realise this shared vision of a better tomorrow by empowering children.”

The event was sponsored by Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor Foundation, Total E&P UAE, Abela & Co., Unilever Gulf FZE, Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA), Grand Millenium Hotel and Johnson & Johnson Middle East.

Al Jalila Foundation, a global healthcare philanthropic organisation founded to position the UAE at the forefront of medical innovation, has awarded AED 5 million in seed grants to 20 UAE-based medical researchers bringing the total investment to date to AED 9 million for 35 research projects. The seed grants focus on research in the field of cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, mental health and obesity, Al Jalila Foundation Research Centre’s five research priorities. Two Emirati graduates were also selected to pursue medical research fellowships at internationally renowned institutions.

Out of 55 applications submitted for the seed grants, 20 candidates, including 10 women, succeeded following a competitive two-stage international review process with experts from the world’s most renowned medical institutions including Harvard Medical School, University of Oxford, Imperial College, University of Queensland, INSERM, University of Auckland, University of Toronto, University of Glasgow, National University of Singapore and University of Stony Brook. The reviewers were handpicked as leaders in each specific field of research, in line with Al Jalila Foundation’s commitment to cultivating a medical research ecosystem built on international best practice.

Her Excellency Dr Raja Al Gurg, Member of the Board of Trustees 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. ”

Professor Sehamuddin Galadari, Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Cell Biology and Academic & Research Advisor of Al Jalila Foundation, said: “We are pleased to see an increased interest from our research and scientific community, particularly women. The successful recipients have been chosen following an independent competitive selection featuring international reviewers. It is our mission, as we progress with the development of the Al Jalila Foundation Research Centre, to bring local and international scientists together to conduct research in the UAE. Our ultimate goal is to elevate the quality of people’s lives through developing better treatments specific to our nation and the region. ”

Dr Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olama, CEO of Al Jalila Foundation, added: “Today’s grants further boost our ambitions to cultivate a productive medical research sector in the UAE. Advances in medical research are critical to the nation’s prosperity and this continues to drive our efforts to attract financial support from professionals, philanthropists and corporates in the UAE. Our mission is to inspire medical advancements that will benefit future generations and support our vision to be at the forefront of global medical innovation.”

The grants were awarded to scientists from medical institutions across the UAE including: Dubai Health Authority; Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai; Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi; University of Sharjah and New York University of Abu Dhabi.

The development of the Al Jalila Foundation Research Centre, the UAE’s first independent multi-disciplinary research centre, is on track for a 2017 opening. It will be a beacon for regionally-relevant medical innovation produced by home-grown biomedical researchers.

The 2016 research grant application cycle is open and interested applicants are requested to visit www.aljalilafoundation.ae.

For a summary of research projects and fellowships funded by Al Jalila Foundation please click here.