Dubai: Al Jalila Foundation (AJF) completed two years. In this short period, the foundation has worked hard to wipe tears, bring smiles and light up the lives of many by providing financial assistance for medical treatment that was beyond the means of these people.
In an exclusive interview with Gulf News, Dr Abdul Kareem Sultan Al Olama, CEO of the Foundation, talks about the vision of the foundation and its future plans. It is set to open a Dh200-million research facility and has been extending seed grants to young researchers to further the course of scientific education.
The Foundation encourages donations from individuals and groups. A recent initiative, Omniyat Dania, was funded by Dubai residents Dana Al Askari and Hasan Alami, parents of 15-year old girl Dania who lost her life to a rare form of cancer.
Setting up a tradition of scientific peer backed research
For any kind of serious research, what is required is state-of -the-art laboratories backed by a distinguished faculty of eminent researchers guiding a generation of research students into serious research that may have to be backed with clinical trials, Dr Olama explained: “We have a funding arm to help conduct top research and establish an independent scientific research centre. This is challenging as people want immediate results. We are looking to nurture a spirit of scientific enquiry and are dedicated to raising funds for research.”
The Foundation has identified top five non-communicable diseases in the UAE that are a cause for concern and fatalities. These are cancer, obesity, diabetes, mental health and cardiovascular disease (CVD). At the momen, the foundation’s research programmes are directed to these five areas.
Dr Al Olama added: “The Al Jalila Research Facility will be ready by the end of 2016. Each floor will house several laboratories and research sections. We are looking to have international collaborations with reputed universities on international research projects. Whatever funds we raise, 30 per cent will be allocated for research. We recently organised the Majlis Al Ata (giving pledge) where we were able to raise Dh40 million in one day. We organised the Seven Emirates Run and will have the Vertical Marathon this week to raise more funds. Since we are dedicated to research in health care, we like to associate ourselves with sports-themed fundraising. In addition to this, we invite corporate fundings and have had successful collaboration with organisations such as Union Cooperative, Emaar, Dubai Holding, Index Holding and so on.”
Funding education for national researchers
For the blossoming of sustainable health care in any country, a committed national workforce is a prerequisite, Dr Al Olama notes. “Sensitive to this requirement, AJF has allocated grants for awarding research fellowships to medical students and also to provide scholarships for the new batch of national students wishing to take up medical studies. In 2014, we gave a total seed grant of Dh4 million to research students. Out of the 54 students who applied, 14 were selected after a strict screening procedure that involved getting their project ideas whetted by an international body of researchers. We are in touch with these students and get continuous feedback on any milestones they may have achieved and will review their project to see if they require an additional grant for the next year. Besides that, we have already started a fresh cycle of seed grants for the next batch of deserving students. We want to encourage the bright minds in the country.”
The Foundation has also initiated a fellowship in research where they send their senior research students to well-known research institutes around the world. “At present, Dr Shehab Ansari is doing cancer research on an AJF Fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio and he will return to use those protocols here,” Dr Al Olama informed.
Dr Al Olama reiterated that the goal for this year at the Foundation is to focus on setting up the research centre with an endowment of Dh200 million and continue to foster the spirit of innovative medical research and enquiry.
“I want to thank His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice- President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for his spectacular vision in creating this Foundation. The board of trustees and all the working members of Al Jalila Foundation sincerely and passionately believe in its ideals and are committed to fulfilling these.”
