Dubai Health Authority (DHA) signed a MoU with the Council of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute) to help secure the future of cancer research and treatment in Dubai.
His Excellency Humaid Al Qutami, Chairman of the Board and Director General of DHA, and Prof. Frank Gannon, Director and CEO of QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, signed the MoU in the presence of Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Jackie Trad. The MoU was signed with the aim of establishing strong and collaborative research and training links in cancer diagnosis and treatment and in time could be extended to other diseases relevant to Dubai.
Al Qutami said the MoU was an important step as it cemented DHA’s relationship with one of the world’s leading research institutes, which will in turn support the authority’s drive to achieve a qualitative shift in medical research, clinical medicine and diagnostics, as well as professional development programmes, training and medical education. It will also aid in transferring knowledge and exchanging experiences between the two parties.
leading system
Prof. Gannon said the partnership would focus on clinical research and translation and participating in developing a world-leading healthcare system using precision medicine techniques developed by QIMR Berghofer. “Our researchers have been able to develop genome-based diagnostic approaches that have the potential to revolutionise the diagnosis, treatment and management of cancer.”
Under the agreement, the two parties will work together using new technologies such as the integrated Cancer Recurrence Score (iCRS) test developed by the head of QIMR Berghofer’s Personalised Medicine Team, Associate Prof. Fares Al Ejeh. The test calculates a risk score for cancer progression for patients to help inform decisions on treatment pathways.
“The partnership between QIMR Berghofer and DHA to accelerate precision medicine technologies designed by our scientists will see them fully integrated into the Dubai health system,” Prof. Gannon said.
“This agreement is incredibly valuable and provides unique opportunities for our researchers. By working together, we will progress this field of genomics and precision medicine more quickly and vastly improve the treatments currently available for devastating diseases such as cancer.” The MoU covers three years, during which more specific actions will be agreed upon.
