His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, witnessed this Wednesday morning, in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Complex, the launch of the global series “Sharjah Station of the Future: Healthcare” forum, which begins its first edition with a main theme on innovation in healthcare, at the complex’s headquarters.
The ceremony began with the national anthem of the United Arab Emirates. His Highness and the audience then watched a film that dealt with the emergence of the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Complex and its efforts to generate and incubate ideas, exploit them, work on them to apply them on the ground, and reflect ideas to serve society in an innovative way.
Hussein Al Mahmoudi, Executive Director of the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park, then delivered a speech in which he welcomed His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah and the attendees, stressing that this event does not represent just a scientific meeting or a platform for dialogue, but rather an explicit declaration of the Emirate of Sharjah’s permanent commitment to serving humanity, its health and well-being, and consolidating its position as a global center for science, innovation and knowledge.
Al Mahmoudi pointed out that the establishment of the complex was aimed at making Sharjah an incubator for science, a beacon of research, and a bridge between knowledge and application. He revealed that today the complex has become home to more than 10,000 innovative companies, directing their compass towards many fields, including innovation in the field of health care. He added, “Sharjah has believed since the dawn of its renaissance that civilization is not only about material structure, but about the transcendence of man and the prosperity of his thought and health.” //
The Executive Director of the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Complex spoke about strategic partnerships in the healthcare system, mentioning the most prominent partnerships with the Sharjah Health Authority, which has built bridges between scientific research and clinical application, and the Emirates Health Services Corporation to develop joint frameworks for disseminating innovative solutions at the level of the healthcare system in the country, in addition to cooperation with the Bee’ah Group and working on cohesion between environmental sustainability and public health, so that our clean environment becomes a pillar of sustainable health. On the external level, the complex’s partnerships with Many international companies add a high scientific and technical dimension to the innovation environment in the complex and work to accelerate the development of modern diagnostics and treatments.
Al Mahmoudi announced that the complex has signed a cooperation agreement with the Aster Healthcare Group, one of the most prominent medical institutions in the region, which will open new horizons for researchers and innovators, and will provide real bridges between the laboratory and the patient, and between idea and application. A number of memorandums of understanding will also be signed that will allow specialists in Sharjah free access to pre-clinical molecules to conduct tests, in addition to opportunities to apply for funding and research grants through the platform. The Executive Director of the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park confirmed that through this event, they will work to shape the future of health innovation in Sharjah through joint work to innovate smart systems that redefine health care in the region and the world, with the participation of an elite group of scientists, doctors, technology pioneers and investors.
Al Mahmoudi concluded his speech by calling on all researchers, doctors, investors and entrepreneurs to be partners in the process of building a future in which Sharjah is a global beacon for medical innovation and scientific excellence, contributing to enhancing human health, and building a brighter tomorrow for future generations.
Dr. Asma Fikri, Director of the Department of Government and Institutional Partnerships at the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park, gave a visual presentation in which she talked about innovation in the health system and its future impact on life and diagnostic systems, expressing her pride in the Universities of Sharjah and the American University of Sharjah, which have published more than 2,000 publications in the field of health care, stressing that these efforts reflect the great competitiveness of the Emirate of Sharjah to reach global leadership in various fields.
His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah witnessed a dialogue session in which Dr. Magdi Yacoub, world-class cardiothoracic surgeon and director of the Magdi Yacoub Heart Research Institute in the United Kingdom, Dr. Humaid Obaid Al Shamsi, CEO of the Burjeel Oncology Institute, and Dr. Vladimir Ivkovic, director of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, spoke.
Dr. Magdy Yacoub pointed out that there are common factors between heart diseases and tumors, stressing their relentless pursuit of finding solutions through the development of innovative medical methods, which contributes to alleviating human suffering and deaths around the world, revealing that 80% of the impact of these diseases is a burden on developing countries, which delays the arrival of health care to those in need around the world.
Yaqoub discussed the recent achievements that have been achieved in the field of heart transplantation, pointing out that they were imaginative ideas 100 years ago, while they have become one of the solutions today and are still developing with the development of technologies and devices. He spoke about the most prominent success stories achieved by heart, valve and tissue transplantation operations and their contributions to preserving people’s health and keeping them alive for a longer period.
Dr. Humaid Al Shamsi spoke about the growth of medicine in the region and the world, addressing the challenges they face in the health sector, and their efforts to educate society through awareness-raising publications and media materials on social media platforms, in addition to clinical trials that demonstrate the country’s leadership in the health field and the many achievements that have been achieved due to interest in developing research and discovering treatments for various diseases.
Al Shamsi touched on the achievements in the field of oncology and the development of treatment methods over the past, explaining that treatment currently begins with diagnosing cases and determining the type of cancerous tumor and then developing the appropriate treatment program, stressing the importance of conducting early examinations to detect cancer and following preventive programs, especially with the development of modern technologies and the introduction of innovation and artificial intelligence in this field, which contributes to raising the cure rate.
For his part, Dr. Vladimir Ivkovic praised the innovations that have occurred in the field of space medicine and its development according to the diverse environments and difficult circumstances, noting that the International Space Station monitors the health of astronauts to obtain results about the impact of space on human health.
Ivkovic revealed some smart applications that are used to monitor the brain and head movement and protect it from cerebral trauma, in addition to monitoring blood movement in the body and nervous and mental functions in order to preserve the safety of astronauts and find the best ways to adapt to the difficult environment in space.
His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah also attended the second dialogue session, in which Khaled Al Huraimel, CEO of Bee’ah Group, and Dr. Abdulaziz Al Muhairi, Chairman of the Sharjah Health Authority, spoke.
Khaled Al Huraimel revealed the reasons for Bee’ah Group’s entry into the healthcare sector, pointing out that since its launch 17 years ago, the group’s goal has been to work to provide quality of life using modern and environmentally friendly technologies, confirming the group’s current presence among the largest institutions in the region in terms of waste recycling, in addition to exporting these capabilities to different countries.
Al Huraimel touched on the various partnerships concluded by the group. In the health sector, Bee’ah signed agreements with the Ministry of Health and established the “Weqaya” project to treat medical waste. Work is underway on the Boston Jawaher Health Neighborhood project, which will be a milestone in the field of health care and attract health talents to the Emirate of Sharjah.
Dr. Abdulaziz Al Muhairi spoke about the efforts of health institutions in the country, whether at the federal or local level, and their constant cooperation to strengthen health policies and provide a strong health system that works to serve patients in the country, referring to the accreditation of the city of Sharjah as a healthy city by the World Health Organization and its adherence to international health conditions and standards.
Al Muhairi pointed out the necessity of working to empower the private sector by developing legislation that supports the health care sector to provide the best services that benefit everyone. He stressed the existence of training programs that enhance the skills of medical personnel in the emirate by sending trainees to major health facilities in the world, gaining knowledge, and returning to work in the Emirate of Sharjah.
His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah honored the guests, partners and supporters, wishing them success in developing and enhancing work in the health sector for the benefit of patients around the world.
On the sidelines of the forum, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah was briefed on the plan for the Boston Jawaher Medical District and the hospital, centers, institutes and laboratories it will include that will provide health care with the best methods and standards that focus mainly on patient care and providing all of his needs, which is reflected in the level of therapeutic methods.
His Highness listened to an explanation about the project and its contribution to the field of medical studies and research in general and to cancer diseases in particular by benefiting from international expertise specialized in treating cancer diseases and other scientific and research institutes in the Emirate of Sharjah and elsewhere.
His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah kindly signed a copy of the international magazine “Nature”, which issued an exclusive edition to highlight the first research report entitled “Sharjah Next: Healthcare”, which provides an accurate analytical vision of Sharjah’s current position and its future prospects in the field of health research.
The results of the report showed a remarkable development and growth of research in the field of neuroscience by 25% annually during the past four years, and approximately 20% of Sharjah’s research is in the fields of neurology and heart, and has achieved more than 10% of the most cited research globally.
The forum’s program over the next two days will address specific topics, from artificial intelligence in neurodiagnostics, to precision medicine in treating heart diseases, to genes and digital therapeutics, reflecting the integration between science, innovation, and humans.
The “Sharjah Station of the Future: Healthcare” edition comes as a high-level platform to discuss the latest innovations and technologies in the medical sector, with wide participation from academics, startups and industrial institutions. The sessions address research and development in the fields of human biology, advanced biotechnology, artificial intelligence in health diagnosis, and digital transformation in medicine, in addition to discussing the ethical aspects accompanying modern medical developments.
The ceremony was attended, alongside their Highnesses, by: Sheikh Dr. Salem bin Abdul Rahman Al Qasimi, Head of the Office of His Highness the Ruler, Sheikh Khalid bin Issam Al Qasimi, Head of the Department of Civil Aviation, Sheikh Mohammed bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Head of the Department of Statistics and Community Development, and a number of senior officials, representatives of the health sector, and participants in the forum.
