Dubai’s New Research Center Aims to Prevent Next Pandemic

Dubai's New Research Center Aims to Prevent Next Pandemic

At a time when the world is still battling with a virus that has already infected over 20 million people and claimed over 700,000 lives all over the world, Dubai’s Mohammed Bin Rashid Medical Research Institute has been opened at a time when extensive medical research has become a crucial, urgent need.

As the WHO calls for a unified response to fight the virus and prevent potential outbreaks in the future, the emirate’s government said in a statement on Tuesday (August 11) as it announced the center’s opening.

Dubai's New Research Center Aims to Prevent Next Pandemic

Dubai Gov’t Invests in New Medical Research Facility which aims to Prevent the Next Pandemic

Stressing the importance of medical research in the country’s development, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, inaugurated the institute.

“Scientific research has been the main approach of scientists and researchers for many centuries in our region and is key to building a stable and prosperous future,” Sheikh Mohammed said.

He further noted that as researchers work round the clock – finding ways to contain Covid-19 and cushion its impact on people, the new center aims to create an ‘integrated health map’ and provide the world with sound, specialized medical research.

Funding the latest technologies and research projects, the Center aims not only to address the Covid-19 pandemic – but also to prevent similar devastating outbreaks in the years to come.

“The institute will boost medical innovation, accelerate the use of artificial intelligence to monitor new diseases, and develop proactive plans to contain outbreaks,” the authorities explained.

By creating an integrated medical database using big data analysis, the center will support global efforts to find treatments and vaccines for communicable diseases.

Developing Future Researchers and Innovators

Aside from ramping up efforts to address today’s pandemic situation, the Center also aims to encourage young researchers to pursue medical and scientific research and motivate institutions to support research as part of efforts to advance healthcare systems in the Arab world. 

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the Al Jalila Foundation, said, “With all these goals and innovations, the facility – located at Al Jalila Foundation – shall reshape and advance the country’s healthcare sector.”

“The Mohammed Bin Rashid Medical Research Institute will help boost medical innovation and empower the next generation of professional researchers in different biomedical fields,” he added.

“Crystals of Hope,” A tribute to Sheikh Mohammed

During the inauguration of the emirate’s new medical research facility, a crystal installation patterned after the profile of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has been unveiled.

The installation called Crystals of Hope pays tribute to Sheikh Mohammed’s role in supporting innovation and research and elevating the country’s healthcare sector. It also features the names of the 25 donors who have invested in the advancement of the country’s medical research.

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Medical Research Institute in Dubai aims to:

  • provide the global research community with sound, specialized medical research
  • monitor new diseases by using artificial intelligence
  • develop proactive plans to prevent future outbreaks
  • maximize big data to help find treatments and vaccines
  • provide a platform for researchers to exchange knowledge and expertise
  • develop the next generation of innovators in health sciences; and
  • forge local and global partnerships with research institutions 

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