Dubai to open UAE’s first robotic biobank in 2023

Al Jalila Foundation, a member of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, announced that it will establish the UAE’s first robotic biobank in partnership with the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) and the Dubai Health Authority (DHA).

A biobank is a place to store all types of human biological samples, such as blood, tissue, cells, or body fluids. It also stores data related to the samples and other biomolecular resources that can be used in health research.

Medical research in genetic abnormalities, cancer, and other chronic illnesses and pandemics will benefit from the partnership.

.@aljalilauae to establish the #UAE’s first robotic biobank, in partnership with @MBRUniversity and @DHA_Dubai, to advance medical research in the areas of genetic disorders, cancer &other chronic diseases and pandemics. #Dubai https://t.co/Zb8iOGpCIf pic.twitter.com/vMvr6PnvlA

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) April 28, 2022

Al Jalila Foundation is investing Dhs17m in building the facility and will manage seven million human biological materials. An automated, robotic, artificial intelligence-based system will ensure biological samples are secured in cryogenic storage (below 80 degrees Celsius), maintaining proper sample integrity and retrieval.

The biobank, which is expected to launch in 2023 with room for seven million specimens, will be one of the world’s largest in terms of sample capacity, a statement said.

The hospital will be housed in Dubai Healthcare City at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Medical Research Institute, part of the Al Jalila Foundation.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the chairperson of the Al Jalila Foundation Board of Trustees, said, “Access to genetic and imaging data through biobanks is driving forward pioneering approaches to analysis that would have been impossible just a few years ago. The biobank will serve as a major contributor to the advancement of modern medicine and will enable scientific discoveries that will help enhance the health and wellbeing of the community.”

.@HHAhmedBinSaeed, Chairperson of @aljalilauae Board of Trustees: The launch of the #UAE’s first robotic biobank reflects #Dubai’s commitment to strengthening the capabilities of the healthcare sector and advancing efforts to improve people’s health. pic.twitter.com/14mmhHo0Na

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) April 28, 2022

Dr Raja Easa Al Gurg, the chairperson of the Al Jalila Foundation Board of Directors and member of the Board of Trustees, added, “The biobank will provide an opportunity for people in the community and researchers to work together to build a better, healthier future for generations to come. Scientific progress will shape the nation’s economy by influencing our knowledge about human health, disease, therapeutics, personalised medicine, and more.”

Dr Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olama, CEO of Al Jalila Foundation, said, “Biorepositories are places where you can store patient samples and really serve as a hub of collaboration between scientists for doing either population health studies, or looking at cohorts of patients who have specific diseases and trying to find better therapeutics and diagnostics to treat patients and save lives.”

Meanwhile, patient confidentiality will be a priority in line with UAE’s laws and regulations. In addition, the biological and medical data will be used by scientists for research to make discoveries about common and life-threatening diseases such as cancer, heart disease and stroke in order.

The biobank also aims to attract strategic collaboration opportunities with key healthcare authorities and partners across the region and globally. The collaborations will support pioneering biomedical research and accelerate medical discoveries to transform patients’ lives.

It will operate in the best practices in biobanking and adhere to the highest compliance regulations and ethical standards for collecting, processing, storing, and analysing biological samples and data.

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