At Al Jalila Foundation we know that research has the power to advance medical breakthroughs that could save millions of lives and change the fabric of science as we know it. We also know that this goal will not be achieved alone and believe in the power and strength of our partnerships. M...
Globally, diabetes is estimated to affect 420 million adults. Studies show that the prevalence of diabetes in the UAE is estimated to affect a quarter of the local population. Hematological (blood) disorders that occur in diabetes patients are found to put them at a higher risk for deve...
According to the World Health Organization, cancer is the second leading cause of death globally with about 1 in 6 deaths due to cancer. The main reason why it is so lethal is that cancer cells spread from their primary growth site to different body organs, a process known as metastasis. T...
Al Jalila Foundation is committed to be a leader in medical research and in our mission to discover innovative solutions to address the medical challenges of the future we engage with the greatest minds in the UAE. Professor Salah Gariballa, from UAE University, is one scientific leader wh...
In the UAE, there are nearly 756,000 people diagnosed with diabetes and reports suggest that about 300,000 are undiagnosed. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major complication of diabetes and can lead to vision loss if untreated. Innovative and comprehensive approaches are urgently needed to...
Liver cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and the sixth most prevalent cancer in the GCC countries. A survey by the Health Authority of Abu Dhabi reported liver cancer as the tenth most common cancer in the UAE and one of the top five leading causes of death in mal...
COVID-19 has disrupted the world, produced chaos and posed a significant threat to global health. Since the first outbreak, several treatments have been developed to prevent the spread of this virus with many vaccines approved and extensively administered. However, the fact that SARS-CoV-2...
In the UAE, breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women and constitutes around 40% of all female cancers. In addition to the rising incidence, another cause for concern is the advanced stage at presentation with the majority of women in the UAE diagnosed under the age of 40 wit...
Liver cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide and incidence is increasing dramatically in the Gulf region. As treatment options are limited Al Jalila Foundation awarded a research grant to Dr Kirsten Sadler Edepli from New York University Abu Dhabi who is looking at targeting...
Smoking is the number one risk factor for lung cancer and tobacco smokers are at 20 to 40 times higher risk of developing lung cancer in comparison to non-smokers. With a research grant from Al Jalila Foundation, Dr Rania Zaarour from Gulf Medical University Ajman, is studying the effec...
With the world now reaching over 300 million confirmed cases since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic the urgency to find a cure is ever present. Al Jalila Foundation is dedicated to supporting the global fight against COVID-19 and has invested in several vital research studie...
The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified obesity as one of the top five mortality risks globally and is targeted for priority action as it is responsible for 5% of deaths associated with non-communicable diseases. In high-income countries more than 50% of adults are overweight...
Approximately one in five women develop gestational diabetes mellitus during pregnancy, which has serious complications for both baby and mother, but fortunately reverses after delivery. Women with this condition are at seven-fold higher risk of developing adult diabetes within 7-10 yea...
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women affecting 1 in 8 women and studies show the average age of diagnosis in the UAE is 10 years younger than elsewhere in the world. In efforts to fight breast cancer, Al Jalila Foundation invested in an important study with Dr Farah Benye...
Tobacco use is one of the leading causes of non-infectious disease deaths worldwide. Globally, and in the Middle East, cigarette smoking and alternative forms of tobacco smoking such as shisha and dokha has attracted serious public health concern. Professor Sausan Al Kawas from Universi...
According to the World Heart Federation over 17 million people die from cardiovascular disease annually making it the leading causes of death globally. It is also the primary cause of death in the UAE contributing to 30% of fatalities. To tackle this problem, Al Jalila Foundation funds ...
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and by funding breast cancer research, Al Jalila Foundation is enabling UAE-based scientist Dr Mawieh Hamad from University of Sharjah to ‘evaluate the anti-carcinogenic potential of biologically-driven intracellular iron depletion’ a...
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cancer and the second highest cause of cancer deaths in the UAE. To tackle the issue, Al Jalila Foundation awarded a research grant to Dr Maha Saber-Ayad, a medical Pharmacologist from the College of Medicine at University of Sharjah, to...
According to the World Health Organization epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases affecting people of all ages globally. It is estimated that up to 70% of people living with epilepsy could live seizure-free if properly diagnosed and treated. Al Jalila Foundation resear...
According to the World Health Organization an estimated one in 160 children worldwide has an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Based on these statistics, there is a need to better understand the unique genetic causes of Autism as well as the pattern of treatment sought by parents of child...
With an increasing global population and greater life expectancy, the diagnosis of neurological disorders, like Parkinson's disease is on the rise. Al Jalila Foundation awarded a research grant to renowned scientist Dr M Emdadul Haque from UAE University to study ‘Parkin in cancer and...
According to the World Health Organization, cancer is the second leading cause of death globally with about 1 in 6 deaths due to cancer. Each year, approximately 300,000 children alone are diagnosed with cancer. However, there is hope, as with access to quality treatment, more than 80% of ...
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a growing health concern around the world and is estimated that it impacts 1 in every 58 children globally. Research indicates that the disease manifests very early in development which requires early diagnosis and intervention. Dr Mohammed Uddin from M...
Despite the high prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the UAE, approximately 1 in 5 of the population suffers from the disease, epidemiological data about diabetes incidence and subgroups in the UAE in general, and particularly the Northern Emirates (Sharjah/Ajman), is very limited. Al Jali...
According to the World Health Organization depression, a mental disorder accompanied by low self-esteem, loss of interest and low energy, continues to be on the rise globally. Unfortunately, current treatment methods are only effective on 50% of patients and even for those who do respon...
Cardiovascular disease continues to be the leading cause of death and disability in the world today. According to the World Heart Federation 17.5 million people globally die every year from cardiovascular disease and studies have identified it is a one of the primary reasons of death in th...
Data shows that 1 in 5 people in the UAE has diabetes making it one of the most pressing healthcare challenges today. Fasting as part of religious practice is keenly observed in the region and many people with diabetes fast throughout Ramadan with no negative impact on their health while s...
UAE breast cancer statistics emphasise the need for local research as it is the most common cancer affecting women with incidences steadily increasing and constituting 38% of all female cancers in the country. Al Jalila Foundation research grant recipient, Dr Ghaleb Husseini from Americ...
During these uncertain times, mental health support has never been more vital and Al Jalila Foundation is proud to be at the forefront of pioneering research in the UAE by supporting scientists addressing the issue. Al Jalila Foundation research grant recipient, Professor Leontios Ha...
Dr Habiba Alsafar, a two-time Al Jalila Foundation research grant recipient, was a curious youngster who dreamed of becoming a scientist. Encouraged by her parents, she pursued her scientific aspirations gaining her PhD in Forensics and Medical Sciences and fulfilled her dream to ‘build ...
According to World Health Organization depression affects 350 million people worldwide and is a leading cause of disability, affecting more women than men. In the Arab world, it is estimated that 17.7 percent of the population suffers from depression. With these alarming statistics, men...
As the UAE looks toward the next 50 years we are inspired by the great strides we are taking in medical innovation and the advancement of science. It is hard to believe that less than a century ago, we did not have cures for diseases like tuberculosis and polio. ...
We are immensely grateful to our Founder, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for championing innovation and research, and for establishing Al Jalila Foundation. Research provides a gateway to discovering ...
Worldwide, lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer mortality in both men and women and in the UAE it is ranked the second deadliest disease among UAE nationals. Al Jalila Foundation research grant recipient, Dr Saba Al Heialy, Assistant Professor of Immunology at Mohammed Bin Rashid Un...
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 4.8 million people in the UAE suffer from obesity. These numbers underscore the need for long-term funding into scientific research to develop discoveries in the field of obesity. Al Jalila Foundation research grant recipient, ...
Dr Bashair Mussa from University of Sharjah (College of Medicine) is a cutting-edge researcher leading a study, with the support of Al Jalila Foundation seed grant, investigating the role of FOS and BECLIN1-inducing autophagy in pathogenesis of hypoglycemia-associated autonomic failure (HA...
Celebrated scientist and Al Jalila Foundation research grant recipient, Professor Rabah Iratni from United Arab Emirates University, is studying a naturally occurring polyphenol, carnosol, and its effect on breast cancer. Breast cancer ranks as the leading cause of cancer death in women...
According to the World Health Organization cancer is the second leading cause of death globally and researches around the world continue to search for a cure. Al Jalila Foundation research grant recipient, Professor Amr Amin from United Arab Emirates University, has been conducting a study...
According to the World Health Organisation, cardiovascular diseases are the number one cause of death globally and it is estimated that 30% of fatalities in the UAE are attributed to cardiovascular disease. While improvements in lifestyle can support successful treatment there is much rese...
