Dubai Biotechnology and Research Park (DuBiotech), a member of TECOM Investments and the major Life Sciences hub in the Middle East today announced that the UAE Genetics Diseases Association (UAEGDA) will establish its research and distinguished facilities at The Nucleotide Lab Complex in DuBiotech Park.
The new UAEGDA centre will aim to support the setting up of a DNA laboratory at DuBiotech, in collaboration with Professor Yukio Hattori and his team from Yamaguchi University of Japan, which will serve as a reference DNA Laboratory, providing confirmatory tests of ongoing National Projects. In addition, the new facilities will provide research opportunities for Emirati Students through Ph.D programs and training platforms for students of Health Sciences from Zayed University and Higher Colleges of Technology. The facilities will also be utilized to conduct conferences and workshops in molecular biology in the UAE
Marwan Abdulaziz, Director of DuBiotech Park, said: “UAEGDA strongly represents the region’s science and technology expertise that is poised to dramatically improve human health care in the years to come. For DuBiotech, this is a vital step in developing and expanding services that will eventually support a range of collaborations between genetic service providers and those in related sciences.
“We are delighted to welcome UAEGDA to our cluster, joining more than 55 companies that have already signed up with DuBiotech to establish their presence at the park.”
UAEGDA was established with main aim to control and prevent population-specific genetic disorders prevalent in the UAE. The first project of the UAEGDA (Emirates free of Thalassemia by the year 2012 Project) is aimed at identifying the carriers of common inherited blood disorders including those with Sickle cell and Beta-Thalassemia with an aim to prevent new births of children affected with the Thalassemia disease by the year 2012. Other projects to identify and minimize the impact of genetic diseases in the UAE are underway and collaboration on such issues with DuBiotech will further raise public awareness in relation to medical, social and financial impacts of common inherited genetic disorders.
H.E. Dr. Maryam Matar, the Executive Director of UAEGDA, said: “DuBiotech provides an ideal location for UAEGDA to establish its operations, offering a winning combination of accessibility, practicality and expandability. The services offered by the region’s leading life sciences park will significantly augment our research capabilities, contributing to achieving our objectives of minimizing hereditary medical conditions.”
Research and development as well as pharmaceutical companies are expected to be the key beneficiaries of the advanced technical and community infrastructure at DuBiotech that is poised to accelerate the growth of the life sciences industry in the Middle East.
The initiative aims to create new job opportunities for Emirati researchers; extending diagnostic service facility on request from the Government sector and to be utilized as a platform for molecular biology projects funded by other designated organizations.
DuBiotech currently hosts some of the world's best known pharmaceutical companies including Amgen, Aspen Healthcare, Merck Serono, and Pfizer. Such top-tier brands and the regional expertise will help the life sciences park establish itself as a centre of excellence for collaborations, and for the training and development of local talent in the scientific field.
By the end of this year, DuBiotech is expected to host nearly 70 companies and boast over 225,000 sq feet of research space in the laboratories and 450,000 sq ft of office space in the commercial area.