Abu Dhabi Establishes Major Life Sciences Research Partnerships in Artificial Intelligence, Preventive Health and Clinical Trials
The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi has signed landmark agreements with leading global organisations to advance AI-enabled drug discovery, wearable health technology research, and clinical trials, positioning the emirate as a priority destination for innovative life sciences research.
In the presence of His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes’ Affairs, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi has formalised strategic collaborations with Isomorphic Labs, WHOOP, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, and AstraZeneca, reflecting the emirate’s commitment to advancing cutting-edge biomedical research and innovation.
AI-Enabled Drug Discovery Framework
The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi and Isomorphic Labs have entered into an agreement to collaborate on artificial intelligence-enabled drug discovery research, with the collaboration announced at the Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit. Under this partnership, the organisations will develop a pre-clinical research roadmap for selected AI-enabled discovery projects over a 24-month period, with research conducted within Abu Dhabi’s Trusted Research Environment.
Isomorphic Labs has developed a world-leading drug design engine, the IsoDDE, comprising foundational artificial intelligence models engineered to provide the predictive accuracy required to navigate novel biological systems with unprecedented precision. His Excellency Mansoor Ibrahim Al Mansoori, Undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, observed that artificial intelligence is transforming both the velocity of medicine discovery and the precision with which disease can be targeted.
“Abu Dhabi has built that foundation,” he stated. “Through the Emirati Genome Programme and our connected health system, we are opening new possibilities for more precise, personalised treatments. Our collaboration with Isomorphic Labs brings together expertise in AI drug discovery and Abu Dhabi’s unique strengths to accelerate the development of treatments that can benefit patients here and globally.”
Max Jaderberg, President of Isomorphic Labs, emphasised the significance of the partnership, noting that the collaboration represents a critical advancement in AI-driven drug discovery and reflects a shared commitment to scientific innovation with the ultimate aim of accelerating medicine delivery to patients globally.
Wearable Technology and Preventive Health Research
The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi and WHOOP have announced a strategic research collaboration designed to explore the role of continuous health insights and coaching in preventive health, supporting Abu Dhabi’s transition from reactive illness management towards personalised prevention at scale.
The collaboration comprises a phased research programme focused on heart and metabolic health, exploring how wearable technology can enable individuals to understand their bodies more comprehensively and adopt a more informed, proactive approach to their wellbeing. WHOOP continuously monitors key health indicators including sleep, recovery, strain, stress, and cardiovascular health, offering context beyond isolated measurements.
The foundational study, extending across 24 months, will assess how continuous data alongside coaching from WHOOP can influence key health markers including weight, waist circumference, heart rate, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and sleep quality over six months for adults with obesity and elevated blood pressure. Subsequent studies will examine how wearable technology can reduce risk factors for heart and metabolic disease by supporting the behavioural modifications required alongside clinical treatment.
Will Ahmed, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of WHOOP, described the partnership as a landmark collaboration, noting that hundreds of thousands of citizens and residents have come to trust WHOOP for health and performance support since the organisation began operations in the UAE in 2016.
Global Clinical Trial Network Expansion
The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, and AstraZeneca have established a new collaboration positioning Abu Dhabi as a priority location within AstraZeneca’s global clinical trial network. The collaboration will explore the feasibility of conducting up to 30 clinical trials in Abu Dhabi by 2030 across AstraZeneca’s biopharmaceutical portfolio, with particular emphasis on cardiovascular, renal and metabolic diseases, which represent leading causes of mortality in the UAE.
The collaboration could deliver an estimated AED180 million (US$50 million) investment into life sciences research in Abu Dhabi by 2030. The first six trials are expected to commence at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi by the end of 2026. Dr Georges-Pascal Haber, Chief Executive Officer of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, observed that combining clinical expertise, departmental infrastructure, and global research capabilities will accelerate clinical research, expand access to innovative treatments, and generate evidence that improves patient outcomes.
These partnerships collectively reflect Abu Dhabi’s intelligent life sciences strategy, which connects population-scale genomic and health data, research infrastructure, and enabling regulatory pathways to accelerate the development of new medicines within the emirate whilst addressing the historical underrepresentation of regional populations in pharmaceutical research and clinical trials.
Source: Abu Dhabi Media Office