SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
The UAE has sequenced more than 900,000 Emirati genomes, generating data that can shift healthcare from treating disease to predicting and preventing it. One fellow from the National Experts Programme (NEP) Cohort 4.0 has made it his mission to turn those genomic insights into everyday improvements in patient care.
"My goal is to help bridge the gap between scientific research and real-world healthcare so that advances in genomics translate into better outcomes for patients," Dr Mohamed AlAmeri, Director of the Genome and Biobank Division at the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, told Aletihad.
Representing the health and well-being sector as a fellow from NEP 4.0, he is leading the development and implementation of the national genome strategy and overseeing initiatives including the Emirati Genome Programme and the Abu Dhabi Biobank.
Genomics, he said, is ushering in an era where healthcare can anticipate disease before symptoms appear.
"It is helping us build a healthcare system that is smarter, more preventive, and more centered around each individual," Dr AlAmeri said. In practical terms, that means earlier intervention, more personalised care, and, ultimately, better health outcomes.
It also means doctors can select screenings, medications and therapies tailored to each patient's characteristics, instead of relying on a one-size-fits-all approach, Dr AlAmeri explained.
That kind of precise, personalised healthcare, he noted, can only become reality "if we have access to high-quality data that reflects the people we're trying to care for."
And this is where the Emirati Genome Programme comes in.
"With genetic data from more than 900,000 Emiratis, covering the majority of the national citizen population, the UAE has built an extraordinary foundation for precision medicine," Dr AlAmeri said.
"The real impact is at the point of care," he added.
Clinicians now have a wealth of data to work with to diagnose conditions earlier, better understand inherited diseases, and personalise treatments using genetic characteristics specific to the Emirati population.
In preventive healthcare, genomics shall strengthen initiatives such as premarital genetic screening, pharmacogenomic reports for citizens, breast and ovarian cancer screening for Emirati women, and future applications - including HLA typing for transplant and transfusion matching, Dr AlAmeri said.
"At a national level, genomic insights are helping shape more targeted, evidence-based health policies to address conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer."
Dr AlAmeri sees the Emirati Reference Genome "as an investment that will continue delivering value for generations to come."
Beyond healthcare, all these data can strengthen the UAE's role in global research and innovation.
"These initiatives position the UAE as an attractive partner for international research collaborations and clinical innovation, creating opportunities that extend well beyond our borders," Dr AlAmeri said.
He also highlighted cross-sector collaboration, greater genomics awareness, and the responsible use of genomic data as key priorities going forward.
Pointing to the national initiatives, partnerships, and innovation in the sector, Dr AlAmeri highlighted that in the UAE, genomics is being treated as a strategic priority rather than an isolated research effort.
"Ultimately, I want to play a role in helping the UAE build a healthcare ecosystem that is innovative, resilient, and prepared for the future," he said.