SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Studies funded by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS), showcasing advances in artificial intelligence, genetics, wearable technologies and rehabilitation aimed at improving care for people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) in the UAE, were highlighted at the Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit, which concluded on Thursday.
Speaking to Aletihad, researchers and healthcare experts discussed how these innovations could support earlier detection, better monitoring and more personalised treatment.
Yasmin Mitwally, Research and Advocacy Manager at the NMSS, highlighted the organisation's efforts to support locally relevant research and strengthen collaboration between scientists, healthcare professionals and people living with MS.
“Research matters when it helps us find answers to the questions that affect people living with MS and their everyday lives,” she said.
Mitwally explained that NMSS has seen growing interest from UAE researchers across four funding cycles, with studies exploring genetics, wearable monitoring and rehabilitation.
“Ultimately, we want to support research that builds evidence, informs better care and makes a meaningful difference over time,” she added.
Studying MS in Families
Among the projects, Dr Halima Al Naqbi, Assistant Professor in Department of Biomedical Engineering and Biotechnology at Khalifa University, highlighted a study examining why MS affects multiple members of some families and how inherited and other biological factors may influence the condition.
“When MS appears in more than one member of a family, it raises questions that research built on other populations cannot fully answer,” she said.
The study, conducted in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Centre and Yas Clinic, is recruiting people living with MS and their close family members to better understand the disease among UAE residents.
“By exploring these connections we hope to uncover missing links in our understanding of MS that could contribute to new insights well beyond the UAE and the region,” she added.
Wearable Monitoring Technology
Dr Charalampos Pitsalidis, Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics at Khalifa University, introduced SENSE-MS, a wearable monitoring technology designed to track changes in movement that may indicate changes in a patient’s condition.
“Through SENSE-MS, funded by NMSS, we have developed a sensing device for integration into everyday wearables, such as wristbands and shoe insoles,” he said.
By combining these devices with AI, researchers hope to identify subtle changes between medical appointments, potentially supporting more personalised care.
Another project focuses on making rehabilitation more accessible through interactive technology.
Augmented Reality in Rehabilitation
Dr Alham Al-Sharman, Associate Professor of Physical Therapy and Neurorehabilitation at the University of Sharjah, highlighted research exploring how augmented reality and game-based exercises could support physical movement and memory-related activities.
“We are exploring how augmented reality can make rehabilitation more engaging, personalised and accessible, including in the home,” she said.
She added that the next stage would involve testing the approach with people living with MS to assess its practicality and potential benefits.
Alongside these projects, Dr Osama Abdullah, Director of Core Technology Platforms at NYU Abu Dhabi, presented an AI tool developed in collaboration with NMSS, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and Yas Clinic to help doctors monitor changes associated with MS.
“This project is an AI tool that we have built to detect changes in lesion load in people living with multiple sclerosis in the country,” he said.
Dr Abdullah highlighted the project's emphasis on patient privacy, explaining that medical data remains within the UAE while the technology is trained using information from local hospitals.
He added that researchers are adapting the system to meet the needs of local physcians, with the longer-term ambition of expanding access to patients across the country.
A Holistic Approach to MS Care
Beyond scientific research, Fatima Makhlouf, MS Ambassador at NMSS, and Integrated Health Coach, highlighted the importance of supporting people with MS in their daily lives, including through nutrition, physical activity, sleep and stress management.
“Living with MS has taught me that managing a chronic condition involves more than what happens during a medical appointment,” she said.
Emphasising the importance of personalised support alongside medical treatment, she added: “Ultimately, a more holistic approach means looking at the whole person, recognising that wellbeing is shaped by many factors and that each person’s experience of MS is different.”