Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Imagine a medical check-up that looks beyond symptoms and analyses your DNA to predict disease risk, guide treatments, and inform lifelong health decisions. This can be done through comprehensive full-genome sequencing (WGS) tests, recently made available at Tadawi Hospital.
Speaking to Aletihad, Dr Ayesha Mohamed, Senior Genetics Consultant at Tadawi Hospital, said this whole-genome sequencing (WGS) service aligns with the UAE's goal of advancing personalised and predictive healthcare.
While conventional genetic tests focus on certain genes to diagnose an existing condition, WGS scans the entire DNA and offers proactive insights, Dr Ayesha said. "Most of our clients are healthy individuals - we call them clients rather than patients because the majority are exploring their DNA to understand potential health risks, optimise wellness, and make preventive decisions."
Dr Ayesha added that WGS is particularly useful in identifying inherited cancers, neurological disorders, cardiovascular risks, and carrier status for recessive diseases. It can also detect pharmacogenomic variants that influence how patients respond to medications. "This makes WGS a comprehensive tool for uncovering genetic risks and guiding personalised health strategies."
Dr Ayesha said the hospital's personalised medicine and fitness programme provides individuals with "in-depth insights" through 11 detailed reports. These cover a wide range of concerns, from hereditary cancer to nutrigenomics and heart health. Genetic data can be used to optimise routine decisions about diet, exercise, supplements, and medications, she added.
"Many people follow trends or influencers when taking supplements or exercising, without knowing what their body truly needs. Our goal is to personalise nutrition and fitness recommendations based on DNA."
"Pharmacogenomics identifies how your genes affect medication response, guiding the most effective drugs and dosages while minimising side effects," Dr Ayesha said. In family planning, WGS informs carrier status and reproductive decisions.
However, risk variants do not guarantee disease, as environmental and lifestyle factors remain important, she added. "This service represents a new era in preventive healthcare, enabling predictive, preventive, and personalised medicine," the specialist said.
