The Board of Trustees of “Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences” held its first meeting, chaired by His Excellency Minister of Health Dr. “Hanif Hassan” the Board Chairman. During the meeting, which was held at the headquarters of the award, the board of trustees adopted the budget of the award for its sixth term 2009-2010. The meeting was attended by “Quadi Said Al-Meraushid” Deputy Chairman of the Board, professor “Najib Al-Khaja” a member and the secretary general of the award, “Mirza Al Sayegh” a member and the treasurer, the members “Majid Saif Al Ghurair”, “Abdullah Saad Al-khambashi” and Dr. “Ahmed El-Sayed Ahmed Al-Hashemi”, and “Abdullah bin Souqat” Executive Director of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al- Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences. 

 

Dr. Hanif chairs the 1st meeting after the board of trustees restructured

 

 

Dr. “Hanif Hassan” Minister of Health started the meeting by praising the wide vision of the award’s patron, His Highness Sheikh “Hamdan Bin Rashid Al- Maktoum” Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, who predicted the importance of improving the medical sector at all levels locally and internationally through supporting research and honoring significant persons who have spared no efforts to alleviate human suffering. He added that applying international standards has helped the award to gain utmost respect and appreciation from all over the world. He also appreciated the efforts exerted by the former members of the Board of Trustees, and welcomed the new ones wishing its members all success. 

 

Following the meeting, the minister of Health said that the Board of Trustees had discussed the importance of developing the award performance within the framework of its strategy. He added that current term witnesses supporting valuable scientific conferences and workshops. 

 

He also noted that “Sheikh Hamdan Award for Medical Sciences” plays leading role in supporting medical research inside the UAE. Since the establishment of the award in 1999, the award supported around 60 scientific papers which have been fully investigated by evaluating their importance to the UAE society and the possibility of its application on the ground of reality.

 

Concerning nominations for “Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences”, Dr. Hanif said that winners will be selected for three categories, international awards, Arab world awards and the UAE awards. He added that specifying winners depends on the evaluation of the Scientific Committee and the best international arbitrators. Names of winners will be announced during the next few months, and awards will be handed over at a grand ceremony held next December with the attendance of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum the patron of the award.

 

The Minister of Health praised the great success of “3rd Pan Arab Human Genetics Conference”, which was recently held by the award’s “Center for Arab Genomic Studies”. He highlighted the significant scientific value of the conference that discussed highly relevant genetic issues which has put the conference on the agenda of the most important world human genetics conferences. He also referred to the database, which has been founded by the center that accommodates about 940 genetic disorders in the Arab world. The Minister has given his directives to develop the database. He said that besides characterization of disorders, efforts must be exerted on diagnosis, treatment and application policies to reduce the spread of genetic disorders in the Arab countries to protect present and future generations. 

 

The members of the award’s Board of Trustees said that they are proud of the trust which has been devoted to them by His Highness “Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum” Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance. They also praised the meeting which gave them a good opportunity to review the achievements of the award in previous terms and to develop future plans for its advancement. The Board members expressed their readiness to provide all their expertise and capabilities in order to maintain the award’s good reputation globally, which has been achieved as a result of many years of hard work since its establishment until now.