Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences has allocated AED 2 million to fund 14 scientific projects from the United Arab Emirates University, University of Sharjah, Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research, Zayed University, and the UAE Ministry of Health. This brings the total number of the studies funded by the award, since its establishment in 1999 until now, to reach 99.

 

This was stated by Prof. Sehamuddin Galadari, the Chairman of the Award’s Medical Research Grant Committee, who conveyed sincere thanks and gratitude to H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, the UAE Minister of Finance, and the Patron of the award, for his continuous support to science and scientists. “H.H. Sheikh Hamdan believes in the scientific research as the nations’ gateway towards achieving the desired development and prosperity”, he said.

 

“The international and local reviewers’ committees, formed by the award’s Research Support Center, reviewed 63 research projects submitted by a number of researchers from many prestigious academic and research bodies. 14 studies have been selected to be funded by the award, as their results are expected to meet the needs of the community and to improve the health sector within the UAE”, Prof. Galadari said.

 

“The selected projects focus on the fields of mental health, molecular and cellular basis of disease, and health and lifestyle Education. 6 of the studies are clinical science research, while the other 8 are basic medical science ones”, Prof. Galadari said.

 

“Supporting these projects is not limited on being funded, but extends to be followed-up by the Hamdan Medical Award in all the stages of their work.  Also, after completing the studies, their results will be published in the printed and electronic versions of the award’s Hamdan Medical Journal, an open-access journal, to reach the largest possible number of specialists and to the officials in local, regional and international health sectors”, Prof. Galadari added.

 

While talking about the details of the selected studies, Prof. Galadari said: the 1st project is for Dr. Murat Oz, from the Dept. of Pharmacology, CMHS, UAE University, on the effects of Phytocannabinoids on the function of 5-HT3 receptors of rat hippocampal neurons.

 

“Also, Prof. Christopher Frank Howarth, Department of Physiology, UAE University is going to investigate the electrophysiological defects that underlie electromechanical dysfunction in ventricular myocytes from type 2 diabetic heart”.

 

“In the 3rd study, Dr. Bright David Starling Emerald, Department of Anatomy, CMHS, UAE University, will unravel the role of DNA methylation in the initiation of the metabolic syndrome using rodents as model system”.

 

“In the 4th study, Dr. Fakhreya Yousuf Hussain Mohammed, Department of Pharmacology, UAE University, will study the matrix metalloproteinases which mediate death of oligodendrocytes with increase blood-brain barrier opening in chronic stroke”.

 

“In the 5th research, Dr. Haider Raza, Department of Biochemistry, CMHS, UAE University, studies the effects of aspirin and glutathione/N-acety1 Cysteine on streptozotocin- induced metabolic changes in insulin secreting pancreatic beta cells as a model to study diabetes type 1”.

 

“The 6th study by Prof. Thomas E. Adrian, Department of Physiology, UAE University, deals with the role of the TTMP protein in the Endocrine Pancreas”.

 

“The research by Dr. Ahmed Taher El Serafi, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, deals with optimizing the differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells derived from diabetic patients towards insulin secreting beta cells of pancreas”.

 

“The 8th research entitled “Risk factors for stroke in United Arab Emirates: a case control study” will be conducted by Dr. Sayed Mahboob Shah, Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Center for Health Sciences, UAE University”.

 

“Regarding the 9th study, it is submitted by the UAE Ministry of Health and it deals with Bone Regeneration for Dental Transplantation”.

 

The 10th study which is conducted by Prof. Salim Bastaki, Dept. of Pharmacology, CMHS, UAE University, is a reproductive toxicology study on a new antiepileptic drug in the mouse.

 

The 11th research by Dr. Ibrahim Yildiz, Khalifa University of Science, Technology, and Research studies the development of Nano Platform for Cancer Gene Therapy.

 

Also, the research by Dr. Juma M Al Kaabi, Dept. of Internal Medicine, CMHS, UAE University, is a randomized controlled trial of vitamin supplementation post Bariatric surgery (Sleeve Gastrectomy).

 

In his research, Dr. Man Chung, Zayed University, will deal with Posttraumatic stress disorder following myocardial infarction.

 

Finally, Dr. Nabil Sulaiman, Department of Family & Community Medicine, University of Sharjah, studies the prevalence of Hepatitis C and B infections in Sharjah, UAE.