Dubai-16th Feb 2021: Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award has allocated 2.5 million AED to fund 15 scientific research projects from UAE University, Sharjah University, New York Abu Dhabi University, DHA and MBRU. This brings the total number of projects to have received support and/or funding from the Award since its establishment in 1999 to around 700.

 

His Excellency Abdullah bin Souqat, Executive Director of the Award, conveyed his sincere thanks and gratitude to H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance, and the patron of the Award for his continuous support to the science and scientists in general and particularly to scientific research. This valuable support has contributed immensely towards the establishment of research infrastructure in the health sector and medical sciences in the UAE.  

 

He pointed out that the process of selecting the short-listed projects included a detailed evaluation by the local scientific committee, followed by evaluation by 58 international reviewers specialized in the fields of research presented.

 

The final short-list includes 15 research projects, seven of them clinical research and 8 concerned with the basic sciences.   These projects are expected to promote the culture of scientific and medical research in the UAE, resulting in the development and upgrading of the health and medical sector in the UAE society.

 

The selected projects focus on the study of a number of diseases suffered by many segments of society, which puts a financial and psychological burden on patients, society and the country in general. These projects range from studies on rare diseases, cancer, psychiatric disorders, diabetes and metabolic syndrome, to viral diseases, respiratory diseases, and drug discoveries.