New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) has signed an agreement with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DOH) to enable researchers to better understand the risk factors for common diseases among Emiratis.

The two organizations are collaborating on NYUAD’s UAE Healthy Future study, a long-term ongoing study that was launched by the NYUAD Public Health Research Center in 2017 to understand the causes of common chronic diseases among Emiratis, focusing particularly on priority areas of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

The study aims to recruit 20,000 UAE nationals between the ages of 18-40 with over 5,000 participants already signed up to date.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by Mohamed Hamad Al Hameli, undersecretary of DOH, and Fabio Piano, provost of NYU Abu Dhabi, at the University’s campus on Saadiyat Island.

The collaboration will support the mission shared between the two organizations to improve the health of the local population. The results of the UAE Healthy Future Study will be significantly improved by linking the participants’ results (with their informed consent) with data collected by the Department of Health. Furthermore, the study will also work closely with DOH to collect additional information on the participants’ diets – a key risk factor for obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

Al Hameli said: “The signing of Memorandum of Understanding to study the UAE Healthy Future is a fundamental pillar to build a healthier future for society. Hence, this will aid in finding the radical solutions to prevent society from chronic diseases and providing a healthier lifestyle for the future generation in the emirate of Abu Dhabi in belief that prevention is better than cure.”  

Piano added: “This agreement marks the beginning of a remarkable opportunity for collaboration with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DOH) on the landmark UAE Healthy Future study. This partnership is a testament to the NYUAD Public Health Research Center’s significant efforts and exceptional dedication to the success of this first-of-its-kind study, and we're honoured that our partners at DOH recognize its potential impact on the future health, lifestyle, and wellbeing of the UAE.” – TradeArabia News Service