Media Release
Dubai, Nov 25: Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine (TRIPM) at Gulf Medical University inaugurates Zebrafish Facility for Cancer Research in association with Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences.
It’s a Landmark Achievement for the United Arab Emirates in the field of research. Gulf Medical University Will participate in advance research programs through this facility.
Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine aims to position GMU among the leading research universities and as a national model for medical education in the region by integrating innovation through research. The inaugurationof the Newly Built Zebrafish Facility for Cancer Research takes place in association with the Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences and was attended by His Excellency Abdulla Bin Souqat, executive director of the Award, professor Hossam Hamdy chancellor of GMU, professor Salem Chouaib, vice chancellor for Research, and other vice chancellors, deans and faculty.
The facility is the second Zebrafish facility in the United Arab Emirates. Zebrafish has emerged as a versatile tool for modeling many human diseases especially cancer. They are easy and inexpensive to grow and maintain in a lab environment. What makes this animal model superior to other models is its unique transparency in early embryo-larva stage ofdevelopment. This allows for easy genetic manipulation and even transplantation of human cancer cells to better study cancer behavior in real-time. This animal model has gained traction in the fields of cancer biology, drug discovery, and immunotherapy.
Professor Hossam Hamdy also added that today is a milestone in the history of Gulf Medical University which will take us to the next level of research and will help us to participate in advanced research programs. Our association with Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences is a landmark achievement.
Professor Salem Chouaib, director, Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, thanked Dr Thumbay Moideen founder president, Board of Trustees, chancellor for his support, and he appraised all his collogues who have worked hard to bring this facility to life. This facility is important for both GMU and TRIMP as zebrafish has become unique and key model in understanding cancer biology in people, and zebrafish have replaced other modes of research. This facility will be instrumental to carry out challenging and advance research programmes.
Addressing the gathering, H E Abdulla Bin Souqat said, “We are happy and proud to be associated with Gulf Medical University, we believe that the inauguration of this facility will enhance the culture of research in the United Arab Emirates. The award is considered the first non-governmental organization to establish Medical research funding in the UAE since 1999, and has a long history of collaboration with academia, research institutes in medical research, and it aims to involve healthcare professionals as well.
The Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine -TRIPM will serve as a bridge linking scientists, faculty members and clinicians who will work together in a synergistic manner in the frame of a well-focused program in order to reach scientific excellence in the research domain. We are building the most favorable environment for investigators and teams at the level of science, structure and equipment in order to make the TRIPM the most suitable environment for cancer research and diagnosis and a challenging initiative for seamless collaboration between research, education, healthcare and industry.