Abu Dhabi conference highlights innovation in diabetes care. WAM 26 Jun 2026, 15:24 GMT+ ABU DHABI, 26th June, 2026 (WAM) - M42's Imperial College London Diabetes & Endocrine Centre (ICLDEC), together with HealthPlus Diabetes & Endocrinology Centre, successfully hosted the 3rd Diabetes Education & Technology Conference at Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi, reaffirming its role as a leading platform for advancing diabetes education and technology in the UAE. The conference welcomed more than 500 attendees and over 30 faculty members, reflecting growing demand for practical, multidisciplinary education in diabetes technology. Healthcare professionals from nursing, dietetics, pharmacy, diabetes education, and allied health came together to explore the technologies transforming diabetes care today. This year's edition also introduced four hands-on workshops in response to delegate feedback and designed to bridge the gap between technological innovation and real-world clinical practice. Globally, 589 million adults (aged 20-79) are living with diabetes, which equates to approximately 1 in 9 people worldwide. The conference addressed the need for healthcare professionals to stay current with rapidly evolving technologies while ensuring their effective use in patient care. Reflecting this need, discussions focused on technologies that are not only new, but also practical, scalable and ready for clinical adoption, from artificial intelligence and digital health solutions to continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and automated insulin delivery (AID) systems. Dr. Mai Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO of Outpatient Care Cluster at M42, said, "Innovation in diabetes care is moving quickly, but it only creates value when healthcare professionals feel confident using it in practice. Conferences such as this help educate, strengthen collaboration across disciplines and support the adoption of innovations that can improve patient care." The conference also emphasised the importance of peer exchange and professional dialogue in a field evolving as rapidly as diabetes technology. Through a mix of expert presentations and hands-on workshops, delegates had the opportunity to share perspectives, learn from real clinical experiences, and strengthen their ability to apply emerging tools in day-to-day practice. Dr. Tomader Ali, Manager Diabetes Education at Outpatient Care Cluster at M42, said,"In diabetes education, relevance matters as much as expertise. We designed this year's conference to give delegates practical exposure to a range of clinically relevant digital technology tools that enable the enhancement of alogrithm-driven decisions and conversations shaping care today. We aim for our colleagues and attendees to leave not only informed, but to be better prepared for everyday clinical practice in our increasingly AI-demanding patient care. It is exciting to see how strongly this has resonated nationally, and we look forward to building on that momentum in future editions of the conference." Dr. Imad Alostaz, Manager, Pharmacy Services, Outpatient Cluster, M42, said, "What stood out was how practical and relevant the conference was, both in the quality of the content and in the opportunity to learn from peers across the profession. I look forward to future editions and to continuing these important conversations." As the UAE continues to strengthen its position as a regional hub for healthcare innovation, initiatives such as the Diabetes Education & Technology Conference play an important role in strengthening professional education, fostering multidisciplinary collaboration and supporting the practical adoption of technologies that can enhance diabetes care. By investing in education, innovation and knowledge-sharing, ICLDEC and HealthPlus Diabetes and Endocrinology Center are helping equip healthcare professionals with the expertise needed not only to keep pace with change, but to help shape the future of diabetes care in the UAE.

'Masdar' launches 'Biosphere' to boost innovation in biotechnology 25 June 2026 14:23 PM | Last update: 25 June 15:13 2026 Reading time - 3 minutes Masdar, M42 and Atentiv open 'Biosphere' as the first commercial shared laboratories in the Gulf to support life sciences research, facilitate infrastructure and link it to the HELM ecosystem in Abu Dhabi Masdar City, in collaboration with M42 and Atentiv Science, announced the opening of 'Biosphere' laboratories as the first commercial-scale shared laboratory facility in the Gulf Cooperation Council region. This came as part of participation in the events of the Global Biotechnology Innovation Organization Conference 2026 in San Diego, United States. The 'Biosphere' laboratories contribute to addressing one of the most prominent challenges facing life sciences companies and researchers today, namely access to specialized laboratory infrastructure. The facility provides researchers, startups, and biotechnology companies with immediate access to specialized laboratory work spaces, advanced equipment, and operational support services, in addition to linking with the broader life sciences ecosystem in Abu Dhabi, thereby reducing costs, complexities, and the time required to set up and operate laboratories. Integrated ecosystem The 'Biosphere' laboratories offer institutions looking to expand within the region a gateway to an integrated ecosystem designed to enable innovators to develop, test, and scale new technologies within an interconnected and unified environment. The 'Biosphere' laboratories project is based on the Health, Medicine, and Fitness for Sustainable Life Complex (HELM), specialized in life sciences in Abu Dhabi, which provides direct access to an integrated platform supporting medical innovation, drug manufacturing, and advanced biotechnology. The Health, Medicine, and Fitness for Sustainable Life Complex was launched in 2025 and is headquartered in Masdar City, providing a globally competitive ecosystem that accelerates scientific research, clinical development, advanced manufacturing, and commercial marketing capabilities. The complex also enhances Masdar City's position as a key contributor to reshaping the future of preventive healthcare, enhancing drug efficacy, and supporting human health and longevity. Dr. Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, undersecretary of the Abu Dhabi Department of Health, said: 'Abu Dhabi has succeeded in building an integrated ecosystem that combines scientific research, healthcare, investment, and innovation to accelerate real and tangible impact. The 'Biosphere' laboratories enhance this ecosystem by providing researchers, startups, and biotechnology companies with the necessary infrastructure to develop, test, and scale new technologies within the smart life sciences ecosystem Abu Dhabi offers. Facilities like 'Biosphere' contribute to accelerating the transformation of promising discoveries into practical solutions capable of improving health outcomes for communities in Abu Dhabi and around the world by reducing the challenges that scientific research and innovation may face.' Life sciences On this occasion, Ahmed Baqhoum, CEO of Masdar City, said: 'The 'Biosphere' laboratories mark a milestone in Masdar City's journey in the life sciences sector and are a firm testament to what can be achieved when foundations, partnerships, infrastructure, and policies are built with thoughtful planning. Masdar City was established to be a nurturing environment and a place where new models are created and applied practically, and this is exactly what the 'Biosphere' laboratories represent. We are proud to contribute to creating the right conditions to support scientific innovation by removing barriers, attracting global expertise, and providing the platform necessary for researchers, startups, and biotechnology companies to develop, test, and commercially apply their innovations.' In turn, Dr. Fahad Al Marzouqi, CEO of integrated health solutions at M42, said: 'The 'Biosphere' laboratories represent an important step towards enhancing the life sciences ecosystem in Abu Dhabi and the region in general. By providing researchers, startups, and biotechnology companies with immediate access to world-class laboratory infrastructure and advanced scientific capabilities, we contribute to accelerating the transition from the discovery stage to making a tangible impact on the ground. At M42, we believe that innovation thrives when expertise, technology, and infrastructure integrate, and this is exactly what the 'Biosphere' laboratories provide: a supportive and stimulating environment.' For his part, Tariq Abu Al Nadi, CEO and co-founder of Atentiv Science Limited, said: 'The 'Biosphere' laboratories are the fruit of more than two years of collaboration, joint work, and a unified vision aimed at establishing Abu Dhabi as a leading global hub for biotechnology and life sciences. This achievement embodies what we can achieve when government, industry, and academic institutions unite towards a common goal of building an integrated ecosystem that supports scientific discoveries, accelerates the development of new technologies and treatments, and enhances the production of globally impactful intellectual property.'

Abu Dhabi advances gene editing therapies targeting rare diseases through strategic global collaboration. WAM 25 Jun 2026, 14:13 GMT+ ABU DHABI, 25th June, 2026 (WAM) - The Department of Health - Abu Dhabi (DoH), M42 and Mammoth Biosciences have signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the BIO International Convention 2026 in San Diego to advance gene-editing therapies, develop clinical research and advance therapy manufacturing in Abu Dhabi. The partnership strengthens Abu Dhabi's established genomics and precision medicine ecosystem, marking an important step in the Emirate's progression from genomic sequencing to therapeutic development within a single integrated ecosystem. Leveraging insights generated through the Emirati Genome Programme (EGP), the collaboration will support the development of next -generation treatments for inherited diseases while expanding Abu Dhabi's capabilities across clinical research, advanced therapy manufacturing and scientific innovation. The collaboration also supports Abu Dhabi's broader efforts to strengthen its life sciences sector through the Health, Endurance, Longevity and Medicine (HELM) Cluster, which aims to accelerate the development of healthcare innovation across research, clinical development, manufacturing and commercialisation. Dr. Noura Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi, said, "Abu Dhabi has built a strong foundation in genomics and precision medicine through long-term investments in research and innovation. The next step is translating these insights into therapies that can address some of the most complex diseases affecting communities in our region and around the world." As part of this strategic partnership, DoH will provide the regulatory framework and research environment, M42 will provide population genomics, healthcare and clinical research infrastructure and Mammoth Biosciences will bring a pioneering gene editing platform built on breakthrough CRISPR* science. Together, the partners aim to accelerate the journey from scientific discovery to population scale impact. Dr. Fahed Al Marzooqi, Chief Executive Officer, Integrated Health Solutions, M42, said, "The Emirati Genome Programme has generated insights that are helping us better understand the health needs of our population. Through this collaboration, we are creating opportunities to build on that foundation by supporting the development of advanced therapies while strengthening Abu Dhabi's research, clinical and manufacturing capabilities." Trevor Martin, Chief Executive Officer, Mammoth Biosciences, said, "What stands out about Abu Dhabi is its ability to bring together genomics, healthcare, clinical research and regulation within a single ecosystem. That creates a strong environment for advancing new therapeutic approaches and expanding access to cutting-edge innovation." The agreement spans four interconnected areas designed to accelerate the development and deployment of advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs). The parties will collaborate to introduce Mammoth's lead clinical candidate, MB-111, into Abu Dhabi's clinical research ecosystem, qualify local sites for advanced gene therapy and gene-editing trials, and support capability transfer to local clinical teams. The partnership will also support the establishment of advanced therapy manufacturing capabilities in Abu Dhabi, beginning with GMP lipid nanoparticle (LNP) production and advancing towards fully integrated GMP manufacturing. Additionally, the partnership will build long-term local expertise in CRISPR-based gene editing through structured training and workforce development programs. As Abu Dhabi continues to build capabilities across the healthcare value chain, from genomics and clinical research to advanced therapy development and manufacturing, the collaboration marks an important milestone in the Emirate's efforts to translate scientific insights into real-world treatments and expand its role in advancing precision medicine and life sciences innovation.