Dhs500,000 seed grants for COVID-19 UAE research

Mariecar Jara-Puyod, Senior Reporter

Research from several countries have sprung as the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID19) continues to threaten every aspect of life and from Dubai, the Al Jalila Foundation of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives have apportioned seed grants of Dhs500,000.00 for an in-depth UAE-wide version.

Two other private sector players namely the Al Futtaim Group-Al Futtaim Health and the Right Health have come forward to contribute to the so-called “flattening of the curve,” as well.

Al Futtaim Health which recently opened its first of six COVID19 “at cost” drive-thru testing centers in Dubai-at the Dubai Festival City-also had partnered with Right Health for the additional mass screenings “in all labour communities in the UAE”-through its HealthHub.

Al Futtaim Health managing director Dr. Haider Al Yousuf said: “We want to do our part and help by testing thousands of the members of our community.”

Other Al Futtaim Health drive-thru testing centers, adhering to all the COVID19 protocols set forth by the World Health Organization and the US-Centers for Disease Control, will be of service in Al Qusais, International City, Al Warqaa, Silicon Oasis and Discovery Gardens.

Right Health, backed by Foundation Holdings is “the pioneer of a movement to provide quality and affordable healthcare to the working class in the UAE and which believes in the core objectives of prevention, efficiency, effectiveness and innovation.”

Right Health chief executive officer Jayan K said included in the mass screenings among the laborers are education/information lectures. The COVID19 positives shall be referred to government hospitals.

On the COVID19 local research, Emiratis and UAE residents “holding positions” in the academic, research and medical sectors are encouraged to apply for the seed grants for additional knowledge and breakthroughs as to the “pathology, diagnostics, epidemiology, transmission, therapeutics and/or prevention” of the fatal SARS-CoV2 that causes the disease. The applications shall be overseen by the Al Jalila Foundation Scientific Advisory Committee headed by Prof. Yousuf Mohammed Abdulrazzak Al Bastaki.

Al Jalila Foundation-Board of Trustees member/Board of Directors chairperson Dr. Raja Al Gurg said investments in medical research result in a “healthier world for the future generation.”

Al Jalila Foundation chief executive officer (CEO) Dr. Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olama emphasized the significant role of scientists, doctors and researchers in the prevention an solution to over-all health challenges.