Research and Health Innovation
Focus Areas
The Group’s research portfolio caters to the unmet needs of patients in the UAE and wider region, which are identified though observational studies and addressed through interventional clinical trials (phase I to phase IV). Burjeel Holdings has active research programs across all therapeutic areas including complex and major health challenges such as oncology and cardiovascular disease.
Additionally, the Group has a special interest in rare disorders and has established dedicated research centers such as the Center for Research on Rare Blood Disorders (CR-RBD), which remains at the forefront of evidence generation worldwide and a hub for novel drug development for patients afflicted with these disorders.
Collaborations and Partnerships
Burjeel Holdings believes that collaboration is central to any successful research program, and the Group is always looking to engage with external public and private organizations, both regionally and internationally, with similar research interests to further expand our reach and portfolio.
Burjeel Holdings also has several established partnerships with leading international institutions that complement our research offering through provision of value-added expertise or services, especially in the field of translational research and data science. The Group is fortunate to have been repeatedly successful at securing competitive research funding and sponsorship opportunities.
Training and Education
The Department of Research and Health Innovation offers in-house training to all staff involved or interested in research, in addition to tailored training and education courses for external partners. The Department also accommodates visiting research associates and clinical trainees across our research programs to support development of the next generation of scientists and physician-scholars. The Group also engages extensively in local and regional CME activities to promote dissemination of outcomes from research programs.
Publications
Burjeel Holdings has a steady and rapidly evolving record of academic publications in peer-reviewed, top tier international journals, and abstract presentations at international medical congresses.
Governance and Conduct
Burjeel Holdings is fully committed to conducting research to the highest quality and adheres to international standards of Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and guidelines of the Department of Health (DoH) — Abu Dhabi and the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) in the UAE.
This is achieved through a well-established and active Ethics Committee/Institutional Review Board (EC/IRB) that operates in compliance with ICH-GCP guidelines. The EC/IRB provides central review and oversight of all research involving human subjects conducted across all Burjeel Holdings’ research facilities.
Individuals involved in clinical research are GCP-trained and fully licensed to undertake research activities. Clinical trials are supported by trained research coordinators and dedicated nursing and pharmacy teams. Approved research facilities have access to specialized departments across Burjeel Holdings’ hospitals and medical centers to facilitate the conduct of research. These include but are not limited to the following: outpatient clinics, emergency and critical care units, inpatient wards, molecular and clinical laboratories (OncoHelix-coLAB), radiology, and advanced imaging.
