The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) has signed agreements with Isomorphic Labs, WHOOP, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and AstraZeneca to advance artificial intelligence (AI)-driven drug discovery, personalised preventive healthcare and clinical research.
Announced at the Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit 2026 in the presence of Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the partnerships aim to strengthen the emirate’s life sciences ecosystem and improve healthcare outcomes through research and innovation.
Under its agreement with Isomorphic Labs, DoH will explore AI-enabled drug discovery projects and pre-clinical research within Abu Dhabi’s Trusted Research Environment over a 24-month period.
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A separate collaboration with WHOOP will examine how wearable technology and personalised coaching can support heart and metabolic health. The initial six-month study will assess changes in health indicators, including blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, weight and sleep, among adults with obesity and high blood pressure.
His Excellency Mansoor Ibrahim Al Mansoori, said: “Artificial intelligence is changing not only how quickly we discover new medicines, but how precisely we can target disease. Realising that potential requires more than technology. It requires rich clinical and genomic data, a research environment that can translate insight into discovery, and regulation that advances at the pace of science.”
Meanwhile, DoH, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and AstraZeneca will explore the feasibility of conducting up to 30 clinical trials in Abu Dhabi by 2030, focusing on cardiovascular, renal and metabolic diseases. The collaboration could bring an estimated AED180 million (US$50 million) in life sciences research investment to the emirate. The first six trials are expected to begin at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi by the end of 2026.
Also read: Pharmaceutical Packaging and Logistics Partnership to Strengthen Abu Dhabi’s Life Sciences Sector
Together, the initiatives aim to strengthen research capabilities, generate locally relevant medical evidence and support the development of more personalised treatments.
Dr Georges-Pascal Haber, Chief Executive Officer of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, said: “By combining Cleveland Clinic clinical expertise, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi’s infrastructure, and AstraZeneca’s global research capabilities, we can accelerate clinical research, expand access to innovative treatments, and generate evidence that improves patient outcomes. Together, we are strengthening Abu Dhabi’s position as a leader in clinical research, with benefits for patients across the globe.”
Mikhail Kosiborod, Senior Vice President, Late CVRM BioPharmaceutical R&D, AstraZeneca, said: “Clinical trials play a vital role in generating high-quality evidence that advances healthcare, providing patients with early access to promising new therapies and ensuring our data is generated in diverse, representative populations. This collaboration with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi and Cleveland Clinic will enable further investment in clinical research infrastructure, and deliver evidence that informs clinical practice, ultimately shaping the future of patient care across conditions that are the biggest public health threats, both locally and globally.”
