ADHRC Set to Revolutionize Healthcare Research in Abu Dhabi

Post by : Bianca Suleiman

In a significant move for healthcare research, PureHealth has inaugurated the Abu Dhabi Health Research Centre (ADHRC), marking a transformative period for clinical innovation and precision medicine in the UAE.

The new research hub was officially launched at the inaugural ADHRC Research Conference 2025 in Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH). The conference gathered experts, scientists, policymakers, and industry leaders to enhance partnerships and propel scientific progress.

ADHRC aims to streamline all clinical research activities across PureHealth’s extensive network of 16 hospitals, primary care clinics, and state-of-the-art laboratories in Abu Dhabi, establishing a comprehensive research ecosystem in the region.

The opening of this centre is a pivotal step toward Abu Dhabi’s aspiration of becoming a global center for life sciences and clinical research. It is structured to manage every stage of the research lifecycle, including study design, patient recruitment, regulatory coordination, data analytics, and scientific publishing.

Currently overseeing over 100 active research studies with more than 300 principal investigators and a skilled workforce of over 700 researchers, ADHRC collaborates closely with governmental agencies, international biopharmaceutical firms, and prominent academic institutions to align with Abu Dhabi’s healthcare goals and enhance global medical advancements.

Her Excellency Dr. Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of DoH – Abu Dhabi, emphasized that the centre bolsters the emirate's capacity for impactful, ethically sound clinical studies that significantly elevate patient outcomes locally and worldwide, fortifying Abu Dhabi's status as a global life sciences hub.

According to Shaista Asif, Group CEO of PureHealth, the establishment of ADHRC signals a crucial phase in the nation’s healthcare evolution, highlighting that consolidating all research functions under one roof will expedite innovative treatments, enhance patient care, and solidify Abu Dhabi's prominence in medical research.

The centre will concentrate on high-impact domains such as personalized medicine, rare diseases, advanced therapies, longevity science, and state-of-the-art healthcare technology. Its infrastructure features inpatient Clinical Trial Units alongside the largest outpatient Clinical Trial Unit in the Middle East, capable of accommodating over 800 patient visits daily, thus facilitating extensive and complex clinical studies effectively.

ADHRC boasts a network of over 2,500 consultants and specialists in key fields including artificial intelligence, oncology, neurology, and precision medicine, all aimed at enhancing disease prevention, early detection, and long-term management of illnesses.

PureHealth has a rich history in clinical research, having engaged over 100,000 research participants and contributing more than 400 scientific publications annually across 22 therapeutic areas.

Among its prominent initiatives is the largest longevity programme in the Middle East. Longevity 1.0 successfully extended healthspan by 2.2 years through strategies focusing on exercise, nutrition, and lifestyle modifications, while Longevity 2.0 is currently engaging more than 3,000 participants.

Furthermore, ADHRC is exploring investments in artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to analyze expansive health datasets, forecasts potential disease trends, and identify new therapeutic targets. These advancements aim to accelerate research and improve scientific results, thereby facilitating quicker implementation of discoveries into effective healthcare solutions.

Supported by various grants from the Department of Health and accolades from both the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention and DoH, PureHealth is positioning ADHRC as a pivotal center for clinical trials and medical research regionally and internationally, covering all research stages from design to publication.