Five scientists get Dh2.5m in grants for Covid-19 research
dubai — Dubai-based Al Jalila Foundation has awarded Dh2.5 million in seed grants to five UAE-based medical researchers. The Covid-19 research grants in the areas of genetics, therapies and diagnosis are the first to be awarded under the recently inaugurated Mohammed Bin Rashid Medical Research Institute to help enhance the UAE’s capacity to address the pandemic and other viral diseases in the future.
The recipients were selected from a total of 91 scientists from 26 institutions. The five selected scientists will receive grants of up to Dh500,000 each.
Tribute to donors
The research awards were presented by Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management, during a ceremony at Al Jalila Foundation.
During the event, Al Jalila Foundation engraved the name of Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed on a first-of-its-kind donor recognition wall called Bassmat Rashid Bin Saeed. The wall pays tribute to the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum’s philanthropic legacy and honours generous donors who invest in medical research.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Al Jalila Foundation, said: “The foundation is keen to work with medical institutions to enhance the UAE’s readiness to face health challenges, the most critical of which is the Covid-19 pandemic. At a time when the world is racing against time to find solutions for eradicat
ing the virus, well-funded research efforts are critical to mitigate current and future health and economic challenges.”
Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed said Dubai is committed to supporting research in healthcare and medical fields.
“Exploring new possibilities and breakthrough discoveries in healthcare and medical sectors is key to the UAE’s and Dubai’s efforts to create future-ready economic and social systems that are geared to meet the evolving needs of a post-Covid world.”
Applications assessment
The applications were assessed through a two-stage review process that included independent international peer reviews. The process was overseen by Al Jalila Foundation Scientific Advisory Committee