New UAE study targets genomics breakthrough

Accent on improving rapid genomic diagnostics for kids

Marking World Children’s Day (November 20), Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital in Dubai signed an agreement with Illumina, a global leader in genomics, that will see the two parties collaborate on the UAE’s first study to assess the impact of rapid genomic diagnostics on critically ill children within the region who may be diagnosed with a genetic disorder.

The collaboration centres around a two-year study at Al Jalila Children’s aimed at providing medical insights into the clinical use of rapid whole genome sequencing (rWGS) in the neonatal and paediatric care units as well as establishing it as a standard of care and first-tier comprehensive diagnostic tool for critically ill infants across the Middle East.

“This is an important partnership that could lead to significant breakthroughs in the way critically ill patients in the Middle East are treated,” said Dr Abdulla Ibrahim Al Khayat, CEO of Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital.

The study, due to start before the year end, will comprise 200 children under age 18, including infants, as well as parents (for segregation analysis).