Imperial College London and UAE development agency launch world-class diabetes centre in Abu Dhabi

Tidu Maini meets His Highness Sheikh Suroor Bin Mohammed Al Nayan

New centre aims to manage and reverse the rise of diabetes in the UEA - <em>News</em>

Abu Dhabi's new state-of-the-art diabetes centre was officially opened this month by His Highness Sheikh Suroor Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan. The Imperial College London Diabetes Centre (ICLDC), the UAE's largest multi-disciplinary diabetes facility, will be dedicated to prevention, treatment, training and research covering all aspects of diabetes and its complications. The event was attended by His Excellency Sultan Bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, President of the Tourism Committee, Emirates of Abu Dhabi.

It is estimated that more than a quarter of UAE nationals suffer from diabetes. The centre will work to manage and eventually reverse this alarming trend. After hearing how ICLDC will provide a model for the most comprehensive treatment for diabetes available, His Excellency Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Managing Director and CEO of investment agency Mubadala Development and ICLDC Chairman said:

"The statistics show that each of us in the UAE is likely to have a close relative or friend living with diabetes. The opening of the Imperial College London Diabetes Centre is a first and significant step in reversing the impact of diabetes in the UAE. It is also another step in the realisation of UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan's vision to provide the people of the UAE with the best healthcare facilities in the world."

"Whilst the last year has seen us work incredibly hard with Imperial College London to bring the Centre to fruition, today's ceremony actually marks the beginning of our real work in improving diabetes prevention in the UAE and providing solutions to patients and their families living with diabetes," His Excellency added.

ICLDC is wholly owned by Mubadala Development and was created as a result of the strategic partnership between Mubadala Development and Imperial College London, a world leading science-based university with the largest medical school in Western Europe.

Speaking on behalf of Imperial College London, Dr Tidu Maini , Pro Rector said: "Working together with Mubadala, we are proud that ICLDC bears the name of Imperial College London and will uphold our tradition of pioneering excellence in teaching and research, while setting a new benchmark for the treatment and prevention of diabetes across the Gulf Cooperating Council."

Following the official opening, leading healthcare professionals, government officials, doctors and business associates witnessed first-hand how the UAE's largest specialised diabetes resource combines all facets of treatment and research under one roof.

The iconic ICLDC building, based on the geometrical structure of an insulin molecule, is a premier treatment centre which hosts an extensive team of specialized staff and is dedicated to meeting patient needs efficiently on every level.

The world-class research facility contained within the Centre and headed by renowned Imperial College London researchers, aims to find mechanisms to slow down and reverse the prevalence of diabetes and allows ICLDC doctors to remain updated with latest evidence-based treatments and developments.

The official launch ceremony was also attended by His Excellency Mohamed Ahmed Al Bowardi, Secretary General of the Executive Council, and Under Secretary to the Crown Prince's Court, Mr Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Board Member of Mubadala Development, Major General Staff Obaid Al Ketbi, Chief of Logistics Staff at the General Headquarters of the UAE Armed Forces, Professor Stephen Smith, Principal of the Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College London, Professor Stephen Bloom, Head of the Division of Investigative Science at Imperial College London, Mr Paul Docx, CEO of Imperial Consultants, in addition to a certain number of representatives from the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, Injazat, ALDAR and official representatives from the British Embassy.