Global leaders in oncology converge as Abu Dhabi hosts its first WIN symposium

On the sidelines of the event, Professor Allison said: “We are excited to be here and hear what is happening in the UAE. We are impressed by the infrastructure being built for the development of patient care and cancer treatment, particularly in precision oncology, genomic medicine and immunotherapy. The future is already here in terms of collaboration with various groups, including those planning infrastructure and building medical systems in Abu Dhabi, especially in clinical trials and testing of new drugs.”

The WIN Consortium, a non-profit association based in France, brings together 31 leading academic medical centers, healthcare industries, research organizations and patient advocacy groups from 18 countries, lined up to launch cancer trials using omics platforms to strengthen precision oncology worldwide. world. BMC: Burjeel Medical City, the flagship facility of Burjeel Holdings, is the first and only member of the UAE and the GCC. Abu Dhabi was selected as the host city for this year’s congress, marking its inaugural celebration outside its traditional European venue.

This decision reflects the confidence of the international scientific community in the UAE’s vision and capabilities to advance precision oncology.

During the opening ceremony, Dr Asma Al Mannaei, Executive Director of the Abu Dhabi Department of Health Research and Innovation Centre, outlined the Department of Health’s plans for precision medicine. “The Department of Health is at the forefront of integrating advanced tools and strategies at the clinical and genomic data level. Our goal is not only to promote research and precision care, but also to revolutionize it, ensuring that personalized healthcare is not a luxury, but a standard,” said Dr. Asma.

Emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts to transform cancer care, Prof. Wafik El-Deiry, President of the WIN Consortium, Director of the Legorreta Cancer Center at Brown University (USA), said: “The Treatment of cancer patients without fully understanding established and emerging molecular biomarkers for cancer outcomes can severely limit many aspects of patient care. The WIN Global Consortium on Personalized Cancer Medicine is pleased to collaborate with a strong scientific partner such as Burjeel Holdings to bring the premier annual WIN Precision Oncology Symposium to Abu Dhabi.

“World-class clinical and research faculty, including Nobel laureate James Alison, are discussing how biomarkers, technologies and intelligent algorithms are helping patients with advanced cancer access the best treatment combinations and approaches for prolong life that are transforming cancer care in the field of precision oncology.”

The conference features a carefully curated program, with interactive elements that illustrate the principles and best practices of precision cancer treatment. Key opinion leaders and innovators from prestigious institutions around the world and leading precision diagnostic companies participate, fostering discussions on the latest advances in precision medicine.

Highlighting the group’s commitment to cancer care, Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, Founder and Chairman of Burjeel Holdings, said: “We are committed to improving our understanding of cancer and working to improve patient care, not just for today’s generations. but also for future ones.” United Arab Emirates and region. The only way to achieve this is by fostering an engaging dialogue between international academics and innovators and local experts to bridge theory and real-world practice and forge lasting partnerships.”

Emphasizing the need for individualized treatment for patients in the era of precision medicine, Prof. Humaid Al Shamsi, Director of Oncology Services at Burjeel Holdings, said: “We live in an era where the treatment of patients must be individualized. The same type of cancer can develop and behave differently in different individuals due to specific underlying genetic and cellular changes.

“Today, we are fortunate to have several options to address these specific changes, but selecting the right therapeutic agent can be complex. Therefore, we have developed a two-day program to address all aspects of the path to selection of the right drug for the right patient. This will inevitably raise our standards of practice in the country and will be reflected in patient outcomes.”

Highlighting the meeting’s objective of connecting research with clinical practice, Dr. Khaled Musallam, Group Research Director, Burjeel Holdings, said: “Our goal at this meeting was to offer a platform that connects the bench to the bedside and provide a roadmap for better outcomes.” practice to treating physicians.

“The long experience of the WIN Consortium as a global reference for precision oncology research and education and Burjeel Holdings’ vision of raising the standards of cancer care and research to international levels were key ingredients in the recipe for the success of This meeting”.