Department of Health Abu Dhabi Hosts First Healthy Longevity Innovation Forum

ABU DHABI: The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) and the Institute for Healthier Living Abu Dhabi (IHLAD) recently launched the first-ever Healthy Longevity Innovation Forum. This event gathered leading experts, policymakers, and healthcare professionals to discuss the future of healthy aging and long life.

The forum’s primary aim was to showcase the latest research and innovative healthcare solutions focused on promoting longer, healthier lives, both in the UAE and around the world. It highlighted the DoH’s mission to modernize healthcare in response to the needs of an aging population.

Featured Renowned Speakers

The event featured renowned speakers, including Prof. Dr. Shahrukh Hashmi, Division Director for Medical Research and Development at DoH, and top scientists such as Dr. Eric Verdin, President and CEO of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, and Professor Andrea Maier from the National University of Singapore. These experts discussed groundbreaking topics such as advanced longevity medicine, digital health, and personalized care, all aimed at improving healthcare outcomes.

Dr. Nicole Sirotin, CEO of IHLAD, stressed the importance of research for the future of the community, noting the need for more evidence in diagnostics and treatments for healthy longevity. She emphasized IHLAD’s role, in partnership with DoH, in driving high-level collaboration to shape the future of healthcare.

Dr. Fayeza Alyafei, Executive Director of the Healthcare Quality Sector at DoH, highlighted that healthy longevity is a central part of their strategic vision. She shared that the forum was a key opportunity to exchange ideas and resources, aiming to develop proactive, prevention-focused healthcare models.

Dr. Rashed Alsuwaidi, Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC), shared Abu Dhabi’s efforts to personalize healthcare through digital innovation and genomics. He explained how technologies like the IFHAS screening, AI-powered care, and the Sahatna health app are transforming healthcare into a more preventive system.

The forum featured engaging public sessions, with high-impact discussions on how AI, digital health, and precision medicine are changing the approach to healthy longevity. These discussions aimed to bring real-world benefits to the people of Abu Dhabi and beyond.

Key Takeaway

A key takeaway from the event was the shift from merely treating diseases to focusing on proactive health and well-being. Experts emphasized the importance of addressing the underlying causes of aging to prevent diseases before they occur. This aligns with Abu Dhabi’s Healthy Longevity Vision 2030, a goal to contribute more to the world than it takes.

This inaugural forum marks the start of an exciting journey towards making Abu Dhabi a global leader in healthy longevity research and innovation. It’s a bold commitment to enhancing quality of life and empowering people to live longer, healthier, and more fulfilling lives.

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