We all hear about the rate and risks of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and stroke in the Emirates – but what can be done about it?
The UAE Healthy Future Study is a prospective cohort study that aims to uncover risk factors for some of the most chronic diseases in the Emirates, and determine how genetics, environment and living patterns of individuals contribute. Since 2016 its researchers have built a cohort of 14,294 participants, created more than a dozen partnerships with local entities, established a Public Health Research Center at NYUAD and a national data resource to foster future research, a lab, and published 47 research papers.
Dr Youssef Idaghdour is co-principal investigator in the UAE Healthy Future Study, an associate professor of biology and Global Network Associate Professor of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Science, NYU.
Dr Raghib Ali is founder and principle investigator of the UAE Healthy Future Study and a clinical epidemiologist. He has been made an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) for his services to Britain’s National Health Service and the COVID-19 response.
Highlights:
• what a prospective cohort study is and why it’s important for public health
• how this research will address the dearth of vital genetics data from residents of the Middle East – and why that is important
• what’s been uncovered so far
• how the first phases of the study have prepared researchers to start coming up with causation
• when genetics isn’t a life sentence – and what that means for healthy aging
• in the meantime, the pillars of health remain the same – and what they are from Britain’s top epidemiologist
Find out more: UAE Healthy Future Study