Executive Summary

The Research Institute of Medical & Health Sciences (RIMHS) at the University of Sharjah (UOS) is a leading research institution in the field of health and medicine. RIMHS is committed to advancing medical knowledge and improving the health of people in the UAE and beyond. The Center of Excellence for Cancer Research addresses the increasing burden of cancer in the region through innovative research and multidisciplinary collaborations. Cancer is a major health problem in the UAE and the Middle East, with the incidence predicted to double in the next two decades. The center brings together leading researchers, clinicians, and other experts to collaborate on research projects, share knowledge and best practices, and translate research findings into clinical practice. The center's key areas of focus include cancer genomics, cancer epigenetics, immune evasion, tumor microenvironments, chemotherapy resistance, metastasis, and cancer diagnostics. It also prioritize community outreach and education to raise awareness about cancer prevention and early detection and to engage and support patients with cancer under therapy, cancer survivors, and their families. The center's facilities include state-of-the-art laboratories, advanced multi-omics equipment, and droplet digital PCR techniques to detect tumor markers from liquid biopsies. It aim to identify new diagnostic/prognostic cancer biomarkers. Also, the aim is to perform a multi-omics analysis of the UAE patient samples to identify genetic factors and mechanisms responsible for the population-based differences in Cancer incidence amongst the UAE population. The proposed Center of Excellence for Cancer Research will collaborate with other centers of excellence, namely Precision Medicine to investigate targeted therapies and Public Health to understand cancer epidemiology.

Vision

To become a premier center in the field of Cancer Research, dedicated to advancing cancer knowledge and finding solutions for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer through pioneering multidisciplinary translational and clinical research in the United Arab Emirates and the region beyond.

Mission

The mission of the Center of Excellence for Cancer Research is to become a renowned hub for cutting-edge cancer research in the country and the region. Through collaboration with leading researchers, medical professionals, and industry partners, we will strive to make breakthroughs in cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, ultimately improving the lives of those affected by cancer in the UAE and beyond. We will commit to excellence in robust outreach and education throughout the country for patients with cancer and cancer survivors, and provide outstanding education and training programs for graduate students and future cancer scientists. The center aims to achieve this mission by:

1. Conducting innovative and impactful research that addresses the most common cancers in the UAE and the region.
2. Embracing multidisciplinary approaches to address key challenges in cancer research.
3. Establishing partnerships with other leading cancer research institutions, medical centers, and industry partners to collaborate on research, and share resources.
4. Adopting new technologies and approaches, such as multi-omics and droplet digital PCR systems, in the field to facilitate cutting-edge research on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer.
5. Collaborating with other centers of excellence in the research institute to have a holistic approach to finding solutions to complex problems in cancer research.
6. Training and mentoring the graduate students and postdoctoral scientists.
7. Providing resources for healthcare professionals seeking to participate in cancer research through creating a platform for researcher-clinician interaction.
8. Educating patients and their families by providing public awareness campaigns, continuing education programs, and easy-to-understand educational materials.