Health Economic and Financing Group

The UAE government is committed to WHO's constitution stipulating that health is a basic right and is working towards the objectives of providing an accessible and equitable universal health care program for the country population. However, since 1971, the lifestyle of the local population has shifted from a traditional and semi-nomadic way of life to an urbanized regime causing a subsequent change in the population health and nature of illnesses in the country.

Nowadays, Cardiovascular disease, Cancers, Road traffic accidents and occupational injuries, mental health illnesses, respiratory illness, and diabetes are the top health problems facing the country. These are also the primary causes of premature death worldwide. Apart from that, the rapid population growth in the UAE coupled with the vast diversity of the cultural background of the and the healthcare workforce is adding up to the  significant challenges that  the government is facing to deliver efficient and effective health programs to improve the life of the population.  

The Health Economics and Finance research group will focus on generating a high quality, world class translational research that deliver the appropriate evidence to the decision makers, so that the innovative health policy, practice and technology are designed, the right services are developed, and the right treatment and education are delivered to the population. 

The research group will steer its investigation towards the socio-economic determinants of health, public health practices, and the delivery of cost-effective interventions that can improve health outcomes of the populations. It will also investigate how different government/social financing systems, organizational structures and processes, governance of medical technology enhances population’s health, the quality of care, the cost of healthcare services, the access and utilization of health care services. 

Current Projects & Future Directions

1. Analyze the influence of exposure to common environmental toxins on normal mammary, colonic or skin epithelial cells and isogenic breast or colon cancer cells harboring common molecular alterations.

2. Analyze the role of epithelial to mesenchymal transition in colon and breast carcinogenesis and identify novel mediators of this phenomenon.

3. Role of p53 & microRNA in apoptosis, epithelial to mesenchymal transition and chemo-resistance.

4. Carcinogenic mechanisms and predisposition to familial and Eastern subsets of colon cancer. This involves international collaboration with Finland and Egypt.

It is widely acknowledged that our environment is becoming increasingly contaminated with man-made chemicals. Mammals, as well as lower organisms, are vulnerable to exposure to these agents through a variety of different sources and routes and there are concerns that they may be having a detrimental effect on ecological and population health.

Endocrine disruptors (EDs) have been described as exogenous agents that interfere with the production, release, transport, metabolism, binding, action or elimination of the natural ligands responsible for maintaining homeostasis and regulating body development. Many different EDs are present in the various compartments of the environment (air, water and land) and in foods (of plant and animal origin). They may originate from food packaging, combustion products, plant health treatments, detergents and the chemical industry in general.

Children obesity is a colossal concern as it  predisposes to various health problems,  which are linked later with adult morbidity  and mortality. Previously, the child obesity  prevention programs were mainly focusing on promoting the physical exercise and  cutting down calories, while it has been proposed recently that endocrine disrupters  such as Phthalate and BPA have a significant role in the drastic increment of  child obesity incidence. Various studies have proved the relation between the levels of urinary phthalates and BPAs to children obesity; however, more validation is required by relating the active forms levels in the serum with the child obesity.

The research group is dedicated to understanding how various environmental factors, both natural and man-made, influence cancer development and impact overall human health. The research encompasses multiple interrelated areas:

Environmental Toxins and Cancer: Investigating the molecular effects of common environmental toxins on human cells and their role in the development of different cancers. This includes identifying specific toxins, characterizing their mechanisms of action, and exploring their links to genetic mutations and cancer initiation.

Signaling Pathways in Carcinogenesis: Delving into the signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms that drive cancer development, with a specific focus on how environmental factors disrupt these pathways. This research aims to uncover key targets for potential therapeutic interventions.

Oxidative Stress, Antioxidants, and Vascular Health: Examining the impact of oxidative stress on vascular remodeling and overall human health, particularly in the context of chronic diseases like cardiovascular diseases. Research explores how antioxidants can mitigate oxidative damage and improve vascular function.

Nutritional Interventions and Dietary Chemoprevention: Investigating the effects of nutrition, dietary patterns, fasting regimens, and specific dietary components on cancer risk and health outcomes. This research seeks to identify dietary strategies that can prevent cancer and enhance the well-being of cancer patients.

Environmental Agents as Therapies: Exploring the potential of environmental agents and compounds for treating cancer and other diseases. This includes screening and evaluating the safety and efficacy of such agents in preclinical and clinical settings.

Corrosion Prevention and Environmental Health: Studying corrosion prevention methods to protect environmental factors and promote human health. This research assesses the environmental and health impacts of corrosion, develops preventive strategies, and measures improvements in public health resulting from reduced corrosion. 

1. Hamdan Grant Award
2. UOS- Chancellor's Award for Outstanding services in COVID-19
3. UOS- 2nd among the UAE National Researchers Award