PureHealth Launches Abu Dhabi Health Research Centre

Abu Dhabi has taken a major step forward in global healthcare research with the launch of the Abu Dhabi Health Research Centre (ADHRC) by PureHealth, marking a new era for clinical research, medical innovation, and precision medicine in the UAE.

The integrated research hub was officially unveiled during the inaugural ADHRC Research Conference 2025 in Abu Dhabi, held with the support of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH). The event brought together global experts, scientists, policymakers, and industry leaders to strengthen collaboration and accelerate scientific discovery.

The new centre consolidates all clinical research activities across PureHealth’s network of 16 hospitals, primary care clinics, and advanced laboratories in Abu Dhabi, creating one of the region’s most comprehensive and advanced research ecosystems.

The establishment of ADHRC marks a significant milestone in Abu Dhabi’s ambition to become a global hub for life sciences and clinical innovation. The centre is designed to manage the entire research lifecycle, from study design and patient recruitment to regulatory coordination, data analytics, and scientific publication.

With more than 100 active research studies, over 300 principal investigators, and a scientific workforce of more than 700 researchers, ADHRC works closely with government entities, global biopharmaceutical companies, and leading academic institutions to support Abu Dhabi’s healthcare priorities and contribute to international medical progress.

Her Excellency Dr Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, said the centre strengthens the emirate’s ability to conduct high-impact, ethically governed clinical studies that improve patient outcomes locally and globally, while reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s position as a global life sciences hub.

Shaista Asif, Group Chief Executive Officer of PureHealth, said the creation of ADHRC represents a defining chapter in the country’s healthcare journey, noting that bringing all research capabilities under one unified centre will accelerate the development of breakthrough treatments, improve patient outcomes, and strengthen Abu Dhabi’s international standing in medical innovation.

The centre focuses on high-impact areas such as personalised medicine, rare diseases, advanced therapies, longevity science, and cutting-edge healthcare technologies. Its infrastructure includes inpatient Clinical Trial Units and the largest outpatient Clinical Trial Unit in the Middle East, with the capacity to manage more than 800 patient visits per day, allowing it to run complex and large-scale clinical studies efficiently.

ADHRC is supported by more than 2,500 specialists and consultants across fields including artificial intelligence, oncology, neurology, and precision medicine, and is designed to advance disease prevention, early detection, and long-term disease management.

PureHealth already has extensive experience in clinical research, having supported more than 100,000 research participants and contributing to over 400 scientific publications each year across 22 therapeutic areas.

One of its most notable initiatives is the longevity programme, the largest of its kind in the Middle East. Longevity 1.0 achieved a 2.2-year increase in healthspan through interventions in exercise, nutrition, and lifestyle, while Longevity 2.0, now underway, includes more than 3,000 participants.

ADHRC is also investing in artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyse large health datasets, predict disease trends, and identify new treatment targets. These technologies are helping to speed up research and improve the quality of scientific outcomes, ensuring faster translation of discoveries into real-world healthcare solutions.

Backed by multiple grants from the Department of Health and awards from both the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention and the Department of Health, PureHealth is now positioning ADHRC as a central hub for clinical trials and medical research in the region and beyond, supporting every stage of the research journey from study design to publication.