Royal Marsden Cancer Charity Acknowledges Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi’s Impact On Precision Medicine Advancements

The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity has praised H.H. Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of the Ruler of Sharjah, for her vital support in advancing precision medicine for cancer treatment. Her contributions have notably accelerated progress at the Sharjah Clinical Genomics Laboratory within the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Centre for Molecular Pathology (CMP) in the UK.

Her Highness's efforts have significantly enhanced the delivery of precise diagnoses and personalised treatments. The introduction of advanced facilities, including the UK's first robotic genome testing facility, has empowered scientific teams to fast-track diagnostics and treatments, offering hope to thousands of patients.

Launched in 2018 as a humanitarian initiative by Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi, the Sharjah Laboratory was established with a £500,000 donation. This reflects her belief that investing in scientific research is crucial in combating cancer and can have a global impact beyond the institution itself.

The laboratory is set to become the UK's first facility offering fully automated genomic testing, capable of conducting 5,000 tests monthly. This advancement is achieved through collaboration with Automata, a global biotech company specialising in robotic automation solutions for life sciences.

State-of-the-art technology includes the Nanopore PromethION device for precise long-read DNA sequencing. It has already analysed 110 whole genomes, providing new insights for treatment development. The CMP plays a vital role in clinical trials like 'ENABLE-NGS', 'PREVAIL', and 'ICED', targeting various cancers.

The lab's success exemplifies Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi's vision and commitment to supporting cancer patients. Her efforts extend to institutions like Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357 and the Children’s Cancer Centre of Lebanon (CCCL), among others.

Global Humanitarian Impact

The Sharjah Clinical Genomics Laboratory embodies the UAE’s vision of investing in human potential and scientific research. It transforms humanitarian efforts into tangible impacts on patients’ lives and serves as an example of successful collaboration between philanthropy and science.

This collaboration has led to over 24 peer-reviewed studies presented at major conferences like ESMO and ASCO. These studies explore molecular profiling to redefine cancer risk and reshape treatment strategies, further amplifying its impact on global cancer research.

Through these initiatives, Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi champions a UAE global humanitarian mission that transcends borders. Her contributions reflect a commitment to improving cancer care worldwide by supporting specialised institutions across different countries.

With inputs from WAM