Abu Dhabi And Pfizer Collaborate To Advance Real World Data In Healthcare Research Workshop

The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) and Pfizer Gulf recently organised a workshop titled "Harnessing the Power of Real World Data in Healthcare Research." This event is part of their 2024 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which aims to bolster Abu Dhabi’s status as a leader in healthcare innovation. The focus is on enhancing real-world data capabilities to support evidence-based decision-making.

Over 60 professionals, including researchers, data scientists, and pharmacists from top hospitals and academic institutions in Abu Dhabi, attended the workshop. They discussed how real-world evidence can be used to advance research, improve health outcomes, and provide more personalised care. This gathering aimed to promote knowledge exchange and scientific dialogue, supporting Abu Dhabi's goal to become a global centre for health and life sciences.

The MoU between Pfizer and DoH focuses on enhancing real-world data capabilities. This collaboration aims to drive local evidence generation and build research capacity that addresses both national and global healthcare priorities. The initiative is part of a broader effort to foster long-term public-private partnerships that boost Abu Dhabi’s competitiveness in biomedical research, genomics, and precision medicine.

Dr. Nadine Tarcha, Medical Director at Pfizer Gulf, emphasised the importance of partnerships in advancing healthcare research. She stated, "At Pfizer, we believe real-world data is key to generating insights that complement clinical trials and accelerate patient-centred innovation. Through this collaboration with the Department of Health, we aim to empower local research, strengthen evidence generation, and improve access to better health outcomes."

The workshop featured expert-led discussions on various topics related to real-world data. These included using national databases for RWD, understanding differences between RWE and traditional clinical trials, study design considerations, regulatory issues, and governance models for data access. A panel discussion also took place with representatives from the Department of Health, the UAE Genome Programme, M42, and global Pfizer RWE leaders discussing Abu Dhabi’s Trusted Research Environment's potential in advancing scientific discovery.

This initiative reinforces both entities' commitment to advancing data-driven solutions that improve health outcomes within the UAE and beyond. By focusing on real-world data capabilities through strategic partnerships like this MoU with Pfizer Gulf, Abu Dhabi aims to enhance its position as a global hub for healthcare innovation.

With inputs from WAM