President Sheikh Mohamed, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, visited the Zayed Centre last year. Photo: Ministry of Presidential Affairs
President Sheikh Mohamed, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, visited the Zayed Centre last year. Photo: Ministry of Presidential Affairs
President Sheikh Mohamed, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, visited the Zayed Centre last year. Photo: Ministry of Presidential Affairs
President Sheikh Mohamed, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, visited the Zayed Centre last year. Photo: Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Zayed Centre for Research celebrates another year of achievements


Gillian Duncan
  • English
  • Arabic

The Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children is celebrating another year of achievements, including a key role in an investigation into the cause of a global spate of paediatric hepatitis cases.

Experts at the centre, which is based at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (Gosh), were called on by the UK government to help explain what was behind the unusual rise in liver inflammation in children.

Hundreds of cases have been recorded across the globe in 35 countries this year.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) first called on the Zayed Centre’s expertise in April.

By July, experts based there were able to report that co-infection with two viruses may have caused the onset of severe liver disease in the affected children.

A separate study in Scotland later corroborated the results.

The findings provide the world's first example of adeno-associated viruses being implicated in disease, according to the centre, which was named in honour of Sheikh Zayed by his wife Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation.

The centre, which has just celebrated its third anniversary, is also working on cell therapies to treat childhood cancers, among other areas.

Louise Parkes, chief executive at Gosh Charity, said: “The Zayed Centre for Research is a powerful example of how proximity of researchers, clinicians and patients can propel research and collaboration to help the lives of seriously ill children around the world.

“As the centre turns three, we’re extremely proud of all its accomplishments and very grateful to the donors who have helped to make them a reality.”

The Zayed Centre for Research is a partnership between Gosh, University College London and Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity (Gosh Charity).

It was made possible thanks to a £60 million ($69m) gift in 2014 from Sheikha Fatima.

It welcomed its first patients five years later, on October 24, 2019.

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed, who was then the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, visited the centre in 2021.

Prof Maha Barakat, Director General of the Frontline Heroes Office, said: “The global research contributions generated by the Zayed Centre for Research over just three short years is a testament to the scientists and clinicians who have dedicated themselves to saving young lives, as well as the cutting-edge facilities that make their work possible.”

Much work at the Zayed Centre relates to conditions with a genetic basis.

It treats about 50,000 patients a year. The majority of children who were treated by the centre when it first opened in 2019 were UK-based, but it also welcomed a number of international patients, including from the UAE.

The centre hosts trials and manufactures gene and cell therapies, for conditions including Severe Combined Immunodeficiency.

The top five specialities at the centre in 2019/2020, according to its first annual report, which has just been released, were cardiology (62 per cent), respiratory medicine (9 per cent), dermatology (8 per cent), cystic fibrosis (3 per cent), immunology (3 per cent).

Syria squad

Goalkeepers: Ibrahim Alma, Mahmoud Al Youssef, Ahmad Madania.
Defenders: Ahmad Al Salih, Moayad Ajan, Jehad Al Baour, Omar Midani, Amro Jenyat, Hussein Jwayed, Nadim Sabagh, Abdul Malek Anezan.
Midfielders: Mahmoud Al Mawas, Mohammed Osman, Osama Omari, Tamer Haj Mohamad, Ahmad Ashkar, Youssef Kalfa, Zaher Midani, Khaled Al Mobayed, Fahd Youssef.
Forwards: Omar Khribin, Omar Al Somah, Mardik Mardikian.

The years Ramadan fell in May

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1954

1921

1888

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
While you're here
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
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British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.

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Director: Kaouther Ben Hania

Rating: 4/5

Porsche Macan T: The Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo 

Power: 265hp from 5,000-6,500rpm 

Torque: 400Nm from 1,800-4,500rpm 

Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto 

Speed: 0-100kph in 6.2sec 

Top speed: 232kph 

Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km 

On sale: May or June 

Price: From Dh259,900  

Neil Thomson – THE BIO

Family: I am happily married to my wife Liz and we have two children together.

Favourite music: Rock music. I started at a young age due to my father’s influence. He played in an Indian rock band The Flintstones who were once asked by Apple Records to fly over to England to perform there.

Favourite book: I constantly find myself reading The Bible.

Favourite film: The Greatest Showman.

Favourite holiday destination: I love visiting Melbourne as I have family there and it’s a wonderful place. New York at Christmas is also magical.

Favourite food: I went to boarding school so I like any cuisine really.

Brief scoreline:

Tottenham 1

Son 78'

Manchester City 0

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

Company%C2%A0profile
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3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

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Rating: 2/5

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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

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BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

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Red flags
  • Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
  • Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
  • Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
  • Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
  • Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.

Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

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Engine: 2.3-litre, turbo four-cylinder

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Power: 300hp

Torque: 420Nm

Price: Dh189,900

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David Haye record

Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
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Transmission: 9-speed auto

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AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 420hp

Torque: 623Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
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Everton 0

Arsenal 0

Man of the Match: Djibril Sidibe (Everton)

Tonight's Chat on The National

Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.

Tonight’s Chat host Ricardo Karam is a renowned author and broadcaster who has previously interviewed Bill Gates, Carlos Ghosn, Andre Agassi and the late Zaha Hadid, among others.

Intellectually curious and thought-provoking, Tonight’s Chat moves the conversation forward.

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The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

The specs
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Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
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Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
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Price: From Dh801,800
HIJRA

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Key findings of Jenkins report
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  • Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
  • Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
  • Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
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England's Ashes squad

Joe Root (captain), Moeen Ali, Jimmy Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes. 

if you go
Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

Updated: November 09, 2022, 3:40 PM`