New research centre puts Abu Dhabi on global health map

PureHealth has launched the Abu Dhabi Health Research Centre (ADHRC), a new integrated clinical research division designed to consolidate research activity across hospitals, primary care clinics and advanced laboratories throughout the emirate.

The centre was formally announced at the inaugural ADHRC Research Conference 2025, held in Abu Dhabi and supported by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi. The conference brought together international experts to encourage collaboration in clinical research and scientific innovation.

PureHealth said the launch represents a significant milestone in strengthening Abu Dhabi’s role in global healthcare research and innovation. The centre is intended to support translational research, medical innovation and precision medicine, while aligning with the emirate’s healthcare priorities and long-term ambitions in life sciences.

The Abu Dhabi Health Research Centre integrates clinical research operations across 16 hospitals, a broad network of primary healthcare clinics and advanced laboratories. It covers the full research lifecycle, including protocol design, patient recruitment, regulatory coordination, data analytics and scientific publication.

New centre advances clinical innovation

According to PureHealth, the centre currently oversees more than 100 active clinical research studies. These are led by over 300 principal investigators and supported by a scientific workforce of more than 700 scientists. The centre works in partnership with government entities, global biopharmaceutical companies and leading academic institutions to deliver comprehensive clinical research programmes.

Dr Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Under-Secretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, said the centre reflects the emirate’s commitment to advancing healthcare through science and innovation. “Harnessing the collective strength of our ecosystem is central to Abu Dhabi’s vision of advancing healthcare through science and innovation,” she said.

“The establishment of the Abu Dhabi Research Centre marks an important milestone in consolidating our research capabilities and driving high-impact clinical studies that improve lives locally and globally.”

She added that the initiative supports efforts to position Abu Dhabi as a global hub for life sciences by enabling partners to lead high-quality, ethically governed research that enhances patient outcomes.

Shaista Asif, Group Chief Executive Officer at PureHealth, described the launch as a defining moment for the UAE’s healthcare sector. “By consolidating our research capabilities under one unified centre, we are building on PureHealth’s long-standing legacy in medical research to accelerate the development of breakthrough therapies, improve patient outcomes, and reinforce Abu Dhabi’s position as a global hub for healthcare innovation,” she said.

PureHealth said the new centre will play a central role in translating scientific discovery into clinical impact, supporting its long-term objective of enabling longer, healthier lives through innovation-led healthcare.