DUBAI, 6th November, 2014 (WAM) -- Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences has announced the names of the winners for its 8th edition 2013-2014 in the International Awards, Arab World Awards and UAE Awards categories with a total monetary value of AED 2.8 million.
Prof. Magid Abou Gharbia, from USA won the Grand Hamdan Award in Drug Discovery under international awards category.
Prof. Stanley A Plotkin from USA won the Hamdan award for Medical Research Excellence in vaccines. The same award was won by Prof. Carl June from USA and Prof. Olle Ringden from Sweden in cell therapy.
Prof. Brian J Druker from USA won the award in targeted therapy.
Hamdan Award for Volunteers in Humanitarian Medical Services was won by the Carter Center, USA, Noor Dubai Foundation, UAE, Dr. Mads Fredrik Gilbert, Norway, and Dr. Melvin Korkor, Liberia.
College of Medicine and Health Sciences of Sultan Qaboos University of Oman, and Mongi Ben Hamida National Institute of neurology of Tunisia, won the Hamdan Award for Medical College/Institute or Centre in the Arab World Awards category.
Prof. Mohamed Ghoneim from Egypt and Dr. Zohair Yousef Al Halees from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia won the Hamdan Award for Distinguished Personalities in the Arab World.
In the UAE awards category, Department of Pediatrics of Tawam Hospital, Al Ain, and Cardiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery Centre, Dubai Hospital, won the Hamdan Award for Outstanding Clinical Department in the Public Sector in the UAE.
A research paper entitled "In vitro interactions between rodent hepatic stellate cells and metastaticand non-metastatic human colorectal cancer cell lines" by Dr. Sirag Bennaser, UK, won Hamdan Award for Original Research Paper Published in the Hamdan Medical Journal.
The names of the winners were announced today at a press conference addressed by Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, Director of the UAE University and member of the Board of Trustees of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences, and Prof. Najib Al Khaja, the Secretary General of the award.
Rob Waller, US Consul General in Dubai, Sherif El Badawi, Egyptian Consul General in Dubai, Dr. Salem Al Darmaki, Advisor to the UAE Minister of health, Dr Ahmed Ibrahim Bin Kalban, CEO of Hospital Services Sector at DHA, Dr. Obaid Al Jassim, Head of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Dubai Hospital, Dr. Arif Al Mullah, Head of the cardiology department, Dubai Hospital, Dr. Siham Al Dien Galadari, head of the award’s Medical Research Grant Committee, and Abdullah bin Souqat, the Executive Director of the award were present on the occasion.
Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, in his welcome speech extended his sincere thanks and appreciation to H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Deputy Ruler of Dubai and the UAE Minister of Finance, for his role in establishing and promoting medical excellence locally, regionally and internationally, through his kind patronage and tireless support of the Award activities.
"The current term of the Award is one of the UAE ambitious initiatives, through which we call upon all health institutions around the world to promote plans for scientific studies and research in general. The ultimate aim is to put together a joint global protocol for rapid response to new epidemics that would rapidly sweep through many countries around the world, brining instability and terror", he said.
Then, Prof. Najib AL Khaja, Secretary General of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid AL Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences informed that the winners will be honored during the Awards ceremony on 15th December in Rashid Hall at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre in the presence of the Award Patron, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Deputy Ruler of Dubai and the UAE Minister of Finance.
In conjunction with the awards ceremony, the Award will organize the 8th Dubai International Conference for Medical Sciences from 15th to 17th December in Dubai. The conference will discuss the main topics of the Award in its current edition concerning drug discovery, targeted therapy, cell therapy and vaccines with the participation of the winners of Grand Hamdan International Award, Hamdan Award for Medical Research Excellence and Hamdan Award for Volunteers in Humanitarian Medical Services for the first time in the history of the Conference.
WAM/AAMIR