Nonbinding pact intended to expand and accelerate biomedical research in both nations
Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute has entered a nonbinding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (part of the United Arab Emirates), the regulator of the healthcare sector in the Emirate, to partner in the mutual advancement of translational biomedical research, drug discovery and the development of new generations of scientists.
The memorandum was signed June 23, 2026 by David A. Brenner, MD, president and CEO of Sanford Burnham Prebys and Her Excellency Dr. Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DoH).
The MOU outlines five potential areas of collaboration:
- Creation of a translational research and drug discovery partnership aligning Sanford Burnham Prebys’ Center for Therapeutics Discovery with the Emirate of Abu Dhabi’s clinical, genomics and biobanking assets to accelerate development of first-in-class therapeutics.
- Joint exploration of collaborative development pathways focused on Sanford Burnham Prebys’ therapeutic assets portfolio, with a mutual interest toward clinical translation and commercialization.
- Collaborative advancement of prioritized therapeutic candidates into clinical development, including design, implementation and conduct of clinical trials in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
- Development of scientific talent, including joint training and a researcher exchange program with the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Sanford Burnham Prebys.
- Exploration of Sanford Burnham Prebys’ strategic role and potential anchor presence within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi’s health and life sciences hub.
“With our shared vision of improving health through research, we look forward to identifying areas of synergy to develop into long-term collaborations,” said Brenner.
The Emirate of Abu Dhabi is the largest of the seven emirates comprising the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and serves as the nation’s capital. It accounts for 87% of the country’s landmass; it is the center of the UAE’s political and oil industries; and is known for its immense wealth and rapidly growing cultural footprint.
“The future of healthcare will be shaped by our ability to connect scientific discovery with real-world implementation, bringing life sciences assets and stakeholders together within one integrated environment,” said Dr. Al Ghaithi.
“Our collaboration with Sanford Burnham Prebys strengthens this model by creating new pathways to accelerate drug discovery, advance translational research and bring innovative therapies closer to patients, transforming scientific potential into tangible health impact for communities worldwide.”
The United Arab Emirates is located at the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East. It shares land borders with Saudi Arabia and Oman.
Celebrating its 50th anniversary, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute is an independent nonprofit biomedical research institute dedicated to understanding the fundamental biology of human health and disease and translating discoveries into advances that improve lives.
Sanford Burnham Prebys has four disease-focused centers: NCI-designated Cancer Center; Center for Cardiovascular and Muscular Diseases; Center for Neurologic Diseases; and Center for Metabolic and Liver Diseases; as well as two enabling technology centers: Center for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence and Center for Therapeutics Discovery.