In a sleek laboratory at the heart of Abu Dhabi’s cutting-edge Genomic Research Center, Dr. Amina Al-Mansoori scrolls through complex DNA sequence data with the ease of flipping pages in a book. She’s not just analyzing genetic code—she’s building the blueprint for personalized healthcare across the UAE, and potentially, the Arab world.
As the Director of the National Genomic Medicine Institute and one of the Middle East’s foremost geneticists, Dr. Al-Mansoori is leading a quiet revolution: transforming healthcare from a one-size-fits-all model into a tailored, data-driven system where a patient’s DNA can guide everything from cancer treatment to chronic disease prevention.
“We’re not just studying genes,” Dr. Al-Mansoori says. “We’re changing how medicine is practiced—forever.”
The Genomic Frontier: A UAE Priority
Since 2018, the UAE has invested heavily in becoming a global leader in life sciences, with genomic medicine at the core. Backed by the Ministry of Health and Prevention, the Emirates Genome Program (EGP) was launched to map the DNA of the Emirati population and use that information to:
- Identify genetic predispositions to diseases like diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular conditions
- Improve drug efficacy and reduce adverse reactions through pharmacogenomics
- Develop screening protocols for rare and inherited diseases
- Enable preventive care through early genetic risk assessment
At the center of this ambitious national initiative is Dr. Al-Mansoori, whose leadership has helped sequence over 1 million genomes by 2025—a number once thought unattainable in the region.
From Sharjah to Scientific Stardom
Dr. Al-Mansoori’s journey began far from the headlines. Raised in Sharjah in a family of teachers and civil servants, she was inspired by a cousin born with a rare genetic disorder. Determined to understand the “why,” she pursued a degree in molecular biology at the University of Sharjah, later earning her PhD in human genetics from University College London (UCL).
She returned to the UAE in 2012, working quietly in research labs before joining the founding team of the Genomics Center at Khalifa University. By 2020, her work had earned her recognition in scientific circles—and an appointment to lead the nation’s most ambitious genomic project to date.
“I knew I wanted to be in the lab, not just in the lecture hall,” she says. “But I also knew that science had to serve people, not just papers.”
Precision in Practice: The Vision Behind Her Work
Dr. Al-Mansoori envisions a healthcare system in which:
- A child’s genomic profile is part of their birth record
- Cancer patients receive targeted therapies based on tumor genomics
- Cardiovascular and metabolic diseases are intercepted before they manifest
- Rare diseases, often misdiagnosed, are correctly treated through genetic confirmation
This isn’t theoretical. In partnership with UAE hospitals and private providers:
- Over 30,000 patients have received genome-informed treatments
- A pilot study in Ras Al Khaimah reduced hospitalization rates by 20% in diabetic patients using genome-based medication
- Several carrier screening programs are now standard in Emirati premarital counseling and fertility clinics
“When your care is based on you—your biology, your history—it becomes not just better, but more humane,” she explains.
Ethics, Equity, and Emirati DNA
While the science is groundbreaking, Dr. Al-Mansoori is equally focused on the ethical and cultural dimensions of genomic work.
She has overseen the creation of:
- A national ethical framework for genomic data privacy
- Community education campaigns about DNA rights and misuse prevention
- A Genomic Advisory Council including scholars, bioethicists, and community leaders to guide culturally appropriate practices
Importantly, she’s committed to ensuring representation of Arab and regional genetic diversity in global research, noting that the Middle East has long been underrepresented in genomic databases.
“You cannot build ethical science without inclusive science,” she says. “Our genes tell our story, and we must be the authors of how that story is used.”
Building the Genomic Workforce of the Future
Beyond her lab, Dr. Al-Mansoori is shaping the next generation of genomic scientists in the UAE.
She has launched:
- A national genomics fellowship for Emirati students
- Joint academic programs with Harvard, Oxford, and the Broad Institute
- Scholarships and internships for women in STEM fields
- Partnerships with AI startups to build bioinformatics tools locally, reducing reliance on foreign platforms
“Science is a team sport,” she says. “And the UAE is building a dream team.”
