Abu Dhabi DoH to establish genome surgery centres with UCSF, IGI?

Abu Dhabi's Department of Health (DoH) just shook hands with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and the Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI). Their bold idea? Build the world's first "genome surgery" hubs — one in the desert capital, the other on California's fog-kissed coast.

Dr Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi calls the plan "a leap that will make genome-guided care part of everyday medicine while trimming chronic-disease costs." The message is clear: precision cures are no longer science fiction.

How will it work?

Genome surgery zooms straight to the spelling mistakes in our DNA and edits them out — rather like hitting backspace on a stubborn typo. The tool of choice is CRISPR, a molecular scalpel guided by custom code. In the envisioned centres, teams will:

• Spot genetic glitches early, even while a baby is still in the womb.
• Deploy CRISPR-guided fixes to swap faulty letters for healthy ones.
• Mirror every step on opposite sides of the globe. "This collaboration lets us link diagnosis to safe intervention in twin programmes," explains UCSF's Dr Tippi MacKenzie.

Why does it matter?

Cutting disease off at the gene — before symptoms bite — could change the life story of children born with inherited disorders. Think fewer hospital stays, fewer lifelong meds, more normal childhoods.

Dr Al Ghaithi sees another payoff: "Positioning the Emirate as a global innovation leader." Then there's scale. IGI's Dr Fyodor Urnov reminds us they've already delivered "on-demand CRISPR treatment to an infant" — and the Abu Dhabi link "may take that magic to kids across the UAE."

The context

Abu Dhabi has been sprinting down the genomics track:

• 800k genomes sequenced under the Emirati Genome Programme — one of the planet's richest data troves.
• 160k pharmacogenomic reports guiding safer prescriptions.
• CRISPR-Cas9 debut in the Gulf via CASGEVY for sickle-cell disease.
• 250+ cancer patients treated through a precision oncology drive.

Meanwhile, more than 100 local doctors have earned their stripes in genetic medicine, and a June 2025 DoH road show across the U.S. drew partners from Mubadala to Masdar City. With fresh talent in training and capital in hand, Abu Dhabi is betting that fixing genes early is easier — and kinder — than patching bodies later.