UAE’s PureHealth launches Abu Dhabi Health Research Centre (ADHRC) to advance clinical innovation

Abu Dhabi is betting big on the future of medicine. Earlier this month, PureHealth officially opened the Abu Dhabi Health Research Centre (ADHRC) — a unified powerhouse designed to pull clinical research out of silos and into a single, strategic hub. This isn't just another announcement. It's a declaration that the Emirate wants a seat — and a loud voice — on the global healthcare stage.

The launch took place at the inaugural ADHRC Research Conference 2025, where policymakers, physicians, scientists, and industry leaders gathered to talk about breakthroughs and real-world impact. It's a sign that Abu Dhabi sees clinical innovation not as a buzzword but as a lever for better care, wider scientific influence, and stronger health systems everywhere.

How does it work?

Think of the ADHRC as a central nervous system for clinical research. Instead of research teams scattered across hospitals, clinics, and labs, they're now connected under one roof.

Here's how it functions in practical terms:

• It brings together research operations from 16 hospitals, a wide network of primary care clinics, and advanced labs across Abu Dhabi.
• It covers the entire lifecycle of clinical studies, from designing protocols and recruiting patients to managing data, navigating regulations, and publishing results.
• More than 100 active studies, 300 principal investigators, and a scientific workforce exceeding 700 scientists are already part of the engine.
• It partners with government bodies, global biopharma firms, and leading academic institutions to amplify both reach and relevance.

In simple terms, if today researchers in Abu Dhabi are working on cancer treatments, rare diseases, or precision medicine, ADHRC is the stage that unites them and boosts their chances of turning discoveries into real therapies.

Why does it matter?

Here's the heart of the story: clinical research used to be fragmented. Projects tied to single hospitals or departments often faced duplication, slow recruitment, and limited scale. ADHRC aims to change that.

That matters for a few big reasons:

• Speed: Unified teams and shared infrastructure mean new treatments can move faster from lab to clinic.
• Scale: With hundreds of scientists and thousands of participants, research gains statistical power and credibility.
• Collaboration: By partnering with global institutions and industry, the centre pulls Abu Dhabi into conversations that shape medicine worldwide.

As Dr. Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, undersecretary of the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi, put it, "Harnessing the collective strength of our ecosystem is central to Abu Dhabi's vision of advancing healthcare through science and innovation." That's not corporate talk. It's a blueprint for turning ambition into impact.

This kind of integration also means better outcomes. By focusing on areas like personalized medicine and rare diseases, the centre tackles problems that matter to patients everywhere, not just in the UAE.

The context

Abu Dhabi's healthcare strategy has been evolving fast. Over the past decade, the Emirate has invested heavily in infrastructure, medical technology, and regulatory frameworks that encourage research and innovation. ADHRC is the latest — and perhaps most strategic — piece of that puzzle.

It aligns with broader regional trends aimed at diversifying economies and building knowledge-based industries. Health research isn't just about curing disease. It's about cultivating expertise, retaining talent, attracting global partnerships, and creating long-term economic value.

PureHealth isn't starting from scratch. Its network has supported more than 100,000 clinical study participants and spans 22 therapeutic areas. The new centre pulls that legacy into a new orbit.

Globally, we're at a moment where collaboration beats isolation in medical research. Diseases don't respect borders. So neither should the science to defeat them. With conferences covering everything from cell therapy to longevity science, ADHRC is staking Abu Dhabi's claim as a hub where ideas converge, and innovation takes shape.