• Home
• News Article

Nahyan Bin Mubarak opens 4th International Conference on Drug Discovery and Therapy (Expanded)

Dubai, Feb 12th, 2012 (WAM) -- Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology ( HCT ) HH Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan opened in Dubai today the 4th International Conference on Drug Discovery and Therapy (ICDDT).

Co-hosted by the Higher Colleges of Technology and Eureka Science, the highlighting the interdisciplinary fields of pre-clinical and clinical drug discovery, drug therapy and translational medicine will run until15th this month at the Dubai Men's College.

This year it will incorporate the 1st Biotechnology World Congress (BWC), from February 14-15, 2012, also at the Dubai Men's College campus.

The BWC will see biotechnologists from around the world consider the challenges involved in the fields of biotechnology and biomedical research.

In his opening speech, Sheikh Nahyan said that the conference was directly relevant to the quality of life and the state of healthcare in the United Arab Emirates.

Sheikh Nahyan has previously stated that investing in "innovative research, best practices, and collaboration are critical" for the UAE to achieve a priority goal of its citizens' health.

Sheikh Nahyan has been a strong supporter of the conference's aims and of its participants' efforts in the fields of drug discovery and therapy, previously saying the conference organizers and participants were to be congratulated for their "skill, your dedication, and commitment to the cause of human welfare".

"We clearly need new ideas and new discoveries that are supported by a determination to help our global citizens achieve more healthy lives," he has opined.

The Minister has also gone on the record as stressing the importance of the annual international gathering of some of the world's leading medical, pharmacological and research minds.

"The nature of your work and your presence at this conference are cause for great optimism. The collective interest in achieving drug discoveries and breakthroughs that will improve the health and lives of countless millions is encouraging," Sheikh Nahyan said.

"There is widespread anticipation of the products of your research and investigations. Both the medical-scientific community and the public worldwide are anxious to recognize and embrace your success," he added.

Building on from the success of the previous conferences held in Dubai, the 2012 edition was a much larger event with over 500 talks delivered and 45 thematic sessions with poster presentations and an associated commercial exhibition.

ICDDT Co-Presidents Dr. Atta-ur-Rahman and Nobel Laureate Prof. Ferid Murad also spoke at the conference's official opening, saying the range of session topics over the four-day conference, as well as the inaugural two-day Biotechnology World Congress, would offer many thought-provoking discussion points and stimulating opportunities for more than 750 conference delegates.

In addition to Sheikh Nahayan the conference's guests of honor were the six Nobel Laureates, Prof. Ferid Murad (USA), Prof. Hartmut Michel (Germany), Prof. Harald zur Hausen (Germany), Prof. Jean-Marie Lehn (France), Prof. Robert Huber (Germany) and Prof. Mario Molina (USA) who were able to present their revolutionary investigations delving deep into drug discovery and therapy findings to an enthralled audience of eminent scientists, researchers, pharmacists, academicians and biotechnologists.

.

© Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2012.