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Emirati genome mapping project to help fight diseases

DUBAI — The first-ever project to map the Emirati genome has been initiated by geneticists in the UAE. The project will be used as a reference and eventually help in developing new drugs.

The country-wide project is expected to reveal the genetic variations in different population groups and, hence develop preventive plans for many genetic disorders, said geneticists 
on Monday.

The mapping project will work as a reference guide and help promote diagnosis and ensure better treatment policies, they said. Diabetes, Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Anaemia are among the most common genetic disorders among the local population.

A complete plan is currently under way at the Centre for Arab Genomic Studies (CAGS) to define the best ways to collect representative samples, said Dr Mahmoud Taleb Al Ali, Director of CAGS. “We will take into account the distribution of citizens in the UAE,” he said.

At least 100 gene samples of normal, healthy people are required to flag off the project that is currently in its logistics stage.

“At this stage, we will not map diseased people since we are making a reference guide for the Emirati population,” Dr Taleb said.

“Later, we can compare samples from let’s say diabetic patients and help find out the gene variation,” he said.

The project will be divided into a number of groups since the Emirati population has a varied ethnicity. “We have to discover the root of the family to ensure they are pure Emiratis,” he added. “Other groups will cover ethnicities and the intermixed population.”

The project is similar to the one initiated in Kuwait and is an initial phase of the Arab genome project that will map genes in the Arab population and provide a platform for future medical practice. The project was launched by CAGS in 2007.

Recently, a delegation from the Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences (SHAMS) held a number of discussions with officials at Kuwait University on strengthening the ways of cooperation between the two institutions.

“It is time for Arab countries to realise the importance of catching up with the tremendous development in that field. Developing Arab scientific research and mapping the Arab genome are the main tools to find the best treatment with a lower cost,” said Abdullah bin Souqat, Executive Director of SHAMS.

“Kuwait University’s Central Laboratory for Research is considered the best in the Eastern Mediterranean countries in terms of its equipment and staff,” said Dr Taleb. “CAGS has worked hard to establish the necessary infrastructure to support the project to map the Arab genome,” he added.

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com