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Genetic testing to help doctors treat diseases in UAE

Dubai - In the UAE, a lot of genetic disorders are caused by consanguinity which has caused a lot of genetic pooling.

Genetic tests are being carried out to see if the UAE population has a pre-disposition towards non-communicable diseases (NCDs), said a senior health official.
"We can check mutations in genes brought about by environmental factors, which can help us identify diseases early on and treat the disease," said Dr Maryam Matar, founder and chairperson of UAE Genetic Diseases Association.
In the UAE, a lot of genetic disorders are caused by consanguinity which has caused a lot of genetic pooling. "The mutation changes become much higher than diverse populations."
She said that some individuals carry mutations in genes which can be diagnosed early on through genetic testing and be treated early.
Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi is already carrying out a study on 27,000 Emiratis that will identify new mutations in NCDs. "We not only focus on lifestyle but we also see the impact on epi-genetics which is a make-up of heritable phenotypes," she said.
Over 53,000 Emiratis, between the ages of 16-28 years, were tested by the Sheikh Zayed Research Centre and specific 'tribe' based results on disease risk assessment were done.
"We were able to tell who was at risk of developing stroke, polycystic kidneys and many more diseases," said Dr Maryam.
"Two more mutations have also been discovered in breast cancer genes, which have given the specialists a chance to upgrade their screening methods," she added.
A pilot study is already underway to test 50 women using genomics and DNA samples to predict breast cancer. The study samples have been collected and will be analysed. The study sample includes both Emiratis and expat women. It has been funded by Al Jalila Foundation.
The Dubai Health Authority has already embarked on the first phase of its ambitious genome project that aims to take medicine to personalised level, which translates to "One drug, one disease, one person".
In the first phase, 1,000 Emiratis will be sequenced though all residents can register for the project. There are 220 genetic diseases prevalent in the UAE. Other diseases that will be given attention are breast and prostate cancer (which top the list of cancers), diseases that cause intellectual disability as well as blindness.
In the second phase, the collected data will be analysed and patterns will be looked for to start predicting diseases before they happen. Also, once the sequencing is done, only people with gene mutations that can cause diseases will be informed through their family doctors.
The third phase will focus on the science of precision medicine by collaborating with interested pharmaceutical companies and academia to identify and design the drugs of the future.
asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com