Abu Dhabi, September 4 (WAM) - On the second day of the fifth Middle East and North Africa Rare Diseases Conference 2026, held in Abu Dhabi, international participants highlighted the growing role of genomics and artificial intelligence in developing methods for diagnosing and treating rare diseases, which enhances opportunities to achieve faster and more accurate diagnoses, and supports the development of precision medicine.

Participants from the UAE, Brazil, France, Britain, Qatar, and Bahrain discussed the future regulation of cell and gene therapies, the umbilical cord as a platform for therapeutic innovation, and the experience of the UAE in the field of rare disease genomics.

Professor Ayman Al-Hattab, consultant in genetic diseases and genetics, director of the Center for Genes and Rare Diseases at Burjeel Medical City, and conference chairman, emphasized during his speech that specialized events on rare and genetic diseases contribute to developing patient care methods and improving healthcare services. He noted that the conference aims to spread knowledge about these diseases among healthcare providers, contribute to achieving faster and more accurate diagnoses, introduce the latest treatments, strengthen communication between doctors and researchers, and support research in this field.

He explained that the UAE Genome Program plays an important role in the country. He noted that it has significantly contributed to expanding the scope of genetic testing and enhancing access to faster diagnoses, which supports efforts to detect genetic and rare diseases early on.

He added that the Emirates Institution for Advanced Medicine is making great efforts to provide modern treatments, including genetic and enzymatic treatments, in the United Arab Emirates as soon as possible, which enhances the country’s ability to benefit from the latest therapeutic developments and medical technologies, and reflects its leadership in adopting modern innovations in the field of rare diseases.

The session on “Artificial Intelligence and Research and Innovation in the Field of Rare Diseases”, which brought together a select group of regional and international experts, discussed ways to use the integration between genomics and artificial intelligence to accelerate the discovery and diagnosis of rare diseases, and benefit from genetic data to understand disease causes and develop more accurate therapeutic solutions, as well as the role of artificial intelligence in filling research gaps and expanding access to clinical trials.

The session reviewed the latest developments in the detection and diagnosis of rare diseases, and the role of artificial intelligence and genomics in accelerating scientific research and improving access to clinical trials, along with advancements in precision medicine and the development of innovative drugs in the Middle East and North Africa.

The session also covered the latest gene editing technologies, including CRISPR-Cas9, Prime Editing, and Base Editing, as well as emerging research concepts related to transgenomic changes driven by microorganisms, and complex cellular mechanisms associated with single-gene disorders.

The program concluded with the presentation of three award-winning research studies, covering models of transitional and clinical research in the fields of Huntington's disease, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and late-onset Pompe disease, reflecting the growing scientific and research innovation in the field of rare diseases and its role in shaping the future of care, diagnosis, and treatment.