Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences

The Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences was established on 10 April 1999, when Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, issued the Supreme Decree No. (5) to establish the award, with the objective of honouring scientists from every part of the world who pursue medical research that serves the larger interests of humanity.

The award recognizes the importance of scientific research in the UAE, and funds domestic health research.

All contributors to the alleviation of sufferings of patients and care for community health are eligible for the award.

The topics of the first term, 1999-2000 were selected to be for Grand Hamdan International Award - Cardiovascular Medicine and Surgery, and for Hamdan Award for Medical Research Excellence - Recombinant Vaccines in Infectious Diseases, Genetics in Diabetes, Therapy in Leukemia.

The topics of the second term, 2001-2002 were selected to be for Grand Hamdan International Award - Obstetrics & Gynecology, and for Hamdan Award for Medical Research Excellence - Gene Therapy of Inherited Disorders, Pathogenesis and Therapy of Autoimmune Disorders, Apoptosis in Disease & Health. Infertility is probably the single most common ailment to afflict men and women of reproductive age. It has been estimated that the level of infertility in the community is probably one out of every seven couples of reproductive age.

The topics of the third term, 2003-2004 were selected to be for Grand Hamdan International Award - Renal Diseases: Pathogenesis & Management, and for Hamdan Award for Medical Research Excellence - Emerging Viral & Prion Diseases, Minimally Invasive Surgical Technology, Prevention & Non-invasive Therapy of Gastrointestinal Disorders. Renal disease affects people of all ages and lead to considerable distress and early death for a significant number of persons. Kidney disease appears at all ages with newborn babies being affected with congenital and genetic problems, young children developing kidney problems as a primary condition or as a complication of other disease. The elderly, especially, are prone to develop kidney problems and renal failure as their health deteriorates.

The topics of the fourth term, 2005-2006 were selected to be for Grand Hamdan International Award - Molecular and Cellular Pathology of Neurological Disorders, and for Hamdan Award for Medical Research Excellence - Biology of Aging, Cytokines in Pathogenesis & Therapy of Diseases, Pathogenesis of Hypertension. Neurological disorders are more prominent today than at perhaps any other time in history. Neurological disorders affect the central nervous system, the peripheral nervous system, and the autonomic nervous system. Scientists use the tools of molecular biology, biochemistry and cell biology to probe into and advance in understanding the processes, which underlie neurological disorders.