On November 24, 2021 Professor Sherief Khalifa, Vice Chancellor for Quality & Global Engagement and Dean, College of Pharmacy, Gulf Medical University (GMU) presented at the National Center for Health Research (NCHR) – Ministry of Health and Prevention Forum on: “The UAE’s Strategic Directions in the Health and Medical Research Sector”.
He presented on the current status of Health and Medical Research at GMU and how the university is contributing to the national vision in health-related research. The presentation highlighted the major research areas where GMU is playing a leading role in the region. The GMU Academic Health System has enabled high quality and impactful research combining excellence in education, healthcare practice and innovation. In his presentation, he explained how clinical and medical education research that improves practice can lead to better health to society with socioeconomic impact leading to less healthcare related economic burden on the country. Other issues that transpired in the discussion include internal, national and international collaboration, maximum utilization of available resources, and the career path for clinician scientists through research fellowship programs.