A team of Biomedical Sciences students from the College of Medicine, Gulf Medical University, achieved a remarkable milestone by securing First Place in the Clinical Sciences Category (Natural and Health Sciences) at the 13th Undergraduate Research and Innovation Competition (URIC) 2026, hosted by Abu Dhabi University, UAE, on May 21, 2026.
The winning team, comprising Sumayyah Subakathulla, Prasanna AP, Norwin Manoj, and Azima Patanwala, investigated the utility of Lipid Accumulation Product (LAP) and the Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI) as integrated markers for assessing insulin resistance and dyslipidemia among women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) in the UAE. The study explored whether these simple, clinically accessible indices could serve as effective tools for identifying metabolic disturbances associated with PCOS. By focusing on the relationship among adiposity, lipid metabolism, and cardiometabolic risk, the research deepens understanding of metabolic health in women and highlights the potential value of LAP and VAI for improving risk assessment, early screening, and preventive healthcare strategies for women affected by PCOS.
Despite the high prevalence of PCOS, there remains limited awareness of its strong association with metabolic dysfunction, including insulin resistance and long-term cardiometabolic risk. This study highlights the potential of simple surrogate indices to support earlier identification and screening of metabolic abnormalities in affected women.
Conducted as their graduation capstone research, the project reflects months of dedicated work in study design, data analysis, interpretation, and scientific presentation, competing with submissions from universities across the UAE and beyond.
The research was supervised by Dr. Pallav Sengupta, Associate Professor in Physiology, College of Medicine, Gulf Medical University, with co-supervision from Dr. Sovan Bagchi, Professor in Physiology, College of Medicine, Gulf Medical University, and Dr. Prashanth Hegde, Clinical Associate Professor in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Thumbay University Hospital, Ajman, reflecting strong academic and research mentorship at Gulf Medical University.
We congratulate the team on this outstanding achievement and their contribution to advancing clinical and metabolic research. This achievement aligns with the United Nations Sustainable.
Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
SDG 3: Good Health and Well Being; SDG 4: Quality Education; SDG 5: Gender Equality
