GMU Holds 8th Annual Scientific Meeting to Discuss Trends in Medical Innovation and Translation Research
UAE: The 8th Annual Scientific Meeting of Gulf Medical University (GMU), Ajman concluded at the university campus on 8th November 2016, marking the end of the two-day event to discuss and deliberate on the research studies conducted in the university over the past year. This year, there were a total of 34 paper presentations, including 13 posters, covering observational and experimental studies conducted in multiple settings, the hospital, community and the laboratory.
The theme of the 8th Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) was “Medical Innovation and Translation Research: Vision 2020.” There were 20 presentations on biomedical sciences and clinical practice, 8 on dental sciences and practice, and 2 each in pharmaceutical sciences and clinical pharmacy, physiotherapy sciences and clinical practice and health professions education. All the presentations are being published as full papers in the supplementary issue of the Gulf Medical Journal.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the event, Prof. Gita Ashok Raj, Provost of GMU said that the aim of organizing ASM was to foster greater collaboration between the different medical and health sciences faculties, to nurture interdisciplinary research. “I sincerely hope these research studies will serve as a nidus for greater innovation and translation research in the future, with the establishment of the Innovation Center in our university early next year,” she added.
Dr P K Menon, Director of GMU’s Center for Advanced Biomedical Research and Innovation (CABRI) explained the theme, format and objectives of the Annual Scientific Meeting, in his speech at the opening ceremony. He gave a detailed presentation on the upcoming Innovation Center of GMU, outlining its scope and opportunities. “By setting up the Innovation center, we aim to bring the best of technology and innovation and combine them with GMU’s teaching practices, so that our students stay up-to-date with the latest developments in the field,” he explained.
Every year, GMU sets aside two full days to present the research studies conducted in the university and provide the university community an opportunity to attend the presentations in large numbers, hear the discussions and benefit from the new knowledge that has been generated. This year’s ASM had 18 student presentations and 16 faculty presentations. Mementos and certificates were awarded to faculty members and students for the oral and poster presentations.
About Gulf Medical University
Established at Ajman in 1998 as Gulf Medical College by Thumbay Moideen, the Founder President of Thumbay Group, the institution became a full-fledged medical university – the Gulf Medical University, in 2008. Today, GMU is considered the most sought after private medical university in the region. Internationally recognized curriculum, own network of teaching hospitals, an established research division, highly experienced/qualified faculty, separate furnished hostels for boys and girls, safe transportation facilities, on-campus recreation and refreshment facilities etc. are some of the factors behind the huge popularity of the University. GMU’s student cohort is a confluence of 75 nationalities, and it has faculty members and staff from around 22 nationalities.
GMU also houses the Centre for Advanced Biomedical Research and Innovation (CABRI), which carries out world-class research in the field of medicine and the Center for Advanced Simulation in Healthcare (CASH), a multidisciplinary educational facility integrating simulation as an educational tool for providing a state-of-the-art, safe learning environment that promotes professional development. A state-of-the-art Innovation Center is being developed in GMU, which will enhance its culture of innovation, entrepreneurship and creativity. It will serve as a point of contact for scientists, faculty and students interested in medical research, in addition to fostering international collaborations and partnerships. The Innovation Center will be the first of its kind in the region and will have devoted innovation and incubation laboratories.
