The Emirate of Abu Dhabi is confronting major public health challenges in tobacco use, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. These factors have complex co-determinants in human genetic susceptibility and environmental conditions, ranging potentially from the built environment to the human microbial milieu (microbiome). The mission of the NYU Abu Dhabi Public Health Research Center (PHRC) is to improve the health of the population in the United Arab Emirates through scientific research.

Principal Goals

• To identify environmental and genetic determinants of health and of premature death, disease and disability in UAE.
• To develop and test novel public health interventions to promote wellness and reduce premature death, disease and disability in UAE.
• To create a world-class public health research center in Abu Dhabi and develop a cadre of highly skilled public health scientists and practitioners.
  

Our Focus

NYUAD PHRC focuses on addressing critical health topics for Abu Dhabi through two major projects:

UAE Healthy Future Study
As the first prospective cohort study in the United Arab Emirates, the UAE Healthy Future Study will provide unique and substantive evidence for both lifestyle and genetic determinants of common diseases in the UAE population.

Smoking Cessation: Dokha Research
In order to decrease the prevalence of tobacco use, a program of identification and intervention in smoking behavior, tailored to the specific needs of the Abu Dhabi population, will be created.