Alzheimer’s prevention trial in UAE launched using genomic screening
Abu Dhabi has launched the first Alzheimer’s prevention trial in UAE that uses genomic screening to identify at-risk individuals before symptoms appear, officials said. The study, led by IROS (Insight Research and Solutions) from the M42 group in partnership with the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi and U.S.-based Halia Therapeutics, will evaluate a preventive investigational treatment in people who carry the APOE4 genetic variant.
The initiative begins in Abu Dhabi and will recruit participants identified through the Emirati Genome Program, which has sequenced more than 900,000 genomes. Therefore, the trial aims to combine population-scale genomic data with clinical infrastructure to enable precision medicine and early intervention for Alzheimer’s disease.
Study design and genomic selection
The prevention trial will screen individuals using genomic data from the Emirati Genome Program to locate asymptomatic carriers of APOE4, a well-established genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease. After genomic screening and genetic counseling, eligible participants will be invited to enroll and receive the investigational agent HT-4253 developed by Halia Therapeutics, according to project announcements.
Participation will be contingent on eligibility protocols approved by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi. Officials said targeted outreach will be used to contact qualifying individuals via text message, directing them to undergo clinical screening and counseling before any intervention. This approach is intended to streamline recruitment while preserving privacy and consent standards.
Data governance, privacy and regulatory oversight
The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi will oversee regulatory compliance for the initiative and ensure the responsible, ethical use of genomic data. Officials emphasized that all activities will adhere to existing data protection laws and patient privacy regulations, and that the Emirati Genome Program will be used in a manner consistent with national governance frameworks.
Furthermore, the study will link genomic information with clinical records through the Malaffi health information exchange, enabling researchers to combine genomic insights with real-world clinical data. This integration is intended to support safety monitoring, long-term follow-up and evaluation of clinical outcomes.
Why the Emirati Genome Program matters for prevention
The Emirati Genome Program, which has produced one of the world’s largest national genomic datasets, provides the scale and population diversity needed to identify APOE4 carriers at a community level. According to program officials, the resource offers deeper insight into the prevalence of APOE4 and its interaction with ancestral backgrounds among Emirati and regional populations.
Therefore, the program can help correct under-representation in global research by recruiting participants from a population often not included in large international trials. This, in turn, may improve the generalizability of study findings and support development of prevention strategies tailored to the region.
Partners, roles and the investigational therapy
IROS will lead the trial operations in Abu Dhabi, leveraging M42’s integrated clinical and data infrastructure to manage recruitment, clinical assessments and data linkage. The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi will conduct outreach and provide regulatory oversight, while Halia Therapeutics supplies the investigational compound HT-4253 and contributes scientific expertise.
Halia’s approach focuses on understanding genetic resilience and vulnerability, company statements indicate, and the trial will test whether early preventive treatment can alter the preclinical trajectory in APOE4 carriers. Officials noted that the trial represents a translational step from genomic investment to clinical research that targets prevention rather than late-stage treatment.
Implications for precision medicine in Abu Dhabi and the region
Public health and research leaders said the trial underscores Abu Dhabi’s ambition to become a hub for precision medicine and preventive health research. By integrating genomic screening with clinical trials, the city aims to accelerate earlier diagnosis and personalized interventions, officials added.
Furthermore, combining genomics with Malaffi’s clinical records could create a model for future biomarker-driven studies in other disease areas. Experts suggest such a model may encourage more preventive trials and strengthen local capacity for conducting high-quality, ethically supervised clinical research.
Related scientific and ethical considerations
Targeting pre-symptomatic individuals raises scientific and ethical questions, including how best to counsel participants about genetic risk and how to measure meaningful clinical benefit in people who are asymptomatic. Therefore, the trial includes pre-enrollment genetic counseling and ongoing monitoring to protect participants’ welfare, project materials indicate.
Additionally, officials stressed the need to balance population-level recruitment efficiency with individual autonomy and data security. The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi’s oversight role is intended to ensure those safeguards are in place.
Background: Alzheimer’s burden and the need for early intervention
Alzheimer’s disease affects tens of millions globally and remains a major public health challenge due to its progressive cognitive decline and limited curative options. Public health analyses indicate the number of people living with dementia could rise sharply in the coming decades, reinforcing the case for prevention and early intervention strategies.
By focusing on at-risk, asymptomatic individuals identified through genomics, the Abu Dhabi trial reflects a broader shift in research toward preventive therapeutics and population-based precision medicine, experts said.
What to watch next
Stakeholders said the immediate next steps include initiating targeted outreach to eligible participants, completing baseline screening and beginning dosing according to the trial protocol. Observers should watch for registration details, enrollment milestones and early safety data, which will determine how the program scales beyond the initial cohort.
In the coming months, officials expect to report on recruitment progress and the integration of genomic and clinical datasets. If successful, the project could lay the groundwork for additional biomarker-led prevention trials in the United Arab Emirates and the wider region.