UAE Launches Gene Therapy Initiatives for Autism & Rare Brain Disorders

Category : Science and Tech Published on: February 24 2026

Share on facebook

The United Arab Emirates has launched two pioneering gene therapy programmes led by Emirates Health Services, shifting from symptom-based treatment to precision medicine targeting genetic causes of disease in children.
One initiative, developed with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, focuses on genetic mutations linked to autism and epilepsy. It includes research on Beta-Propeller Protein-Associated Neurodegeneration (BPAN), aiming to intervene at the molecular level to alter disease progression.
The second project targets rare neurodegenerative disorders using gene repair strategies, biomarker research, and AI-based genomic analysis. Data from the Emirati Genome Programme will support personalized treatment, reflecting the UAE’s strategy to integrate biotechnology, genomics and artificial intelligence into advanced paediatric healthcare.