Academic CRO/Industrial Collaborations in Drug Discovery (Track)

What’s in it for me? Academia- Industry Collaboration in Training and Research- The Sharjah Model

Nabail Sulaiman


Abstract:

The College of Medicine (COM), the University of Sharjah was established in 2004 and graduated the first batch of doctors in May 2010. The vision of the COM is to strive for international prominence by differentiating itself through excellence in UG, PG education and CPD, and through strategic alliance in education and research.

Sharjah Clinical & Surgical Training Centre (CTC) is an example of strategic partnership between COM, MOH and industry (Johnson & Johnson – J&J and Olympus). The facility is a state of the art training facility, which aims to improve quality of health care in the region through up‐skilling of health care professionals to ensure the highest standard of patient's safety.

This facility is designed to suit a wide range of clinical training courses of different learning modalities and settings, including minimally invasive and SIL surgeries at the Sharjah Surgical Institute (SSI); Laser Dentistry, Laser Aesthetics as well as Laser liposuction at Sharjah Laser Training and Research Centre (SULTARC) and  American Heart Association and Medical Education courses. During the first 6 months of inauguration we conducted over 10 courses and about 20 courses is planned for this coming year.

The Sharjah Research Institute is another successful model of strategic alliance between UOS, The French Research Institute (INSERM) and Pharmaceutical industry. The main aim is to create a network of international strategic alliances with leading international research institutes to study major research areas of Molecular Medicine, Translational Research and Medical Education.

One of these research areas is diabetes research, a collaborative venture between UOS, MOH and Sanofi Avantis as well as Baker/IDI to conduct the first UAE National Diabetes Research Program. Another area of research collaboration with industry is Infectious Diseases projects with Institute Mérieux: providing co funding of US$450,000 each over a two year period.

The abovementioned examples will be discussed in details with images and video clips, and the main challenges to such collaboration will be explored.