Khalifa University Research Institute for Health accelerates the development of healthcare technologies by supporting high-TRL solutions and advancing commercialization pathways. Aligned with the “Made-in-the-UAE” vision, the Institute focuses on developing locally owned and manufactured healthcare technologies, reducing reliance on imports while fostering national talent and expertise.
By bridging the gap between late-stage innovation and market adoption, the Institute works closely with researchers, clinicians, industry partners, and investors to translate validated prototypes into scalable, real-world applications. Through targeted funding, mentorship, and strategic collaboration, it empowers the development of high-impact medical devices, digital health platforms, diagnostics, and therapeutic technologies, contributing to improved health outcomes and sustainable growth in the healthcare sector.
To be a leading hub for healthcare innovation, advancing high-impact, market-ready technologies that transform healthcare systems in the UAE and globally.
To accelerate the development and commercialization of healthcare technologies by supporting high-TRL solutions, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and enabling the translation of research into scalable, real-world applications aligned with national priorities.
Senior Director – Research Institute for Health
Prof. Mohamed Seghier has more than 25 years of experience in functional neuroimaging, brain mapping, and cognitive neuroscience. Before moving to the UAE, he held the position of Senior Research Fellow at the interdisciplinary Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London (UCL) in the United Kingdom. Since September 2021, he moved to Khalifa University where he acted as the Director of the Healthcare Engineering Innovation Group for four years.
Dr. Seghier has wide-ranging experience in research-oriented institutions in many countries (France, Switzerland, UK, UAE). He has supervised research assistants and many research projects from undergraduate to post-doctoral level. Since 2018, Dr Seghier has been serving as Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Imaging Systems and Technology (published by Wiley). Since 2023, he has been serving as Handling Editor at Imaging Neuroscience (published by MIT).
The Research Institute for Health aims to be a leading platform dedicated to fostering cutting-edge research and strengthening translational science in the UAE healthcare sector. Its driver is to accelerate innovation and support the development of market-ready, “Made-in-the-UAE” health solutions that address specific challenges.
The Research Institute for Health aims to connect KU’s multidisciplinary faculty and laboratories with our partners to address specific needs of the UAE healthcare sector. It works closely with several existing entities at Khalifa University, including research centers, research groups, and research laboratories at KU to boost the translational potential of projects and solutions.
With our clinical and industrial partners, we can:
The Research Institute for Heath leverages existing multidisciplinary resources (expertise and labs) that exist in several entities at Khalifa University, including research centers, research groups, and research laboratories.
To know more about our key KU resources, check the following webpages:
The Research Institute for Health aims to be a translation hub in the UAE healthcare sector. It supports the development of impactful solutions and technologies that solve real word problems in the UAE and beyond. It aims to put the spot on the outstanding research at KU to translate it, in collaboration with our partners, into marketable medical solutions.
As the leading university in the UAE, KU offers valuable expertise and resources that can be used to create innovative solutions for challenges facing the country’s healthcare sector. To ensure maximum impact, the institute aims to facilitate this endeavor.
The Research Institute for Health promotes a new initiative known as Shaarek (meaning “participate”), a program designed to solicit innovative ideas from all stakeholders, including researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and members of the general public. Specifically, any UAE citizen or resident who have an idea or prototype that can solve a concrete problem in healthcare, regardless of its scale and scope, is strongly encouraged to reach out to the director of the Research Institute for Health to explore opportunities for joint projects with KU experts.
The Research Institute for Health is organizing a series of events that bring together a wide range of stakeholders from the UAE healthcare ecosystem. These events provide a platform to showcase cutting-edge innovations and technologies developed by Khalifa University in collaboration with our strategic partners. The events aim to foster knowledge exchange, inspire new collaborations, and highlight the impact of KU’s research-driven solutions on the healthcare sector.
The Research Institute for Health works closely with KU research offices [link: /research-offices]. This facilitates the optimization of organizational procedures and logistical operations, supporting effective development and commercialization strategies.
Working closely with academic institutions, healthcare providers, industry leaders, and government stakeholders, the Research Institute for Health advances a dynamic research ecosystem that drives economic diversification, enhances healthcare outcomes, and positions the UAE as a regional hub for health innovation and advanced biomedical technologies.
The Research Institute for Heath works directly with clinical and industrial partners to identify high-impact unmet needs and translate them into focused R&D programs delivered by Khalifa University’s experts across biomedical engineering, AI, digital health, biotechnology, medical devices, and data science.
By partnering with us, you gain: