His Highness Sheikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman inaugurates Advanced Medical Research Facility and Advanced Simulation Center established at Gulf Medical University

Research will be the main focus area along with education and healthcare

A state-of-the-art Medical Research Facility named the Centre for Advanced Biomedical Research and Innovation (CABRI) has been set up within the premises of the Gulf Medical University at Ajman, UAE. His Highness Sheikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi Member of the Supreme Council UAE and Ruler of Ajman inaugurated the Center in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Nahayan Bin Mubarak Al Nahayan, Minister for Youth and Culture UAE, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, HH Sheikh Rashid Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, and University President Mr. Thumbay Moideen on 13^th of January 2014. Various officials from the Ministry of Health, other institutions and industry experts were also present on the occasion. His Highness also inaugurated the Center for Advanced Simulation in Healthcare (C.A.S.H) at the university.

His Highness Sheikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi interacted with the students of GMU and asked them to use the excellent facilities provided by the university. HH offered all help and support to the students who wish to pursue their higher education.

The two new facilities fill a long standing need felt by the university and will help its long term goals by enabling its transition from a purely academic institution to that of a research and innovation based university says Prof. Gita Ashok Raj, Provost of Gulf Medical University. It involved a lot of planning over the past two years to establish the centers. Our President Mr. Thumbay Moideen strongly supported us in this initiative. But for his encouragement, the realization of such an advanced center would not have been possible, she added.

It is a matter of pride for us. The university is just fifteen years old and we are on our way to fulfill our mission to become a research based institution. We have a very dedicated and an experienced team to lead the Center. We are looking forward to more exciting times in the years to come, said the Founder President and Chairman of Board of Governors of the University Mr. Thumbay Moideen. Our core areas are Education, Healthcare and Research and we are making every effort to realize the aspirations of our students, by providing opportunities for high quality education, research and clinical training. Research will be the biggest activity at the university in the years to come. We want to encourage the faculty and students to undertake research studies and we will also invite other institutions and industry to partner with us in such scientific activities, he added.

Speaking to the media, His Excellency Dr. Amin Al Amiri, Asst under Secretary and CEO of Medical Licensing Department Ministry of health praised the high standards of the Simulation and Research center. He said that what was seen today at this facility is one of the best not only in UAE but in the region. Staff and faculty are highly qualified and it is a good teaching center for the students who will get good exposure. They are being well prepared for their further studies. Speaking about Research, he said that it is essential to have good research facilities and the Center at GMU is very advanced and I am highly impressed with the facilities. This is a great addition to the existing facilities at the university. We will plan for a strategic partnership with the university. We are already providing training facility for the students in MoH hospitals during their clinical years. Over all I am very happy with what I have seen today, he said.

The Center for Advanced Biomedical Research and Innovation will focus on research studies and advanced diagnostics in nationally important health areas like Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases, Genetic Disorders, Allergies and Thalassemia says Dr. P K Menon, MD PhD. who heads the Center as its Director. We are keen to work with the industry and carry out industry sponsored research and generate Intellectual Property Rights. We are already working with some of the multinational companies on various research projects. We want to focus on diagnostic testing. The Center has, in addition, the ability to do bio analytical testing, toxicology testing and rare metal analysis, explained Dr. Menon. The Center aims to be a leading service provider for High Complexity Testing in the next 3-5 years. We want to replace dependency of UAE on foreign labs. We wish to develop critical manpower within the country, so that UAE becomes a leader of medical research and diagnostics in the region” said Dr. Menon.

The Center for Advanced Biomedical Research and Innovation will raise the current undergraduate facility to a higher pedestal as a postgraduate facility, predominantly focusing on graduate studies and medical research.  The Center will encourage and nurture our students and faculty members to be active in research. The Center plans to launch inter-institutional collaboration within UAE and abroad. We will also launch a Graduate Lecture Series program. We are also seeking accreditation from the College of American Pathologists, concluded Dr. Menon.

His Highness inaugurates the Center for Advanced Simulation in Healthcare

The university has also established a Center for Advanced Simulation in Healthcare (C.A.S.H). Our Vision, says Prof. Gita Ashok Raj, is to integrate simulation as an educational tool to provide a state-of-the-art, safe learning environment that promotes professional development of students, faculty, health care providers and members of the community through high quality and internationally recognized education and training programs.

The Center for Advanced Simulation in Healthcare (C.A.S.H) at Gulf Medical University has been developed as a multidisciplinary educational facility that will provide both high fidelity and low fidelity simulation & skills for clinical and communication skills teaching and training for all health care professionals, informed Prof. Manda Venkatramana, Director (Interim) of the Center and Dean College of Medicine.

C.A.S.H simulates a hospital setting and has mock OPDs, General Ward, ICU, NICU, Operation Theater, Radiology Labs / Suite, Delivery Suite (Triage and First Stage), Diagnostic Lab, and Pharmacy. The Center also offers training in Communication Skills, History taking skills, Physical Examination Skills, Interpretation Skills (Clinical and Diagnostic), Patient Management Skills, First Aid Skills, Nursing Skills and Life Support Training (Basic, Advanced and Paediatric).

An Assessment Hall for OSCE/OSPE stations with modular furniture and movable partitions and monitored by CCTV, will be used for skills performance evaluation.

Prof. Gita Ashok Raj further said “We wish to encourage the acquisition of basic and advanced clinical skills/behaviors that are essential for continuing education and proficiency testing”. The Center will deliver resources that will support acquisition of clinical skills necessary for advanced practice roles, promote and reinforce interpersonal communication and team building. We will cultivate competent, confident and ethical practitioners, and extend the services of the Center in education and healthcare beyond our institution to regional healthcare practitioners and members of the community and establish C.A.S.H as a leading provider of quality health care, education and research in simulated settings.

Medical Simulation is the set-up, used for monitoring and review of a controlled medical event, designed to educate health care providers and broaden their experience in critical situations. Since simulations are completely staged and programmed as per the scenario, participants are able to make mistakes and learn from them without any risk to patients, and apply what they have learned in real life situations.

The Center will offer regular training courses in Basic clinical skills, Basic surgical skills, Acute Care Medical Simulations, Advanced Airway Management, Teamwork and Communication skills, Crisis Resource Management (CRM), First Aid, BLS /ATLS and Standardized OSCEs, concluded Prof. Manda Venkatramana. The center is an accredited provider of American Heart Association programs.