Annual Clinical Microbiology Conference stress role of AI treating diseases

Dr. Mohamed Yaqoub, associate professor at MBZUAI, leads a specialised research team at Mohammad Bin Zayed university, revealed that the university is currently conducting research with Sheikh Shakhbout Hospital on the use of artificial intelligence to diagnose leukemia. It will be implemented in the near future

Dr. Yaquob stressed that artificial intelligence has the ability to provide solutions for many diseases, including heart disease and cancer, as well as diagnose birth defects in fetuses, pointing out that the university is collaborating with hospitals in Abu Dhabi and other emirates to speed up diagnosis and improve its accuracy, leading to superior patient care.

This came in a lecture delivered at the third annual conference of the Emirates Society for Clinical Microbiology, during which he highlighted the need to integrate artificial intelligence (artificial intelligence) into the healthcare sector in the UAE.

Dr. Yaqoub, who leads a specialised research team at the university, focused on leveraging artificial intelligence, gave a presentation on the use of machine learning to speed up and enhance diagnostic processes, and make them accessible to healthcare providers, pointing out that “artificial intelligence has the potential to provide solutions for many diseases, including heart disease and cancer, as well as diagnose birth defects in fetuses.”

Furthermore, Dr. Yacoub emphasised the importance of using AI to detect congenital heart disease in infants before birth, pointing to the fact that many babies are born with undiagnosed defects.

Many babies are born every day with undiagnosed congenital heart disease. MBZUAI is conducting research with Abu Dhabi's Corniche Hospital to use AI analysis for early detection of heart disease in children. Artificial intelligence checks the normal state in the fetus, alerting doctors if certain clinical criteria are not met."

“AI analyses information, suggests immediate and effective responses, and gets the life-saving treatment they need. The sooner you can tell if something is wrong, the more effective your intervention will be.”

“MBZUAI is actively involved in many research projects in the healthcare sector, harnessing the power of AI to enhance accuracy and efficiency in healthcare services for the benefit of patients and society.”

He stressed that the role of artificial intelligence in healthcare is indispensable for data analysis, enabling doctors to choose the most appropriate antibiotics from the start, ultimately leading to a faster recovery for the patient.

The third annual conference, hosted by Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) in Dubai, with 450 participants participating, served as an interactive platform to share the latest research, findings, experiences and guidelines in the field of clinical microbiology.

Among the attendees were 27 prominent national speakers and with a diverse agenda of 36 lectures, the event delved into emerging topics and addressed the latest developments and challenges in the industry.

Dr. Anju Nabi, Vice-President of the European Council on Climate Management (ESCM), confirmed that the conference included 10 international speakers, along with delegates, experts, scientists, doctors, microbiologists, students and industry specialists in anticipation of the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP28 in the UAE, where they discussed the role of microbiology in addressing climate change and antimicrobial resistance while pursuing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to reduce carbon emissions.

"The conference also looked at the critical role microbiologists play in reducing the carbon footprint through waste recycling, laboratory practices and the safe disposal of pollutants," said Dr. Nabi.

The conference also attracted many participants and students from various universities, including Emirati students who have a passion for clinical microbiology and are keen to explore the latest research, findings, experiences and guidelines in the field."

The closing day of the conference focused on vital topics such as healthcare-related infections, antimicrobial resistance, new antimicrobials, respiratory pathogens, the human microbiome, mycology, and lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.