Dubai: Al Jalila Foundation on Monday signed a new agreement in support of UAE-based medical research.
Under the deal with the Index Holding group, the Index Trading and Investment subsidiary will commit to donate a fixed percentage of its sales of a baby product brand to the Foundation’s medical research programmes.
Another subsidiary, Index Conferences and Exhibitions Organisation Est, will also contribute a percentage of exhibitor and delegate registration fees from all its events.
Officials at the signing ceremony did not announce any percentage or cash amounts, but the Index group chairman said the figures would be ‘significant’.
Dr Abdul Salam Al Madani told Gulf News that research was particularly needed now as killer diseases such as cancer are rising “and we don’t really know why.”
“This [signing] is a long-term commitment rather than a one-off donation,” he added.
Meanwhile, Foundation CEO Abdul Kareem Al Olama said the Index contributions would be used to support grants to UAE-based medical researchers of any nationality.
The value of the grants could be as high as Dh300,000, Al Olama added.
The research would be used to better understand and combat diseases such as obesity, cancer, cardiovascular illnesses, and diabetes.
The philanthropic organisation is also developing the Al Jalila Foundation Research Centre, expected to open in 2016.
Following the signing, Al Olama presented the Foundation’s ‘Key of Hope’ to Dr Al Madani. The commemorative key is inspired by the Foundation’s pledge to “unlock new advancements for a healthier society.”
