Center for Biomedical Innovations (CBI)
About Us
The Center for Biomedical Innovations (CBI) is a multidisciplinary hub advancing healthcare solutions for the UAE and the wider region. Bringing together expertise in biomedical engineering, life sciences and artificial intelligence, CBI develops practical technologies that improve diagnostics, therapeutics and precision medicine.
With a unique engineering‑first approach, CBI builds the enabling tools, such as microfluidic platforms, intelligent diagnostics, advanced materials and AI‑driven health systems that help move scientific discoveries from the lab into real clinical use. This positions the center as a key contributor within the UAE’s growing biomedical ecosystem.
CBI's research is organized into three interconnected themes spanning biological discovery, technology development and data‑driven healthcare intelligence. Through hands‑on research, interdisciplinary training and strong partnerships with healthcare providers, government agencies, industry and the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SRTIP), the center supports innovation, technology transfer and commercialization.
CBI is committed to advancing healthcare innovation and delivering solutions that create meaningful impact locally, regionally and globally.
- Mission
To be a leading interdisciplinary research center that advances biomedical innovation that addresses regional and global healthcare challenges through impactful science in biosciences, bioengineering and digital health by integrating expertise in advanced biomedical devices, biofunctional materials, microbiome science, longevity research and AI-driven healthcare systems. CBI serves as a hub for translational innovation, empowering researchers and students to accelerate scientific discovery, improve healthcare outcomes and contribute to sustainable societal progress
- Objectives
- Advance Research: Conduct interdisciplinary research in biosciences, bioengineering and digital health to develop innovative diagnostic, therapeutic and healthcare technologies and advance scientific discovery through high-impact research outputs
- Secure Funding: Attract competitive national and international funding from research agencies, industry partners and philanthropic sources to strengthen research capacity, infrastructure and long-term sustainability
- Develop Technologies: Translate scientific discoveries into deployable biomedical technologies through intellectual property generation, patenting, commercialization and specialized research services for healthcare, government and industry stakeholders
- Build Partnerships: Establish strategic collaborations with academic institutions, healthcare providers, government organizations and industry partners to advance translational biomedical research and innovation
- Transfer Knowledge: Promote knowledge exchange, technology translation and interdisciplinary training to support innovation, evidence-based decision-making and the development of the next generation of biomedical researchers and professionals
- Support Healthcare Innovation: Align research initiatives with UAE priorities in healthcare, biotechnology and artificial intelligence to improve health outcomes, strengthen global competitiveness and contribute to sustainable societal progress
Research
Theme 1: Advanced Biomedical Devices and Microtechnologies
This theme develops next-generation biomedical platforms, including microfluidic systems, BioMEMS, lab-on-chip devices, wearable and implantable biosensors and integrated diagnostic and therapeutic systems. By enabling precise manipulation of biological systems, real-time monitoring and scalable, cost-effective healthcare solutions, it serves as the core enabling layer for the center, supporting all other research activities. The theme focuses on device prototyping, validation and translation ensuring readiness for clinical and industrial deployment, while providing enabling platforms for biological experimentation, tissue modeling, advanced diagnostics and medical device engineering innovation.
- Team
Theme Lead
Dr. Mohamed Abdelgawad, Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering
Members
- Dr. Ghaleb Husseini, Professor in Chemical and Biological Engineering
- Dr. Reem Khalil, Associate Professor in Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences
- Dr. Mohammad Al-Sayah, Professor in Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences
Theme 2: Biofunctional Materials, Microbiome and Precision Health
Leveraging the platforms developed in Theme 1, this theme serves as the biological and translational core of the center, advancing precision health through the development and application of biomaterials, advanced drug delivery systems, microbiome science, pharmacology, regenerative and longevity-based therapies, including tissue engineering and nanomedicine. By integrating experimental biology with translational research, it advances precision medicine approaches through the study of cellular systems, disease mechanisms and therapeutic interventions to generate high-value biological datasets and clinically relevant insights. The theme emphasizes the development of next-generation therapeutics and personalized treatment strategies positioning itself at the interface of biology, materials science and clinical application.
- Team
Theme Lead
Dr. Amin Majdalawieh, Professor in Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences
Members
- Dr. Mohammad Al-Sayah, Professor in Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences
- Dr. Sara Dalibalta, Associate Professor in Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences
- Dr. Amjad Mahasneh, Professor in Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences
- Dr. Abdulrahim Sajini, Assistant Professor in Biology, Chemistry and Environmental Sciences
Theme 3: AI-Enabled Integrated Devices and Diagnostics
This theme serves as the intelligence and data integration layer of the center, integrating artificial intelligence and advanced analytics into the experimental, device-driven, and biological systems developed across themes 1 and 2 to enable data-driven healthcare solutions. By combining AI with microfluidic platforms, biosensors, imaging systems and tissue-engineered models, it supports embedded real-time analysis, automation, adaptive clinical decision support and scalable digital health applications. The theme advances digital pathology, spatial biology, biosignal processing, multimodal data integration, AI-driven laboratory automation, human–robot interaction, neuroengineering and AI applications in mental health, while translating innovations into real-world, deployable clinical tools through software-as-a-service platforms and healthcare partnerships. Designed for direct integration with major clinics and hospitals, the theme enables validation, deployment and scaling of technologies within real healthcare settings, supporting clinical workflow optimization, population health analytics and interoperable healthcare systems. Collectively, the theme bridges engineering innovation with clinical intelligence, ensuring that solutions developed within the center are data‑driven, scalable and deployable across modern healthcare ecosystems.
- Team
Theme Lead
- Dr. Hasan Al-Nashash, Professor in Electrical Engineering
Members
- Dr. Usman Tariq, Associate Professor in Electrical Engineering
- Dr. Hasan Mir, Professor in Electrical Engineering
- Dr. Salam Dhou, Associate Professor in Computer Science and Engineering
- Dr. Kamil El Khoury, Visiting Assistant Professor in Chemical and Biological Engineering
