A company that uses artificial intelligence to speed up drug trials will open a research centre in Abu Dhabi.
Quris-AI signed an agreement with the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence this week to develop a bio-AI centre in the capital.
The Tel Aviv and Boston-based company recently attracted tens of millions of dollars in funding for its “patient-on-a-chip” technology, with Softbank's Vision Fund among the investors.
Quris research operations are led by Nobel laureate Prof Aaron Ciechanover and Moderna co-founder Prof Robert Langer.
One compelling aspect of my discussions has been about solving UAE-specific health problems faster and more cost-effectively
Prof Eric Xing,
Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence
Prof Eric Xing, the university's president, said together the two parties would look at how drugs could be tailored for patient use in the UAE.
“One compelling aspect of my discussions with Prof Ciechanover and the Quris team has been about solving UAE-specific health problems faster and more cost-effectively,” Dr Xing said.
The “patient-on-a-chip” technique involves rapid tests using AI technology that simulates genetically diverse patients.
This negates the need for animal testing and avoids the risk and cost associated with failed clinical trials.
The average cost of developing a new drug from scratch takes a decade and costs $2.8 billion. Even then, about 90 per cent of new drugs fail the second stage of clinical trials.
“The organelle systems being developed at Quris are a revolutionary platform for high-throughput drug testing, which can be best served by a similarly high-throughput drug design pipeline using AI,” Prof Xing said.
“Our unique capacities in computational biology and machine learning at MBZUAI will enhance Quris’ efforts to accelerate the development of new personalised and potentially life-saving medicines.”
Dr Isaac Bentwich, founder and chief executive of Quris, said the centre was the latest step in UAE's ambitions to “to become a centre of excellence in AI as a strong pillar of the economy, and we are honoured to contribute to realising this vision”.
Dr Bentwich has previously likened drug testing to building 10 tower blocks, with the knowledge that “nine will crumble”.
“But you have no idea which ones will fall, so all you can do is build them and charge a higher rent on the one that keeps standing,” he said at the time.
“That's the problem we are trying to solve.”
As of December 2022, Quris had attracted $37 million in seed funding, including $9 million from Japan's SoftBank.
Former Pfizer chief executive Henry McKinnell is chairman of the Quris Advisory Board, alongside Dr Kobi Richter, founder of world-leading companies Medinol and Orbotech.
The National photo project
Chris Whiteoak, a photographer at The National, spent months taking some of Jacqui Allan's props around the UAE, positioning them perfectly in front of some of the country's most recognisable landmarks. He placed a pirate on Kite Beach, in front of the Burj Al Arab, the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland at the Burj Khalifa, and brought one of Allan's snails (Freddie, which represents her grandfather) to the Dubai Frame. In Abu Dhabi, a dinosaur went to Al Ain's Jebel Hafeet. And a flamingo was taken all the way to the Hatta Mountains. This special project suitably brings to life the quirky nature of Allan's prop shop (and Allan herself!).
Read more from Aya Iskandarani
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 290hp
Torque: 340Nm
Price: Dh155,800
On sale: now
Dr Graham's three goals
Short term
Establish logistics and systems needed to globally deploy vaccines
Intermediate term
Build biomedical workforces in low- and middle-income nations
Long term
A prototype pathogen approach for pandemic preparedness
Series result
1st ODI Zimbabwe won by 6 wickets
2nd ODI Sri Lanka won by 7 wickets
3rd ODI Sri Lanka won by 8 wickets
4th ODI Zimbabwe won by 4 wickets
5th ODI Zimbabwe won by 3 wickets
Day 1, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Sadeera Samarawickrama set pulses racing with his strokeplay on his introduction to Test cricket. It reached a feverish peak when he stepped down the wicket and launched Yasir Shah, who many regard as the world’s leading spinner, back over his head for six. No matter that he was out soon after: it felt as though the future had arrived.
Stat of the day - 5 The last time Sri Lanka played a Test in Dubai – they won here in 2013 – they had four players in their XI who were known as wicketkeepers. This time they have gone one better. Each of Dinesh Chandimal, Kaushal Silva, Samarawickrama, Kusal Mendis, and Niroshan Dickwella – the nominated gloveman here – can keep wicket.
The verdict Sri Lanka want to make history by becoming the first team to beat Pakistan in a full Test series in the UAE. They could not have made a better start, first by winning the toss, then by scoring freely on an easy-paced pitch. The fact Yasir Shah found some turn on Day 1, too, will have interested their own spin bowlers.
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
'The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window'
Director:Michael Lehmann
Stars:Kristen Bell
Rating: 1/5
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
The specs
Engine: 3.6 V6
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Power: 295bhp
Torque: 353Nm
Price: Dh155,000
On sale: now
THE SPECS
Jaguar F-Pace SVR
Engine: 5-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Power: 542bhp
Torque: 680Nm
Price: Dh465,071
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants
FIXTURES
Fixtures for Round 15 (all times UAE)
Friday
Inter Milan v AS Roma (11.45pm)
Saturday
Atalanta v Verona (6pm)
Udinese v Napoli (9pm)
Lazio v Juventus (11.45pm)
Sunday
Lecce v Genoa (3.30pm)
Sassuolo v Cagliari (6pm)
SPAL v Brescia (6pm)
Torino v Fiorentina (6pm)
Sampdoria v Parma (9pm)
Bologna v AC Milan (11.45pm)
TO ALL THE BOYS: ALWAYS AND FOREVER
Directed by: Michael Fimognari
Starring: Lana Condor and Noah Centineo
Two stars
