Dr Shehab Al Ansari hopes his research could produce a device that helps pre-condition hearts so the organs are better prepared for heart attacks. Satish Kumar / The National
Dr Shehab Al Ansari hopes his research could produce a device that helps pre-condition hearts so the organs are better prepared for heart attacks. Satish Kumar / The National

A man with designs on your heart



DUBAI // The human heart is the part of the body that Dr Shehab Al Ansari finds most fascinating – and he hopes to find new ways to protect it.

“I’m really interested in targeting the heart before the damage is done,” said Dr Al Ansari, who is working to develop a device to help to train the heart to resist heart attacks.

Research has suggested that training the heart in advance of an event such as a heart attack can greatly reduce its severity should it occur.

He plans to present his design for a prototype product to Harvard Medical School, where he is a student, in the next year.

“My goal is to bring that to the UAE,” said Dr Al Ansari, 25, from Dubai.

While he cannot reveal details about the design because of patenting issues, the vision is for something that is easy for everyone to use and does not require an invasive procedure.

The science behind it is ischaemic preconditioning, in which parts of the body are subjected to brief episodes of a loss of blood supply, and therefore oxygen, to build resistance.

An experiment in 1986 found dogs that underwent this preconditioning before obstructing the coronary artery experienced less tissue death because of oxygen loss – or infarction – than dogs that did not have ischaemic preconditioning.

Research has since suggested that the preconditioning does not have to use such a crucial artery as the coronary artery, said Dr Al Ansari.

That means that ischaemic preconditioning could be something that is part of a patient’s everyday life, something that they could hook up, even, to a smartphone.

“Basically you condition your heart to resist low-oxygen environments,” he said. “These days they do it through an invasive way. My product kind of tackles it in a non-invasive way, an easy thing to use on a day-to-day basis.”

It could particularly benefit patients before having heart surgery, he said, to reduce the risk of mortality.

Dr Al Ansari chose his field because he saw it as the greatest opportunity to help others. It is also a field that is open to innovation, something which has held his interest ever since he played with Lego building blocks as a child.

“Why cardiology? What’s the number one cause of death?” he said. “I wanted to do something that would help people the most. The heart is pretty delicate.”

Dr Al Ansari was able to put that into action while working as a physician, after graduating near the top of his class at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.

He had a patient with heart failure – when someone’s heart cannot pump well enough to meet the body’s needs – who he treated along with a medical team.

“By the fifth day he was fine – he was walking, breathing normally,” said Dr Al Ansari.

The man was so pleased with his treatment that he brought the doctor a gift.

“That was one of the best moments in my life, because it’s gratifying,” he said.

Dr Al Ansari hopes to encourage other young people, especially fellow Emiratis and Arabian Gulf nationals, to enter medicine for this reason, particularly in rigorous fields such as neurology and cardiology.

He has started a Facebook group, UAE Medics, to offer advice and to encourage his generation to put in the effort for the reward of a satisfying career that saves lives.

“Medicine, OK, it pays, but only once you’re on top of the food chain,” he said. “They need to know that it’s also very gratifying.”

lcarroll@thenational.ae

MATCH INFO

Al Jazira 3 (O Abdulrahman 43', Kenno 82', Mabkhout 90 4')

Al Ain 1 (Laba 39')

Red cards: Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain)

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The Bio

Amal likes watching Japanese animation movies and Manga - her favourite is The Ancient Magus Bride

She is the eldest of 11 children, and has four brothers and six sisters.

Her dream is to meet with all of her friends online from around the world who supported her work throughout the years

Her favourite meal is pizza and stuffed vine leaves

She ams to improve her English and learn Japanese, which many animated programmes originate in

THE BIO

Favourite book: ‘Purpose Driven Life’ by Rick Warren

Favourite travel destination: Switzerland

Hobbies: Travelling and following motivational speeches and speakers

Favourite place in UAE: Dubai Museum

Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

THE SPECS

Engine: 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbo

Transmission: seven-speed dual clutch automatic

Power: 169bhp

Torque: 250Nm

Price: Dh54,500

On sale: now

The specs

The specs: 2019 Audi Q8
Price, base: Dh315,000
Engine: 3.0-litre turbocharged V6
Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 340hp @ 3,500rpm
Torque: 500Nm @ 2,250rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.7L / 100km
 

The specs

Engine: 3.8-litre V6

Power: 295hp at 6,000rpm

Torque: 355Nm at 5,200rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km

Price: Dh179,999-plus

On sale: now 

Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
  • 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
  • 2nd Test Thursday-Monday at Colombo
  • 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele
THE SPECS

Cadillac XT6 2020 Premium Luxury

Engine:  3.6L V-6

Transmission: nine-speed automatic

Power: 310hp

Torque: 367Nm

Price: Dh280,000

Vidaamuyarchi

Director: Magizh Thirumeni

Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra

Rating: 4/5

 

Porsche Macan T: The Specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo 

Power: 265hp from 5,000-6,500rpm 

Torque: 400Nm from 1,800-4,500rpm 

Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto 

Speed: 0-100kph in 6.2sec 

Top speed: 232kph 

Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km 

On sale: May or June 

Price: From Dh259,900  

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners

Seemar’s top six for the Dubai World Cup Carnival:

1. Reynaldothewizard
2. North America
3. Raven’s Corner
4. Hawkesbury
5. New Maharajah
6. Secret Ambition

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Emergency

Director: Kangana Ranaut

Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry 

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The Details

Kabir Singh

Produced by: Cinestaan Studios, T-Series

Directed by: Sandeep Reddy Vanga

Starring: Shahid Kapoor, Kiara Advani, Suresh Oberoi, Soham Majumdar, Arjun Pahwa

Rating: 2.5/5 

Game Changer

Director: Shankar 

Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram

Rating: 2/5

If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
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Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Tips to avoid getting scammed

1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday

2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment

3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone

4) Try not to close the sale at night

5) Don't be rushed into a sale 

6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour

Results:

2.15pm: Handicap (PA) Dh60,000 1,200m.

Winner: AZ Dhabyan, Adam McLean (jockey), Saleha Al Ghurair (trainer).

2.45pm: Maiden (PA) Dh60,000 1,200m.

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3.15pm: Conditions (PA) Dh60,000 2,000m.

Winner: Hareer Al Reef, Gerald Avranche, Abdallah Al Hammadi.

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4.15pm: Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cup (TB) Dh 200,000 1,700m.

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4.45pm: The Crown Prince Of Sharjah Cup Prestige (PA) Dh200,000 1,200m.

Winner: ES Ajeeb, Sam Hitchcott, Ibrahim Aseel.

MATCH INFO

Serie A

Juventus v Fiorentina, Saturday, 8pm (UAE)

Match is on BeIN Sports