NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) researchers have made significant discoveries over the last ten years and are contributing to a healthier, more sustainable, and innovative future for the UAE. As NYUAD celebrates its tenth anniversary, this list spotlights ten important research projects initiated over the past decade, which look at issues of local consequence from wildlife conservation to historical preservation, genomic sequencing, and public health.
- UAE Healthy Future Study
The UAE Healthy Future Study (UAEHFS) is the first long-term national study of Emirati health which aims to understand the cause of the rising cases of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease and prevent these diseases in the future. The study is a partnership between hospitals, universities and government and will provide a national resource for doctors and researchers in the UAE to help improve the future health of the nation.
Researchers: Director and Principal Investigator Public Health Research Center Raghib Ali, Assistant Professor of Biology and Co-Principal Investigator of Public Health Research Center Youssef Idaghdour, Associate Director Public Health Research Center AbdishakurAbdulle, Co-Principal Investigator Scott Sherman
2. Trends in Regional Mangrove Research
Researchers at the NYUAD Center for Genomics and Systems Biology (CGSB) have analyzed the evolution of mangrove research in the Arabian region over the past half-century to determine geographic and topic-area trends, and allow identification of priority areas for future research.
Researchers: Associate Professor of Biology at John Burt and Postdoctoral Associate Guillermo Friis
3. Sustainable 3D Printed Masks to Combat the Spread of COVID-19
The pandemic has seen N95 face masks become a critical accessory for healthcare professionals as they protect themselves against the virus. To help tackle the rapid spread of COVID-19, NYUAD Program Head and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Anthony Tzes, in collaboration with the Health Center at NYUAD, startAD, NYUAD Core Technology Platforms, Mubadala Healthcare, and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, has developed an eco-friendly 3D printed face mask, based on the N95 specifications, designed to be protective, comfortable, and re-usable, while reducing the impact on the environment.
Researchers: Program Head of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Anthony Tzes, Post-Doctoral Associate Nikolaos Evangeliou, Vice Provost of Innovation and entrepreneurship at NYUAD and Managing Director of startAD Ramesh Jagannathan, NYUAD Health Center, startAD, Mubadala Healthcare, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, SanjairajVijayavenkataraman, Global Network Assistant Professor and Program of Mechanical Engineering and Core Technology Platforms Operations Executive Director Reza Rowshan, Core Technology Platforms Operations Researcher OraibGhaithAlKheetan Rojas
4. Historical Photo Preservation
The Center for Photography at NYUAD, Akkasah’sZaki Nusseibeh Collection is a series of photographs from the private library of UAE Minister of State His Excellency Zaki Nusseibeh. The Akkasah Center for Photography, as part of the newly established Arab Center for the Study of Art, aims to contribute to the growing interest in national history and heritage in the UAE by creating a focus on the photographic cultures of the UAE through the archiving of photographs and the commissioning of new documentary works.
Researchers: Principal Investigator Associate Professor of Practice of Art History Salwa Al Mikdadi Professor of Literature and Co-Principal Investigator Art History Shamoon Zamir
5. Uncovering the Ancient History of the UAE and Oman
A team of researchers from NYUAD, alongside other institutions, have discovered new details about the prehistory of the UAE and Bat in Oman. The Bat Archaeological Project’s recent research has been key to improving understanding of ancient people’s choice of location, their living environment, and use of natural resources.
Researchers: Humanities Research Fellow at NYUAD Eli Dollarhide, and Visiting Assistant Professor at the American University of Beirut and Consulting Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania Museum Jennifer Swerida, and Research Fellow at Michigan State University Charlotte Marie Cable
6. Burning Incense Can Affect Oral Health
Researchers at NYUAD showed for the first time that burning incense, which according to the study is used in at least 90 percent of households in the UAE, can affect oral health. The study, published in Scientific Reports, revealed that incense burning changes the composition of oral microbiota which could potentially increase the risk of oral infections and systemic diseases.
Researchers: Director and Principal Investigator Public Health Research Center Raghib Ali; Associate Director and Co-Principal Investigator AbdishakurAbdulle; lead researcher Yvonne Vallès, Clinical Research Nurse Muna Haji, Manager of Public Health Research Aisha Al Hamiz, Research Coordinator Ayesha Al Hosani and co-Principal Investigator Scott Sherman.
7. Wadi Drone for Wildlife Conservation
The NYUAD student-led Wadi Drone team won first prize for the national portion of the Drones for Good competition for their invention of the Wadi Drone. This innovation leverages commercial drone technology and proprietary software for wildlife conservation and environmental protection in the UAE.
Researchers: The Wadi Drone team consisted of four NYUAD students (now graduates): Class of 2017 Martin Slosarik, Class of 2017 Ting-Che Lin, Class of 2017 VasilyRudchenko, Class of 2017 Kai-erik Jensen. Visiting Instructor and Research Associate Matt Karau. The team collaborated with the Emirates Wildlife Society and the country’s first national park, Wadi Wurayah National Park located in Fujairah, on the development of the Wadi Drone.
At the Center for Genomics and Systems Biology (CGSB), NYUAD Professor of Biology Stéphane Boissinot, NYUAD Assistant Professor of Biology Youssef Idaghdour, and CGSB NYUAD Postdoctoral Associate Justin Wilcox have sequenced the complete genomes of several species of falcons in a bid to shed some light on the evolution of one of the most diverse groups of birds in the world. This research has great potential to support and inform conservation efforts in this group of birds, many of which are threatened, and provide insights into the process of domestication and adaptation to human activity in wild animals.
Researchers: NYUAD Postdoctoral Associate at the Center for Genomics and Systems Biology Justin Wilcox, NYUAD Professor of Biology Stéphane Boissinot, and NYUAD Assistant Professor of Biology Youssef Idaghdour
- New Date Palm Genome Sequence and Mapping New Genes
Researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi’s Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, working with other institutions, have developed an improved assembly of the genome for the date palm using long-read sequencing technology. Genes for fruit color and sugar content were also mapped in this crop species. This improvement over the current versions of the genome will help advance further research, and also inform the propagation practices of this essential MENA region food source.
Researcher: Postdoctoral Associates Muriel Gros-Balthazard and Jonathan Flowers, NYUAD-affiliated faculty Silver Professor of Biology Michael Purugganan.
10. Reef-Building Corals That Respond to Climate Change
A team of marine biology and environmental genomics researchers from NYUAD and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), have demonstrated that epigenetic modifications in reef-building corals can be transmitted from parents to their offspring. This discovery not only enhances the biological understanding of corals, but it also opens up new approaches to stem the loss of this foundation species of marine ecosystems.
Researchers: NYUAD Assistant Professor of Biology Youssef Idaghdour; NYUAD Associate Professor of Biology John Burt; former NYUAD postdoctoral associate Emily Howells and colleagues from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
