The Zayed Center for Research in Rare Diseases in Children in London celebrates its one-year anniversary

When the Zayed Center for Research in Rare Diseases in Children in London opened its doors in October 2020, it was looking forward to receiving thousands of patients and hundreds of doctors and researchers to work together under one roof to develop treatments for children with rare and complex diseases.

But the matter took another turn, when the Covid-19 epidemic swept the world earlier this year, the center devoted all its medical personnel, activities, experiences, and research facilities to support the hospital in treating patients and in epidemic research to learn more about the virus and inform officials about everything related to it.

And for this mission, the "Zayed Research Center" was chosen, with its advanced facilities of a high standard and its huge capacity, to create the required version of the virus and use it to test the first human challenge to develop a vaccine against Covid-19, which was announced last October.

In addition, the researchers conducted tests on samples taken from the infected from employees and other patients to undergo treatment, and the researchers were able to trace more than 1,300 genetic bases or letters in the genome that causes Covid-19, which helps scientists identify the changes that occur to the virus over time and from Then find out how it spreads between different groups of the population.

In this regard, Professor Maha Barakat, Director General of Fakhr Al Watan Office, said: “The Zayed Center was flexible and very quick in its response to the challenges of the current situation. It has redefined priorities in its research programs to put at the forefront of conducting research on COVID-19 .. The center was able to harness all its tools. And his working mechanisms and methodological experience, putting innovation, providing support and aid in his mind ... and we are very proud of their contribution in addressing this global emergency. "

For his part, Professor Judith of Great Ormond Street Hospital and University College London, which has played a major role in leading the research efforts since April 2020, said: “Our work comes to complement the UK's efforts to record the genome sequence that causes Covid-19 and to know how the virus spreads in Britain. We also use this sequence in trying drugs and drugs and knowing their effect, and this is directly related to the ongoing work at the Zayed Center to study the effect of viruses on children.

Judith pointed to the role of the center, with its award-winning facilities and design, in enabling researchers and clinicians to face difficulties over a challenging period of few months, adding: “The Zayed Research Center has the distinction of being a suitable place to work, and this was evident mainly when we had to apply physical distancing, as it gave us its space. The broad possibility of adaptation and response to the requirements of safe work during the spread of the epidemic .. We are fortunate to work in these distinguished facilities that match the experience of working teams around the clock to enable us to improve the level of care we provide to children with severe illnesses.

Regarding the center’s first year, Louise Parks - CEO of the Great Ormond Hospital Foundation for Children said: “The goal that guides and motivates us to make an exceptional effort is to make a radical change in the lives of critically ill children who come from different parts of the United Kingdom to receive health care in a hospital. Great Ormond Street .. It is natural for the Zayed Center to have a pivotal role in research on the Covid-19 virus, given that it is a center devoted to research that is hoped to produce success in treating rare diseases .. When we celebrated the opening of the Zayed Research Center in 2019, we were not imagining for a moment We will operate under such circumstances only one year after its opening ... and we can only extend our sincere thanks and gratitude to all donors and support providers. Without their contribution, we would not have had this distinguished center that is needed now more than ever .. The Zayed Research Center It is the actual embodiment of what we can achieve by working together. "

On her part, Matt Shaw - CEO of Great Ormond Street Hospital, said: “Cooperation is one of the main pillars of our work and the care we provide to critically ill children, and this is the best time for that - and we are facing the challenges of the Covid-19 virus .. The existence of a facility allows Great Hospital Ormond Street and University College London, working together is a matter of utmost importance and we are grateful to all the scientists, researchers and doctors working in our institutions and centers for their dedication and concerted efforts that have played a major role in our achievement of so many accomplishments in this short time.

The Zayed Center thanked the "England Research" Institute, the Wolfson Foundation, the John Connolly and Odilly Griffiths Foundation, and the MedFamily Foundation for their generous support and donations that were credited with establishing the Zayed Research Center that emerged from a partnership between Great Ormond Street Hospital, University College London and the Great Hospital Foundation. Ormond Children's Charity.

It is worth noting that the "Zayed Research Center" was inaugurated a year ago thanks to a generous grant of 60 million pounds sterling from Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, President of the General Women's Union, Chair of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chair of the Family Development Foundation.

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