Abu Dhabi Advances Gene Editing Therapies Targeting Rare Diseases Through Strategic Global Collaboration
- Partnership supports the next phase of the Emirate’s ambition to translate genomic insights into advanced therapies, clinical research and future manufacturing capabilities
Abu Dhabi, UAE – 25 June 2026: Building on the Emirate’s growing leadership in genomics, precision medicine and preventive population health, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), the regulator of the healthcare sector in the Emirate, M42, a global health leader, and Mammoth Biosciences have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the BIO International Convention 2026 in San Diego to advance gene-editing therapies, develop clinical research and advance therapy manufacturing in Abu Dhabi.
The partnership strengthens Abu Dhabi’s established genomics and precision medicine ecosystem, marking an important step in the Emirate’s progression from genomic sequencing to therapeutic development within a single integrated ecosystem. Leveraging insights generated through the Emirati Genome Programme (EGP), the collaboration will support the development of next -generation treatments for inherited diseases while expanding Abu Dhabi’s capabilities across clinical research, advanced therapy manufacturing and scientific innovation.
The collaboration also supports Abu Dhabi’s broader efforts to strengthen its life sciences sector through the Health, Endurance, Longevity and Medicine (HELM) Cluster, which aims to accelerate the development of healthcare innovation across research, clinical development, manufacturing and commercialisation.
H.E. Dr. Noura Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, said: “Abu Dhabi has built a strong foundation in genomics and precision medicine through long-term investments in research and innovation. The next step is translating these insights into therapies that can address some of the most complex diseases affecting communities in our region and around the world. This partnership brings together the expertise needed to support that ambition while strengthening Abu Dhabi’s capabilities across research, clinical development and advanced therapies.”
As part of this strategic partnership, DoH will provide the regulatory framework and research environment, M42 will provide population genomics, healthcare and clinical research infrastructure and Mammoth Biosciences will bring a pioneering gene editing platform built on breakthrough CRISPR* science. Together, the partners aim to accelerate the journey from scientific discovery to population scale impact.
Dr. Fahed Al Marzooqi, Chief Executive Officer, Integrated Health Solutions, M42, said: “The Emirati Genome Programme has generated insights that are helping us better understand the health needs of our population. Through this collaboration, we are creating opportunities to build on that foundation by supporting the development of advanced therapies while strengthening Abu Dhabi’s research, clinical and manufacturing capabilities.”
Mammoth Biosciences, co-founded by Nobel Prize-winning scientist Jennifer Doudna, is developing proprietary ultracompact CRISPR systems designed to access tissues and therapeutic targets beyond the reach of conventional gene-editing approaches. Unlike traditional treatments that manage symptoms, gene-editing therapies aim to correct, replace or switch off disease-causing genetic mutations at their source. Mammoth’s technology supports multiple editing modalities, enabling scientists to make precise changes to DNA or regulate how genes are expressed, with the potential to address a broader range of inherited and genetic diseases.
Trevor Martin, Chief Executive Officer, Mammoth Biosciences, said: “What stands out about Abu Dhabi is its ability to bring together genomics, healthcare, clinical research and regulation within a single ecosystem. That creates a strong environment for advancing new therapeutic approaches and expanding access to cutting-edge innovation.”
The agreement spans four interconnected areas designed to accelerate the development and deployment of advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs)**. The parties will collaborate to introduce Mammoth’s lead clinical candidate, MB-111, into Abu Dhabi’s clinical research ecosystem, qualify local sites for advanced gene therapy and gene-editing trials, and support capability transfer to local clinical teams.
The partnership will also support the establishment of advanced therapy manufacturing capabilities in Abu Dhabi, beginning with GMP lipid nanoparticle (LNP) production and advancing towards fully integrated GMP manufacturing. Additionally, the partnership will build long-term local expertise in CRISPR-based gene editing through structured training and workforce development programs.
As Abu Dhabi continues to build capabilities across the healthcare value chain, from genomics and clinical research to advanced therapy development and manufacturing, the collaboration marks an important milestone in the Emirate’s efforts to translate scientific insights into real-world treatments and expand its role in advancing precision medicine and life sciences innovation.
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About the Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DoH)
The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi is the regulator of the healthcare sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Committed to ensuring excellence in healthcare, DoH monitors the health status of the population while shaping the regulatory framework for the health system. This includes inspecting against regulations, enforcing standards and encouraging the adoption of world-class best practices and performance targets by all healthcare providers in the Emirate. Abu Dhabi remains dedicated to shaping the future of healthcare by establishing an intelligent and sustainable ecosystem that prioritises health, longevity and quality of life for all community members. Leveraging state-of-the-art infrastructure and cutting-edge capabilities, DoH continues to develop and implement initiatives and programmes in line with its strategic focus areas, Healthy Population, Best-in-Class Care and Resilience and Innovation. These efforts reflect DoH’s unwavering commitment to predicting, preventing and personalising healthcare for every individual.
For further information on DOH, visit https://www.doh.gov.ae/ and follow on X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.
About M42
M42 is a global health champion powered by artificial intelligence (AI), technology and genomics to advance innovation in health for people and the planet. Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, M42 combines its specialized, state-of-the-art facilities with integrated health solutions like genomics and biobanks, and harnesses advanced technologies to deliver precise, preventive and predictive care, to impactfully disrupt traditional healthcare models and positively impact lives globally.
Established in 2023, following the coming together of G42 Healthcare and Mubadala Health, M42 has more than 480 facilities in 26 countries and over 20,000 employees. M42 includes renowned healthcare providers, including Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Danat Al Emarat, Diaverum, Imperial College London Diabetes Centre, Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Hospital, and Moorfields Eye Hospital Abu Dhabi. As well as operating the Emirati Genome Programme, M42 runs Abu Dhabi BioBank and Abu Dhabi Health Data Services (ADHDS), a global tech-enabled healthcare company operating Malaffi.
For media inquiries or interview opportunities, please contact:
Mariam Al Marzooqi
M: +971 50 536 6660
Mazar Masud
Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs, M42
M: +971 52 593 5926
Asala Fadda
Senior Manager, Marketing & Communications, M42
M: +971 50 955 5076
About Mammoth Biosciences
Mammoth Biosciences is a biotechnology company focused on leveraging its proprietary ultracompact CRISPR systems to develop potential long-term curative therapies for patients with life-threatening and debilitating diseases. Founded by CRISPR pioneer and Nobel laureate Jennifer Doudna and Trevor Martin, Janice Chen, and Lucas Harrington, the company’s ultracompact systems are designed to be more specific and enable in vivo gene editing in difficult to reach tissues utilizing both nuclease applications and new editing modalities beyond double stranded breaks, including base editing, reverse transcriptase editing, and epigenetic editing. The company is building out its wholly owned pipeline of potential in vivo gene-editing therapeutics and capabilities, and has partnerships with leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies to broaden the reach of its innovative and proprietary technology platform. Mammoth’s deep science and industry experience, along with a robust and differentiated intellectual property portfolio, have enabled the company to further its mission to transform the lives of patients and deliver on the promise of CRISPR technologies. For more information, please visit www.mammoth.bio or follow Mammoth on LinkedIn or X.