LONDON: Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF), has laid the foundation stone of the Virtual Cardio-Oncology Centre of Excellence at Royal Brompton Hospital, London.
The pioneering initiative, supported by a £1 million donation from Sharjah-based TBHF, marks a significant advancement in global healthcare.
The centre, the first of its kind in the United Kingdom, aims to address the long-term cardiovascular risks posed by cancer treatments. Her Highness’ contribution and leadership in this initiative are expected to impact 10 million beneficiaries worldwide.
This came during Her Highness's visit to Royal Brompton Hospital, leading a delegation from The Big Heart Foundation, accompanied by Dr Abdulaziz Al Muhairi, Chairman of the Sharjah Health Authority. Her Highness unveiled the foundation stone of the programme and was welcomed by the hospital’s management including Dr. Alexander Lyon, Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant in Cardiology at Royal Brompton Hospital and Director of Cardio-Oncology Centre of Excellence, and the programme's specialised team, from whom she was briefed on the progress of the work and the initial research findings.
What is the Cardio-Oncology Centre of Excellence?
Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi’s vision has brought to life the UK’s first Cardio-Oncology Centre of Excellence at Royal Brompton Hospital. This initiative will focus on the critical intersection of cancer care and cardiovascular health, exploring how cancer treatments impact the heart and blood vessels. With an emphasis on research and scientific advancements, the centre will develop new approaches to mitigate the risks associated with cancer therapies, offering global benefits to millions of patients facing both cancer and cardiovascular diseases.
How will this initiative benefit global health?
Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi stressed the importance of using every scientific and technological resource to ease the suffering of individuals impacted by serious health conditions. By addressing the significant cardiovascular risks cancer patients face, this programme aims to enhance patient survival rates while protecting their long-term heart health.
Cancer treatments, though lifesaving, often carry harmful side effects for the heart, with approximately 10% of cancer patients succumbing to cardiovascular diseases. The Royal Brompton initiative will share its findings globally, ensuring healthcare systems around the world benefit from the research and new treatment methodologies developed here.
Why Is Jawaher Al Qasimi’s Role So Crucial?
Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi has been a staunch advocate for global health initiatives, and her leadership in this programme continues that commitment. During her visit to Royal Brompton Hospital, Her Highness laid the foundation stone of the Virtual Cardio-Oncology Centre of Excellence, underscoring the need for collaborative global efforts in tackling some of today’s most pressing health challenges.
“Today, science has provided us with unprecedented tools, offering new avenues of hope and tangible progress in public health. What was once a distant aspiration is now within our reach. We are eager to see the innovative solutions that will emerge from the dedication of these brilliant minds, and more importantly, we look forward to witnessing the restored health of patients and the renewed sense of assurance among their families,” Her Highness stated.
She expressed, "I am proud today as we position the name of Sharjah and the United Arab Emirates in support of launching the most important medical research programme for cardiovascular health in cancer patients. I am also pleased that this responsibility is in the hands of a compassionate and professional team from around the world."
What are the Programme’s Key Contributions?
One of the key outcomes of this initiative is the establishment of the UK’s first biobank for cardio-oncology, a vital tool for storing data and creating a global patient registry network. The biobank will collect and analyze information from patients worldwide, helping researchers develop AI-based tools for diagnosis, care, and prevention of cardiotoxicity – a major risk for cancer survivors.
Her Highness also highlighted the centre’s role in training healthcare professionals, ensuring that doctors and specialists across the globe are equipped with the knowledge and tools to manage heart conditions linked to cancer treatments. This is a crucial step in ensuring the programme’s research benefits patients on a global scale.
How will the Programme Advance Global Collaboration?
A key focus of the programme is fostering collaboration between international research and academic institutions. The Royal Brompton Cardio-Oncology Centre will also establish a highly specialised clinical research group to disseminate the findings and maximise their benefits, while developing artificial intelligence algorithms for diagnosis, care, prediction and prevention of cardiotoxicity.
This global partnership will allow for the sharing of life-saving research and medical advances, extending the impact of the programme beyond the UK.
Royal Brompton Hospital one of the largest specialised centres for heart and lung diseases in the UK, and among the largest in Europe and globally. The hospital primarily focuses on researching lung diseases, which are heavily impacted by cancer treatment-related illnesses.