Under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Tolerance, the 6th International Oncology conference successfully concluded in the capital. Organized by VPS Healthcare and Burjeel Medical City (BMC), the two-day event focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare, with leaders discussing revolutionary cancer research methodology, treatment using cutting-edge technologies, and personalized cancer medicine.
Speakers presented findings centered around the vital role that technology, specifically AI, will play in the future of the field of Oncology. Experts from several nationalities engaged in thought-provoking sessions regarding the achievements and challenges they have faced in this field, and how their research will build a road-map for the future of this community worldwide. The conference received more than 800 delegates for this year’s compelling sessions.
Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil, Chairman and Managing Director of VPS Healthcare said: “The quality of medical care provided in the UAE continues to increase and it is our pleasure to work towards the country’s goal in raising awareness about the importance of early detection and prevention of cancer.”
Dr. VayaliI added: “I wish to extend my gratitude to all of our distinguished speakers for being part of this conference, and the scientific committee for putting together a thoughtful and informative agenda. It’s inspiring to witness experts across disciplines come together from various countries across the globe and engage in lively dialogue about the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”
Remarking the importance of the event, Professor Garth Powis, Director of the Sanford Burnham Prebys NCI-Cancer Center, La Jolla, California, stated, “The results of this conference have demonstrated exciting revelations of new immunotherapies for the treatment and prevention of cancer, including new advances in drugs, which are being used in Oncology. Conferences such as this are imperative in preventing cancer and will be vital for the future of its treatment.”
During the conference, several experts from different continents provided in-depth insights into the challenges Oncologists face today, and recommended solutions for further developments in cancer diagnosis and treatments. Pathologists described recent advancements in technology, such as machine learning, which will contribute to detecting cancer in real-time.
“Machine learning will help doctors diagnose cancer quicker, which is also in the benefit of the patient”, commented Dr. Jason Hipp, Pathologist at Google, as he took us through the steps of using state-of-the-art technology in cancer prevention, further increasing chances of survival. His colleague at Google AI, Dr. Martin Stumpe, continued, “The mission is to increase the efficiency of cancer diagnosis for one purpose: to save the lives of as many people as possible. I can hardly think of anything more motivating”.
BMC, the co-organizer of the conference, will open next year and will be based in Mohamed bin Zayed City. It will play a pivotal role in fulfilling the growing healthcare demands of both residents and medical tourists in the UAE. It will be the largest private healthcare facility in the UAE, delivering a unique ‘art of healing’ experience, with an emphasis on long-term care and wellness. The facility will offer ultra-specialized medical services within the UAE as part of VPS Healthcare’s future scope and strategic endeavors.
