The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) and Sanofi have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and plan to formalise an agreement aimed at strengthening collaboration in vaccine innovation and exploring the establishment of a Vaccine Innovation Centre in Abu Dhabi.
The proposed partnership will focus on advancing capabilities in AI-driven vaccine discovery, mRNA research, clinical development and manufacturing, while supporting regional and global preparedness for future public health challenges.
Operating under Abu Dhabi’s Health, Endurance, Longevity and Medicine (HELM) Cluster, the initiative aims to integrate scientific research, clinical infrastructure, academic expertise, enabling regulation and advanced manufacturing within a single ecosystem.
The MoU was signed during BIO International Convention 2026 in San Diego, US, in the presence of H.E. Dr. Noura Al Ghaithi, undersecretary of the Department of Health-Abu Dhabi, and Danilo Casimiro, chief scientific officer and head of external scientific affairs, vaccines, at Sanofi.
The agreement was formally signed by Dr Mohamed Al Ameri, division director of genome and biobank at DoH, and Laurie Gery, global head of business development vaccines at Sanofi.
Dr. Noura Al Ghaithisaid, “This partnership reflects Abu Dhabi’s commitment to creating an environment where innovators can build, test and scale solutions that improve lives, strengthen preparedness and advance health outcomes for communities around the world.”
Baptiste de Clarens, general manager vaccines, Greater Gulf at Sanofi, said advances in artificial intelligence, mRNA science and new models that connect discovery, development and manufacturing are reshaping vaccine innovation.
“We look forward to exploring how these capabilities can be brought together to accelerate the journey from discovery to the patients,” he added.
The proposed Vaccine Innovation Centre is expected to enhance Dhabi’s contribution to global health security while supporting the development of local scientific talent, advanced manufacturing capabilities and next-generation vaccine innovation
