UAE Develops a Rapid Coronavirus Laser Testing Technology
20.5.2020 20:43:00 EEST | Business Wire | Press release
QuantLase Imaging Lab, the medical-research arm of the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange-listed International Holdings Company (IHC), announced that it has developed novel equipment which enables for much faster mass screenings, with test results available in seconds and allowing testing on a wider scale. This break-through will enable ‘Mass-scale screening’, changing the whole dimension of tracing.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200520005743/en/
Left to right: Executive team working on the project Aryam Ahmed and Latifa Alseiari, Project director of lab Abdulla Rashidi, IHC board member Nader Al Hamadi, Lead Doctor Dr. Pramod Kumar and Dr. Mohammad Firoz Khan (Photo: AETOSWire)
AbdulRahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention, expressed hope over the discovery saying: “We are always following innovations related to the early and rapid detection of Covid–19. The government is keen on supporting initiatives that help the healthcare system in the UAE. Health officials have been closely monitoring the progress of trials with QuantLase in order to test this equipment. We are proud to see a technology that works and that will help to protect our people better.”
“The equipment, which uses a CMOS detector, will enable mass-scale screening with results made available in seconds,” said Dr Pramod Kumar, who leads the team of researchers at the lab which has been studying the change in cell structure of the virus-infected blood.
“In fact, our laser-based DPI [Diffractive Phase Interferometry] technique, based on optical-phase modulation, is able to give a signature of infection within a few seconds. What’s more, it is user-friendly, non-invasive and low-cost. We believe it will be a game-changer in tackling the spread of the coronavirus.”
Explaining the critical role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the diagnostic system, Dr Kumar said that an advanced AI image-analysis model predicts the outcome of each image with precision, speed and scale. This is especially critical in large-scale testing programs, where a massive number of images needs to be analysed with accuracy and efficiency. The lab is using G42, a leading AI and Cloud Computing company, to further enhance the laser program.
*Source: AETOSWire
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200520005743/en/
Contact information
For international media requests
Hend Al Otaiba
C19media@mofaic.gov.ae
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Barilla Opens Global Call for Startups Through Good Food Makers 202625.5.2026 12:47:00 EEST | Press release
Barilla Group has opened applications for the 2026 edition of Good Food Makers, its global open innovation program designed to co-develop and test new innovative solutions with startups and innovators inside real industrial environments. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260521973445/en/ Since its launch in 2019, the program has involved more than 1,100 startups from over 50 countries, leading to 26 pilot projects, with over 20 projects currently active thanks to the solutions developed by the program’s alumni. This highlights the program’s role as a concrete platform for industrial scalable innovation. The 2026 edition comes at a pivotal moment for the company, following the launch of BITE (Barilla Innovation & Technology Experience), the new innovation center dedicated to developing the next generation of food products. Within this inspiring premise, Good Food Makers confirms itself as one of the main levers f
JEOL: Sales Launch of the Laser SEM System “LazEdge”25.5.2026 11:16:00 EEST | Press release
JEOL Ltd. (President & CEO: Izumi Oi) has developed the “LazEdge”, an SEM system equipped with a laser processing system, and begins sales on May 25, 2026. Cross-section preparation instruments such as the focused ion beam system (FIB system), are widely used in science and technology fields across research institutes, universities, and industries. In recent years, demand is increasing for a system that can process large-areas at a high speed, while achieving high-quality of the processed surface. “LazEdge” is an instrument integrating JEOL’s SEM with the laser technology proprietary of Hamamatsu Photonics K.K., and enables laser processing inside the specimen chamber of the electron microscope. This system enables high-quality cross-section specimens produced through high-speed, large-area processing to be transferred seamlessly to subsequent analyses, such as SEM observation, elemental analysis, and crystal orientation analysis, without exposure to the external environment. As a resu
TFG-001, A Novel 3D Neural Microtissue Cell Therapy, Demonstrates Superior Functionality and Reinnervation for Parkinson’s Disease25.5.2026 09:00:00 EEST | Press release
TreeFrog Therapeutics, a regenerative medicine biotech company developing next-generation cell therapies, today announced that it will present new preclinical data on TFG-001 at the 7th World Parkinson’s Conference. TFG-001, a 3D neural microtissue cell therapy, demonstrated rapid dopamine release and extensive graft-derived reinnervation across multiple advanced translational Parkinson’s disease models—supporting its potential as a best-in-class candidate. The critical need for reinnervation in Parkinson's disease In Parkinson's disease, an estimated 60–80% of dopaminergic neurons are already lost before motor symptoms even appear. The nigrostriatal pathway degenerates, destroying the essential wiring that connects dopamine-producing neurons to movement control. While chemical dopamine replacements (like levodopa) can manage symptoms, they cannot restore the spatial precision, feedback loops, or dynamic regulation of a healthy brain network. To achieve true functional restoration, it
TFG-001, A Novel 3D Neural Microtissue Cell Therapy, Demonstrates Superior Functionality and Reinnervation for Parkinson’s Disease25.5.2026 09:00:00 EEST | Press release
TreeFrog Therapeutics, a regenerative medicine biotech company developing next-generation cell therapies, today announced that it will present new preclinical data on TFG-001 at the 7th World Parkinson’s Conference. TFG-001, a 3D neural microtissue cell therapy, demonstrated rapid dopamine release and extensive graft-derived reinnervation across multiple advanced translational Parkinson’s disease models—supporting its potential as a best-in-class candidate. The critical need for reinnervation in Parkinson's disease In Parkinson's disease, an estimated 60–80% of dopaminergic neurons are already lost before motor symptoms even appear. The nigrostriatal pathway degenerates, destroying the essential wiring that connects dopamine-producing neurons to movement control. While chemical dopamine replacements (like levodopa) can manage symptoms, they cannot restore the spatial precision, feedback loops, or dynamic regulation of a healthy brain network. To achieve true functional restoration, it
Galderma Receives U.S. FDA Approval for Differin ® Epiduo ® Acne Gel Prescription-to-OTC Switch22.5.2026 19:25:00 EEST | Press release
Galderma (SIX: GALD), the pure-play dermatology category leader, today announced that the United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Differin® Epiduo® Acne Gel (Adapalene 0.1% and Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5% Acne Treatment) for over-the-counter (OTC) use in ages 12 years and older, marking a significant Prescription-to-OTC transition in acne care. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260522074280/en/ The U.S. FDA approves Differin® Epiduo® Acne Gel Prescription-to-OTC switch This milestone represents yet another example of Galderma’s unique Integrated Dermatology strategy, demonstrating how proven innovations from its Therapeutic Dermatology portfolio can further strengthen its Dermatological Skincare offerings. The Prescription‑to‑OTC transition highlights Galderma’s scale and expertise in successfully commercializing dermatology innovations across the full spectrum of acne care. With the appro
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom
