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Al Ain University, in collaboration with Monash University Malaysia, organized the fourth Graduate Student Symposium in Health and Medical Sciences on February 2, 2026, in Abu Dhabi. The event, held under the theme “Empowering Scientific Research and Innovation in Graduate Studies through International Collaboration,” attracted extensive academic and research participation from within the United Arab Emirates and internationally.
The symposium hosted more than 40 universities from 15 countries, including Malaysia, China, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Singapore, Pakistan, and India, according to the organizing institutions. This wide international participation reinforced Al Ain University’s position as a global platform for scientific and research knowledge exchange and its role in supporting cross-border scientific research.
International Collaboration Drives Health Sciences Research
The event reflects the university’s commitment to supporting advanced scientific research and encouraging knowledge exchange between young researchers and international academic institutions. Graduate and undergraduate students presented 220 research abstracts that varied between oral presentations and scientific posters, both in-person and remotely, demonstrating the high level of interest in the symposium as a leading scientific platform.
The scientific posters, which were presented and discussed before specialized evaluation committees, covered seven main research tracks. These included clinical pharmacy and pharmacy practice, pharmacology and molecular therapy, drug design and discovery, pharmaceutical technology and drug delivery systems development, biomedical sciences, nutrition and food sciences, public health, and artificial intelligence in health sciences.
Artificial Intelligence Integration in Pharmaceutical Education
The symposium program featured keynote lectures delivered by prominent academic experts. Dr. Mahendran Sekar from Monash University Malaysia presented a lecture titled “Integrating Artificial Intelligence in Pharmaceutical Sciences: Transforming Education, Research, and Practice,” during which he reviewed the role of modern technologies in developing education and scientific research in health fields.
Additionally, a specialized panel discussion addressed scholarship opportunities and national and international academic pathways for master’s, doctoral, and postdoctoral programs. Representatives from prestigious regional and international universities participated, showcasing prospects for academic and research mobility and available opportunities for students and researchers.
Graduate Student Presentations Showcase Research Excellence
The scientific program included two parallel sessions for oral presentations across nine scientific tracks, featuring 66 research presentations. The event also hosted the Three Minute Thesis competition, in which ten contestants participated, demonstrating their ability to communicate complex research concisely.
Meanwhile, the program incorporated an interactive workshop titled “The 10×10 Strategy for Using Artificial Intelligence in Research and Scientific Writing.” The workshop highlighted mechanisms for employing artificial intelligence techniques systematically and responsibly to support academic research quality and enhance scientific productivity efficiency.
Recognition for Outstanding Research Contributions
The symposium concluded with an awards ceremony honoring winners in various categories of oral presentations and scientific posters. The recognition acknowledged scientific excellence and the quality of participating research and its advanced academic level, according to the university.
Al Ain University emphasized that organizing the health and medical sciences symposium aligns with its commitment to supporting scientific research, promoting an innovation environment, and enabling graduate students to interact with international academic expertise. This approach contributes to preparing research cadres capable of keeping pace with rapid developments in health and medical sciences fields.
The university has not announced dates for the fifth edition of the symposium, though the annual nature of the event suggests it will likely continue facilitating international collaboration in health sciences research.
