Introduction
Newborn screening is the process of testing newborn babies for treatable genetic, endocrinologic metabolic and hematologic diseases. These are also known as inborn errors of metabolism (IEM), disorders which are caused when the body is unable to break down certain naturally produced chemicals, which then accumulate in the body and turn toxic. This toxic build-up can lead to slow physical development or brain damage and, in some cases, even death. Most infants with these disorders show no obvious signs, but the build-up can be rapid enough for the condition to become irreversible within a few days of birth.

Newborn screening began in South Carolina in the mid-1960’s with testing for phenylketonuria (PKU) only. Over the years, the test panel has expanded with increased use of tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) in newborn screening applications.

In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the national neonatal screening program started by screening for phenylketonuria in January 1995. Since the Implementation of the screening program until Dec 2005, 385,135 infants were screened by MOH with the relative incidence of 1: 1963 for congenital hypothyroidism, 1: 14,812 classic PKU, 0.06% for sickle disease and 0.9% for sickle cell traits. Implementation of National screening program including metabolic screening is under consideration in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and other Middle East Countries

---

Dr. Sanjida Ahmed, Research Director of Eastern Biotech & Life Sciences presented at the Arab Health Congress, January, 2010, one of the world's largest multi-track medical congress and is by far the best scientific and educational platform for healthcare professionals who wish to remain up-to-date in their area of specialization and earn valuable CME credits.


Dr. Ahmed spoke about the value of Metabolic Disorder Screening in Newborns in the Clinical Chemistry track of MEDLAB Conference. Her presentation was based on the clinical statistics that Eastern Biotech has conducted so far which mentioned that till now 3,000 samples from the mixed population were analyzed from the newborns, the result of the screening show 0.2% of the babies had G6PD deficiency, 0.03% of them had Galactosemia, single Short Chain Hydroxyl Acyle-CoA Dehydrogenase deficiency (SCHAD) and amino acid disorders. She also stated that the state of art technology, Tendem Mass Spectrometry (MS/MS), which has already proved its potential to develop expanded newborn screening, has provided Dubai with yet another means to improve the health of its citizens and prevent significant morbidity and mortality.

---

Over 75 doctors from the UAE attended Continuous Medical Education Seminar (CME) organized by Eastern Biotech & Life Sciences on “Cervical Cancer & STIs- Cutting Edge Technologies & Management Strategies”   Dr. Marco Baccant Executive Director of Dubai Biotechnology & Research Park, Dubai, UAE Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among the women worldwide, causing 250,000 deaths annually (WHO report). According to a report published by Ministry of Health in 2005, about 43 women die in the UAE alone due to cervical cancer each year. The number has multiplied significantly in the last couple of years. The most recent report suggests, 10 women die each day in the Middle East among the estimated 650 deaths worldwide. HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) is the cause of 99.7% of cervical cancer cases and HPV Genotypes 16 and 18 causes approximately 70% of cervical cancers worldwide. Thus it is important to clearly identify those women at increased risk of developing cervical cancer at an early stage. The seminar and the workshop were held at Rotana Towers Hotel, Dubai on 1st July 2009, organized by Eastern Biotech & Life Sciences, supported and sponsored by Dubiotech, Glaxo smithcline & Life Cell International. Ministry of Health, United Arab Emirates acknowledged and rewarded the event with 4.0 CME credit points. Dr. Marco Baccanti, Executive Director of DuBiotech, Dubai presided over the seminar. The primary objective of the workshop is to raise awareness of cervical cancer among the clinicians and how the latest technologies can be helpful to detect the deadly disease at an early stage, thus prevent the fatalities of such conditions. Speakers suggested that the combination of liquid based cytology used for pap smear with the Digene Hybrid capture 2 techniques for HPV genotyping would be beneficial to detect the infection and the disease at an early stage. “HPV infection is very common in sexually active men and women. It is usually transient and results only in mild cytological abnormalities. About 80 % of women between 19 and 30 years clear this infection within months or years, but in some cases persistent infection of high risk HPV can lead to the development of cervical cancer” said Dr. Rihab Awad from Mitera Clinic, DHCC, Dubai, during her speech on “The Need of Clinical Education to Raise an Awareness of HPV Screening and Cervical Cancer Prevention”. Dr. Sanjida Ahmed Research Director for Eastern Biotech & Life Sciences discussed about various Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI), diagnostic tools available to detect them and the cutting edge technologies recently been utilized and marketed by various companies around the world to diagnose these infections. She mentioned that Hybrid Capture 2 DNA Test could be advantageous for the patients in terms of reducing their physical, mental and financial load. Detecting HPV means better understanding of the risk of cervical cancer was the major focus of Dr. Dinesh Gupta from National Clinical Reference Laboratory, New Delhi India. He spoke on “Opportunistic Screening for Cervical Precancer Lesions” and informed why the combination screening is vital for prevention and detection of cervical cancer. According to Dr. Gupta, combined screening with liquid based cytology and hybrid capture2 HPV DNA test would identify who’s at risk for high-grade disease and cancer and reduce missed disease caused by false-negative Pap Smear. HPV DNA test is the only FDA approved test to detect 13 high risk HPVs associated with virtually all cervical cancer, he added. HPV vaccine now available is a new powerful weapon to fight against cervical cancer, Dr. Rima Abu Omar from Al Zahra Hospital, Sharjah, emphasized. She also stated that Vaccine is the Primary Protection against Cervical Cancer and women as young as 9 years should be vaccinated before they approach the puberty. About Eastern Biotech & Life Sciences: Eastern Biotech & Life Sciences is a UAE based Biotechnology Company under the Dubai Biotechnology and Research Park, DUBIOTECH, Dubai. The company has a vision to prevent morbidity and mortality among individuals and families with or at risk of genetic, congenital, and/or familial disorders. Eastern Biotech provides quality screening, education and family-centered comprehensive services for the Middle Eastern people. The company offers the most recent technologies like Hybrid capture technique combined with Liquid based cytology for detection of HPV and detection of other STIs from a single swab sample.

Eastern Biotech participated the Meeting the Forensic Challenges of the 21st Century Conference
Eastern Biotech & Life Sciences exhibited at the “Meeting the Forensic Challenges of the 21st Century Conference”, fully sponsored by Dubai Police GHQ, held from 19th -23rd April, 2009 at the Dubai Police Officers Club, Dubai. The event inaugurated by Deputy Commandant General of Dubai Police Major General Khamis Al Mazina has 250 organizations participating, including 18 companies, forensic experts, doctors, officers and professors from Arab countries, US, Europe and Australia.

Police are to create a state-of-the-art forensic facility to match the world’s best, the emirate’s chief of police said yesterday. Lt Gen Dahi Khalfan Tamim said that Century Laboratory, now under construction, would use the latest technology and expertise.

---

Presentation by Eastern Biotech at the PABME Conference
Junaid Faruq, Marketing Director of Eastern Biotech & Life Sciences presented at the conference of Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology Middle East (PABME), one of the Life Sciences Division events of IIR Middle East, which includes the highly successful Arab Health in its portfolio.

PABME is the largest gathering of Pharma and biotech related specialists in the Middle East - designed to be a global platform for industry leaders to converge, network and develop new business, PABME is the must attend event for any professional within the pharma and biotech industry. Now also with the inclusion of the Pharma section of Arab Health, this is the largest event of its kind in the region.

Junaid Faruq spoke about the “Management of Inherited and Infectious Diseases” in the Current Trends in Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology session chaired by Dr. Marco Bccanti, Executive Director, Dubai Biotechnology & Research Park (DuBiotech).

Members of Eastern Biotech including Dr. Faruq M Badiuddin, Dr. Sanjida Ahmed and Pankaj Sohaney were present in the occasion.

---

Syndrome Based Diagnostics: A Single Test using DNA Macrochip to Detect Multiple Pathogens in Eye & Brain Infection

Dr. Ravi Kumar, MBBS, PhD (NeuroChemistry)

• Chairman and Managing Director, XCyton Diagnostics Limited, India.
  
• General Secretary, Association of Biotech Led Enterprises, India
  

Venue: NMC Specialty Hospital - Dubai, UAE

---

Risk Reduction of Genetic Disorders by Premarital, Prenatal & Neonatal Screening

Dr. Sanjida Ahmed

• PhD, Cell Biology
  
• Director, Research, Eastern Biotech & Life Sciences, Dubai, UAE

Venue: Oasis Hospital, Al Ain, UAE

---

Recent Advances in Genetic Testing
Genetic Testing has now reached a stage where it is becoming increasingly applicable for rapid and accurate diagnosis of common infective / congenital disorders as well as the basis for prediction of cancers and lifestyle diseases.

These advances are opening up new avenues for the clinicians to offer their patients innovative tools to achieve optimum health. 'Advanced Genetic Testing in the prediction & diagnosis of disease' conference is aiming to introduce a broad spectrum of new diagnostic tools available to clinicians in an attempt to incorporate there use in routine practices.

The conference is proudly organized by Eastern Biotech & Life Sciences; a Genetic Biotechnological company based out of DuBiotech, Dubai and will be held in Dubai (UAE) on the 27th of November 2008. It is supported by the Ministry of Health, United Arab Emirates and has been formally granted 3.0 CME credit points.

The conference aims to promote knowledge exchange on using diagnostic testing as a tool for supporting the advancement of genetic innovation throughout the world. The conference will bring together approximately 75 key industry figureheads and stakeholders throughout the GCC headlined by 4 internationally acclaimed genetic specialists presenting their knowledge and ideas fostering genetic and biotechnological innovation specifically:

Genetic Disorders in Arab Populations

Syndrome Based Diagnostics: A Single Test using DNA Macrochip to Detect Multiple Pathogens in Eye and Brain

Birth Defects and Congenital Abnormalities in UAE: Risk Reduction by Counseling and Genetic Testing Using Molecular and Cytogenetic Techniques

New DNA Based Diagnostic Tests for Prediction of Diabetes, Heart Disease, Breast and Prostate Cancer

As a part of the event Eastern Biotech & Life Sciences will conduct its inaugural network meeting including product development and contribution program aiming to enhance the education and management of genetic diagnostic testing tools within the GCC.