London: M42, a global leader in health powered by artificial intelligence and technology, has urged leaders across healthcare, technology, and academia to prioritize prevention over treatment in the healthcare industry. This call to action was made during a keynote speech by Hasan Jasem Al Nowais, Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of M42, at the Longevity Forum.
According to Emirates News Agency, Al Nowais highlighted the severe threats to global health and the increasing strain of healthcare costs, projecting a rise to US$10 trillion by 2026. He emphasized the need for a shift from a reactive sickness model to a preventative approach, calling for international collaboration on AI and genomics to advance this agenda.
During his presentation at the 7th Annual Longevity Forum, alongside Jim Mellon, Co-founder of The Longevity Forum, and Richard Meddings, NHS Chair, Al Nowais showcased M42’s development of AI algorithms and solutions. These innovations aim to disrupt traditional healthcare mo
dels by integrating AI into patient care.
Al Nowais introduced Med42, M42’s open-access clinical large language model, and discussed AI-powered tools like chest X-rays for early tuberculosis detection. He also detailed AI integration into Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s endoscopic colon screening, which uses algorithms to identify potential cancer signs, aiding in personalized treatment plans and preventative measures.
Highlighting the importance of early detection, Al Nowais explained how AI can process vast data, including patient records and genetic information, to identify high-risk individuals before symptoms manifest. He described genetic testing and genomics as transformative in preventative medicine, allowing tailored early interventions based on a patient’s DNA.
Al Nowais presented a case study of a 36-year-old female patient with a family history of colon cancer. Genetic testing revealed a BRCA1 gene mutation, associated with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, enabling early risk identification a
nd preventative care.
He urged global leaders to collaborate for the betterment of global health, stressing that health is a universal right and that preventative care is essential in reducing global health disparities. The democratisation of care, making innovations accessible to all, is vital, he said.
Al Nowais concluded with a call to action, emphasizing that the future of healthcare lies in prevention and collaboration across borders and sectors. He advocated for pooling knowledge and resources, sharing genomics data, and developing AI-driven models, asserting that working in silos is unsustainable. Prevention, he stated, is the battleground for transforming healthcare for humanity’s benefit.