UAEU ADVANCES MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY AND SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS RESEARCH

KUALA LUMPUR, May 5 (Bernama) --The United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) has unveiled two research initiatives in medical technology and sustainable materials, marking a major stride towards advancing innovation, health equity, and environmental sustainability in line with the UAE’s national development goals.

In a statement, UAEU said that in the field of medical technology, its researchers have developed an improved non-surgical blood flow monitoring system using piezoelectric pressure sensors.

The technology relies on materials that generate electric fields when subjected to mechanical stress, enabling the measurement of vital physiological parameters such as blood flow velocity and viscosity.

The supervisor of the research team, Prof Mahmoud Al Ahmad, said the goal was to improve existing technology to make it more accurate and user-friendly, benefiting both patients and healthcare providers.

“It is worth mentioning that this project provided a training opportunity for four undergraduate students in scientific research.

“The team also plans to incorporate artificial intelligence technologies in the future to further enhance the system and expand its use," he said in the statement.

The innovation aligns with the UAE's vision to advance medical technology, reduce reliance on imports, and strengthen the local medical device manufacturing sector, supporting the country’s shift towards a knowledge-based economy.

It also represents a significant step towards promoting health equity and providing accurate, affordable diagnostics worldwide.

Meanwhile, in the area of sustainable materials, UAEU’s recent research has focused on producing green thermal insulators and high-value products by utilising palm waste to provide sustainable, biodegradable, and environmentally friendly alternatives.

The research team from the university’s College of Engineering, led by the Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Department’s Chair, Prof Basim Abu-Jdayil, followed a well-studied scientific methodology in which palm waste was used to enhance biopolymers, aiming to produce biodegradable thermal insulators.

The developed compounds were subjected to several tests to obtain a product formulation with optimal properties.

Abu-Jdayil said that an innovative green technology was used to insulate the palm waste materials to produce insulators based on aerogel technology.

He said the use of this technology aims to raise thermal insulation levels, ensure low density and thermal diffusion, and enhance the effectiveness of sound insulation.

He confirmed that the results of the studies show the emergence of promising advantages, both environmentally and economically, as palm waste provides the property of biodegradability, offering a real solution to the problem of waste management.

The ongoing studies, conducted in cooperation with local and international educational institutions, align with three of the UAE’s sustainable development goals related to clean energy, sustainable cities, and waste management.

Abu-Jdayil also confirmed that the studies are in line with three of the sustainable development goals that the UAE aims to achieve, relating to producing clean energy at affordable prices and building sustainable cities and communities.

-- BERNAMA