M42, a global health leader powered by artificial intelligence (AI), technology and genomics, and San Diego-based bioinformatics-led company Inocras, have announced a strategic collaboration to advance blood-based monitoring for cancer recurrence in the UAE. Through this partnership, the organizations will deploy Inocras’ MRDVision™ platform—a whole-genome technology suite combining comprehensive genomic profiling with personalized blood assays to detect molecular residual disease (MRD) via circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), identifying traces of cancer that may remain after treatment and can lead to recurrence.

For many patients, completing cancer treatment is not the end of the journey. Some cancers return months or years later, often after spreading to other organs, where they are much harder to treat. Timing is critical. In breast cancer, U.S. data show that five-year survival is close to 100% when the disease is found while still localized, but falls to around one in three once it has spread to distant organs.

Today, recurrence is usually identified only when it becomes visible on scans or causes symptoms. However, cancer can return at a molecular level well before this. Tumor-informed MRD testing analyzes a patient’s own tumor to identify its unique genetic profile, then tracks that profile in routine blood samples. Published studies in early breast cancer have shown that this approach can detect signs of recurrence several months before it appears on imaging. This creates a potential window for closer monitoring and earlier clinical action.

Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer among women in the UAE, with more than 1,400 new cases recorded in 2023. This initiative aims to generate local evidence on the performance and health-economic value of MRD testing, helping inform its integration into breast cancer care within the UAE health system.

The collaboration will begin with a pilot at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, part of M42, in patients with higher-risk breast cancers, including triple-negative and HER2-positive disease. These aggressive subtypes carry a higher risk of early recurrence. The pilot will generate evidence on how MRDVision™ performs in the UAE’s clinical setting. Building on its outcomes, M42 and Inocras will explore establishing MRD testing capability within M42’s laboratories in the UAE.

Dr. David Kavanagh, GM, Omics at M42, said: “M42 is building a complete genomic pathway for cancer care, from understanding inherited risk to guiding treatment and monitoring patients after it. Inocras’ technology adds an important capability to that pathway, and our aim is to deliver it within the UAE, integrated with the clinical and genomic infrastructure we already operate.”

Dr. Stephen Grobmyer, Surgical Oncologist and Institute Chief of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Cancer Institute, said: “After treatment, one of the most important clinical questions is whether any cancer remains, and how early we can know if it is returning. Tumor-informed blood testing offers a way to look for disease at a molecular level, before it appears on imaging. Building robust evidence on how best to use this information in clinical practice is essential, and we are pleased to contribute to that work in Abu Dhabi.”

Jehee Suh, CEO at Inocras, said: “Identifying recurrence early depends on finding molecular traces of tumor DNA in the blood. By tracking thousands, tens of thousands of mutations across each patient’s cancer whole genome, MRDVision can detect tumor DNA at single-digit parts-per-million, without the need to design a bespoke panel for each patient. That simple, standardized workflow is what allows us to accelerate robust evidence building in the region with Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, and to work with M42 toward running the test in its own laboratories so patients across the UAE can benefit sooner.”

The collaboration represents a step towards a more complete model of precision oncology in the UAE, connecting genomic insights with care beyond initial treatment. By combining clinical research with the ambition to deliver testing locally, M42 and Inocras aim to make advanced cancer monitoring an accessible and sustainable part of the country’s healthcare capabilities

About M42

M42 is a global health champion powered by artificial intelligence (AI), technology and genomics to advance innovation in health for people and the planet. Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, M42 combines its specialized, state-of-the-art facilities with integrated health solutions like genomics and biobanks, and harnesses advanced technologies to deliver precise, preventive and predictive care, to impactfully disrupt traditional healthcare models and positively impact lives globally.

Established in 2023, following the coming together of G42 Healthcare and Mubadala Health, M42 has more than 480 facilities in 26 countries and over 20,000 employees. M42 includes renowned healthcare providers, including Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Danat Al Emarat, Diaverum, Imperial College London Diabetes Centre, Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Hospital, and Moorfields Eye Hospital Abu Dhabi. As well as operating the Emirati Genome Programme, M42 runs Abu Dhabi BioBank and Abu Dhabi Health Data Services (ADHDS), a global tech-enabled healthcare company operating Malaffi.

About Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, located on Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi, is a premier multispecialty hospital and an extension of Cleveland Clinic in the U.S. Purpose-built to meet the region’s complex and critical care needs, the hospital is organized into eight specialized Institutes: Heart, Vascular & Thoracic; Neurological; Cancer; Digestive Disease; Medical Specialty; Integrated Surgical; Integrated Hospital Care; and Diagnostic. These institutes are supported by key departments, including Research, Education, Quality & Patient Safety, and Nursing.

The hospital’s state-of-the-art facilities include 406 licensed beds, including 90 critical care beds; 26 operating rooms; royal suites; and the Fatima bint Mubarak Center, a dedicated cancer facility offering comprehensive diagnostics and advanced treatment. Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is recognized for its leadership in medical innovation, integrating robotics and AI-assisted technologies and programs to enhance patient outcomes and experience.

Designated by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi as a Center of Excellence for adult cardiac surgery, stroke, adult multi-organ transplantation, and breast cancer, the hospital is also an accredited research and teaching institution. It was the first hospital in the UAE to earn accreditation from both ACGME-I and ACCME, offering residency, fellowship, undergraduate training, and continuing medical education programs.

About Inocras

Inocras is a bioinformatics-led company redefining precision health through whole genome data and proprietary analytics. Our oncology and rare disease platforms integrate comprehensive whole genome data with advanced automation to deliver curated and actionable insights at scale that accelerate discovery and diagnostics to improve patient care, bringing a real-world impact.

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