The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity has praised the remarkable contributions of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of the Ruler of Sharjah and Founder and Royal Patron of the Friends of Cancer Patients (FoCP), for her pivotal role in advancing cancer research and treatment innovation in the UK.
The charity’s annual report highlighted Her Highness’s sustained support for the Sharjah Clinical Genomics Laboratory, housed within the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Centre for Molecular Pathology (CMP) at The Royal Marsden. Over the past five years, her backing has enabled the lab’s scientific team to deliver faster diagnoses, pioneer personalised treatments, and introduce the UK’s first robotic genome testing facility.
Launched in 2018 as a humanitarian initiative, the Sharjah Clinical Genomics Laboratory was established with a £500,000 donation from Sheikha Jawarher, underscoring her belief that investment in cutting-edge research is essential to fighting cancer and generating global impact. The facility now integrates state-of-the-art equipment, such as the Nanopore PromethION DNA sequencing device, and collaborates with leading biotech firms to automate up to 5,000 genomic tests each month.
Recent advances include the ‘Marsden360’ liquid biopsy service, developed with Guardant Health, which identifies genetic mutations in cancer patients to guide targeted treatments. The CMP has also played a leading role in high-profile clinical trials for leukaemia, lung, rare cancers, and genetic syndromes, contributing to over two dozen peer-reviewed studies in 2024 alone.
The Royal Marsden, founded in 1851, treats more than 50,000 patients annually and is recognised globally for cancer care and research. The impact of Sheikha Jawaher’s vision extends beyond the UK, with her philanthropic efforts supporting cancer institutions in Egypt, Lebanon, and international childhood cancer initiatives.
Her Highness’s work embodies the UAE’s humanitarian commitment to transforming lives through science, positioning Sharjah as a key partner in the future of genomic medicine worldwide.
