Egyptian scientist wins UAE's 'Great Arab Minds' award in medicine

Egyptian scientist Dr. Nabil Seidah has been named the winner of the UAE’s 'Great Arab Minds' award in the medicine category.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, congratulated Dr. Seidah.

In a post on X, His Highness said the Arab world has a long and proud history in medical science, adding that outstanding Arab talent continues to drive progress today.

He praised Dr. Seidah, Director of the Neuroendocrine Biochemistry Research Unit at Montreal’s Clinical Research Institute, for his pioneering contributions to heart health and cholesterol research.

Sheikh Mohammed highlighted Dr. Seidah’s work on the biological processes that control how the body manages fats — research that led to the development of widely used cholesterol-lowering medicines and has helped reduce the risk of heart disease for millions worldwide.

Dr. Seidah is best known for discovering the PCSK9 enzyme, a breakthrough that transformed the understanding of cholesterol regulation and led to a new class of drugs used globally to prevent heart attacks and strokes.

He has published more than 820 scientific papers, cited over 71,000 times.

In addition to his work on heart health, Dr. Seidah has contributed to research on fatty liver disease, obesity disorders, cancer prevalence and the mechanisms through which certain viruses enter human cells.

His findings have supported the development of new treatments across multiple medical disciplines.

The Great Arab Minds initiative was launched by Sheikh Mohammed to recognise exceptional Arab talent across six fields, including medicine, engineering and technology, natural sciences, architecture and design, and economics.

Now in its third edition, it is the largest initiative of its kind in the Arab world and aims to strengthen the region’s contribution to global knowledge and scientific progress.

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— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) December 24, 2025