The Human Phenotype Project (HPP) is a long-term observational global study led in the UAE by MBZUAI. The project is designed to gather information on health, traits, lifestyle and diseases in the UAE population.
Download the participation information booklet
The HPP combines questionnaires, data collection, innovative tests and advanced artificial intelligence methods to discover personal characteristics (your phenotype) that can help predict future medical conditions, even before they present symptomatically.
Over 10 years we will monitor participants to explore and understand correlations between exposure to certain risk factors and the onset of diseases. The project is a unique global initiative that is closely aligned with the strategic plan and objectives of the Department of Health in Abu Dhabi.
Participation in the study is open to UAE citizens and residents aged 18 – 70, is free of charge, and is carried out under the highest standards of safety and confidentiality. The study has been approved by the Abu Dhabi Health Research and Technology Committee, Department of Health, and by ethics committees at MBZUAI and IHLAD, with all participant data stored in the UAE.
The purpose of the HPP is to develop methods that will predict diseases in people years before they show up clinically or present symptoms. Our goal is to develop methods that help prevent disease - improving the quality and longevity of life for each and every one of us.
Through the study we endeavour to support the UAE government and scientific community in achieving their strategic objectives across the healthcare sector: to become a global digital and data leader through advanced risk and disease detection.
Using data collected via a series of questionnaires and tests performed in our clinic, some of which are unique to the HPP study, sophisticated artificial intelligence tools will be used to safely process and characterize individual data – resulting in the individual ‘phenotype’. We believe that in the future, methods can be developed that will improve our ability to predict various diseases on a personal level, years before they present clinically.
The purpose of the HPP is to develop methods that will predict diseases in people years before they show up clinically or present symptoms. Our goal is to develop methods that help prevent disease - improving the quality and longevity of life for each and every one of us.
Through the study we endeavour to support the UAE government and scientific community in achieving their strategic objectives across the healthcare sector: to become a global digital and data leader through advanced risk and disease detection.
Using data collected via a series of questionnaires and tests performed in our clinic, some of which are unique to the HPP study, sophisticated artificial intelligence tools will be used to safely process and characterize individual data – resulting in the individual ‘phenotype’. We believe that in the future, methods can be developed that will improve our ability to predict various diseases on a personal level, years before they present clinically.
A phenotype is how your genetic information is expressed in the real world: your traits, appearance, behaviour, health - and even how you respond to environmental factors.
And that’s what we’re interested in.
A genotype is your genetic code - the instructions written in your DNA, which scientists have been studying for decades. The success of the Emirati Genome Program has ensured that the UAE has one of the most complete genotype data sets in the world, and the HPP led by MBZUAI complements and builds on these efforts.
This is pioneering research and at this initial stage, no direct personal benefit from participating in the study is expected. We will send you important updates as we discover new findings, but it is important to remember that participation in the study does not constitute treatment, and the tests that are done within it are in no case to be used as clinical diagnosis.
Over time, Participants will gain access to insights, based on their data when applicable - including blood sugar levels in response to different foods, and the composition of gut bacteria.
Reviewing the provided test results with your own healthcare provider may inform lifestyle discussions, allowing you to take proactive steps to prevent or delay the onset of diseases through lifestyle changes or medical interventions. The HPP annual follow-ups (clinic visit or call) allow you to track changes in your health and adjust habits accordingly.
It is important to note that collected data are automatically analysed and are not reviewed by a medical practitioner; therefore, they cannot serve as diagnostic information. If a member of the clinic team detects a notable test result during a participant visit/test, they will inform the participant and encourage them to consult their doctor, a qualified healthcare provider, or a medical institution. Any medical follow up must be between the participant and their own doctor. Read more about the study in our Participant Information booklet, which you can download here.
Be part of something bigger
Being part of a longitudinal study is about far more than personal benefits.
Taking part in the HPP allows you to:
Contribute to medical research
Support scientific progress that can lead to better health outcomes for future generations and helps address gaps in evidence for under-represented and diverse populations.
Sense of purpose
Participating in a health study can provide a sense of fulfilment - knowing you are part of an initiative to build a healthier future is rewarding.
Participant requirements and recruitment
Download the participation information booklet
We are looking for participants aged 18–70, UAE citizens and residents.
The registration process is done on the study portal, where you will be asked to complete an initial screening questionnaire that addresses your past and present medical conditions, to ensure that you are fit to take part in the study.
Once you have completed the screening, you’ll be able to book your first visit to the IHLAD Clinic at WTC, Abu Dhabi, to give your informed consent to take part, and to do the first set of baseline tests, carried out by our trained clinic staff. This visit will take about two to three hours and will include a range of tests.
Lastly, you will be provided access to the study mobile app that will allow you to easily record your meals, medications, activities and sleep hours during this time.
The study will last 10 years, during which you will be invited for repeat tests every other year at our study clinic. In the years that you don’t attend the clinic, you will complete a questionnaire and take part in a phone interview with our clinic team.
We will collect some samples to be safely and securely stored in the UAE for future use, and your informed consent is required to allow us to keep your samples for this purpose. Read more about this in our participant information booklet.
Screening
Complete your medical questionnaire online.
Clinic visit
Baseline tests and informed consent at IHLAD.
Longitudinal follow-up
Ongoing follow-up assessments over a 10-year study period.
IHLAD is the world’s first specialized healthy longevity medical center, licensed by the Department of Health, Abu Dhabi. They provide specialized clinical expertise and advanced longevity-focused healthcare services for longitudinal health assessment and monitoring.