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United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) - Best University in Abu Dhabi, UAE

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Department of Nutrition and Health

Overview

Welcome to the Department of Nutrition and Health (DNH) under the recently established Division of Health Sciences in the prestigious College of Medicine and Health Sciences at the UAEU. DNH boasts of being the first in the United Arab Emirates to offer a degree program in nutrition over the past four decades. The department has grown since then and currently offers four distinct internationally recognized programs including the four-year undergraduate degree programs:  BSc in Nutritional Science, and Bachelor in Dietetics, and the two graduate programs: MSc in Human Nutrition, and PhD in Nutritional Sciences.

The DNH programs are accredited by the UAE Ministry of Education. In addition, the Coordinated Program in Dietetics is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) in the USA. This is the only program in the country and among the five programs that are accredited by ACEND outside the USA. The Nutritional Science Program is accredited by the Association for Nutrition (AfN) in the United Kingdom. It is the third program accredited by AfN outside the UK. The MSc in Human Nutrition is an affiliated program with the University College London (UCL) in the UK.

We aim to prepare graduates to be the leaders and change agents in the field of nutrition sciences and dietetics contributing towards improving the health and wellbeing of the society at the national and international levels. 

We are committed to providing the high standard of education and scientific research through our diversely qualified faculty and trained technical staff, state of the art facilities and infra-structure.

Our programs are best suited for individuals who are motivated to advance their knowledge and skills, and build their careers in the professions of nutrition and dietetics education, research and service.

Facilities

The Department has several laboratories that are used for teaching, research, training, and other purposes. The laboratories contain a broad range of instruments for biomedical, biochemical, hematological and anthropometric analysis.

Facilities (Nutrition)

This lab utilized by department members in conducting their biochemical research. The major equipment found in this lab include: UPLC TQD MS Mass Spectrometer, HPLC with UV/VIS Detector, Fluorescence Detector, Refractive Index Detector, and Fraction Collector, Chromatograph and Gas Chromatograph with FID Detection, Ankom Dietary Fiber Analyzer, Dionex-Accelerated Solvent Extractor ASE 350, and VION-IMS-QTOF.

This lab is used for the molecular biology work in samples from in-vitro and in-vivo studies carried out by our department. This lab is equipped with complete western blotting apparatus (Bio Rad protien gel electrophoresis system, Transblot turbo transfer system, Merk SNAP i.d 2 protien detection system and Bio Rad Chemi doc MP imaging system), Milliplex Flow cytometer, Spectrophotometers, SynergyMx BioTek plate reader, Automated Pipetting system from Eppendorf, Ultra Centrifuge, Ultra-Deep Freezers, Spectrofluorometer FR 1501 and Microscope TCM 400.

This lab is dedicated for analyzing blood chemistry and hematological parameters. This laboratory serves both, in teaching and research. Major equipment in this laboratory include: Cobas C111, Blood Chemistry Analyzer, Hematology Analyzer, Blood Chemistry Analyzer, Reflotron® Plus, HemoCue HbA1c 501 Analyzer, HemoCue Hb 201+, HemoCue Glucose 201 R, and Centrifuges.

This lab is used for conducting anthropometric measurements, determining body composition, and conducting fitness tests. This lab is used for teaching and research. The major equipment available in the Composition and Fitness Laboratory include Daul-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) scan - used to evaluate bone mineral density and to measure total body composition and fat content.  Beam balance scale for weight/height measurements, Bioelectrical Impedance Analyzer for measuring body composition (e.g. percentage body fat and fat free mass),  Fit-mate for measuring energy expenditure and physical fitness, Treadmill for measuring physical fitness and progress and Inbody 720 measures and analyses an individual's body composition in terms of water, fat, protein, muscle, bone mineral and visceral fat levels.

This lab was established for the purpose of in-vitro investigation of natural compounds with antioxidant capacities and it includes the following equipment NIKON Eclipse Ti Epiflourescence Inverted Microscope, Ultra-Deep Freezers -150 °C, HERA cell CO2 Incubator, Laminar air-flow hood.

 

Services 

The Department of Nutrition and Health offers various services to the public through collaboration, affiliations, and research projects.

Student Exchange Program
The Department in partnership with Osnabruck University, Germany is offering a Student Exchange Program. For more information about Students Exchange Program with Osnabruck University, please contact the Head of Department.

WHO Collaborating Center
In April, 2011, the World Health Organization designated the Department of Nutrition and Health at UAE University as a WHO Collaborating Center (WHO CC) in Nutrition for research, training and outreach in nutrition. This Center is the first of its kind in the country and the Gulf Region.

According to the WHO definition, a Collaborating Centre is: 

"an institution designated by the Director-General of WHO to form part of an inter-institutional collaborative network set up by WHO in support of its programme at the country, intercountry, regional, interregional and global levels, as appropriate. But there is more to it than that. In line with the WHO policy and strategy of technical cooperation, a WHO collaborating centre must also participate in the strengthening of country resources, in terms of information, services, research and training, in support of national health development."

Typical functions of WHO CCs include, but are not limited to:

  • Collection, collation and dissemination of information.
  • Standardization of terminology and nomenclature, of technology, of diagnostic, therapeutic and prophylactic substances, and of methods and procedures.
  • Participation in collaborative research developed under the Organization's leadership, including the planning, conduct, monitoring and evaluation of research, as well as promotion of the application of the results of research.
  • Training, including research training.
  • The coordination of activities carried out by several institutions on a given subject.
  • Capacity-building work at country level. 

The following highlight the roles and responsibilities of the DNH as a WHO CC:

Related Links:

Nutrition Clinic
The Nutrition Clinic, located in E-3 room 0015, is an integral component of the nutrition education and counseling services provided by the Department of Food, Nutrition and Health at UAEU. The clinic is open to all female students, currently enrolled in the university, as well as to faculty and staff of the UAEU.

Mission

Improve the health and quality of life of UAEU students, faculty, and staff through dietary and nutritional assessment, counseling and education.

Services

  • Utilize the clinic for senior projects and research for students and faculties related to nutritional assessment.
  • Anthropometric and body compositions measurements and assessment.
  • Biochemical assessments, including blood glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, hemoglobin, and HbA1c.
  • Sport and physical fitness, including basal metabolic rate and maximum oxygen consumption.

Facilities

The clinic is equipped with the following equipment and facilities:

  • Beam balance scale for weight/height measurement.
  • Bioelectrical Impedance Analyzer (Tanita and Inbody 720) for measuring body composition.
  • Bone mass density.
  • Fit-mate for measuring energy expenditure and physical fitness.
  • Treadmill for measuring physical fitness and progress.
  • Hemo-Cue for measuring hemoglobin, glucose and HbA1c.
  • Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) for bone density.

Contact Information

Nutrition Clinic  
Department of Food, Nutrition & Health
College of Medicine and Health Sciences
Female Campus, Building E3, Room 0015,
United Arab Emirates University, UAE
Phone: +971 3 713 6568

Academic Programs

Faculty

Note: If calling from outside the UAEU organization, dial (+971 3 713) before the extension.

Name Position Email Extension
Prof. Habiba Ali Professor, Chair and Vice Dean for Health Sciences habali@uaeu.ac.ae 6556
Prof. Ayesha Salem Aldhaheri Professor, Advisor to the Vice Chancellor ayesha_aldhaheri@uaeu.ac.ae 6020
Prof. Carine Platat Professor platatcarine@uaeu.ac.ae 6558
Prof. Nishan Kalupahana Professor nkalupahana@uaeu.ac.ae  
Dr. Moath Bataineh Associate Professor m.bataineh@uaeu.ac.ae  
Dr. Abdulmannan Fadel Assistant Professor afadel@uaeu.ac.ae  
Dr. Amita Attlee Assistant Professor amita.attlee@uaeu.ac.ae 4571
Dr. Hafiz Muhammad Shahbaz Visiting Faculty shahbaz@uaeu.ac.ae  
Mr. Amjad Jarrar Instructor amjadj@uaeu.ac.ae  
Ms. Morgambal Padayachee Instructor mpadayachee@uaeu.ac.ae 4525
Ms. Rubina Sabir Instructor rubsab@uaeu.ac.ae  
Dr. Rita Samuel Instructor R.Samuel@uaeu.ac.ae  
Ms. Salma Al Hebshi Instructor salma.alhebshi@uaeu.ac.ae 6581

Staff

Note: If calling from outside the UAEU organization, dial (+971 3 713) before the extension.

Name Position Email Extension
Ms. Aisha Al Shamsi Senior Administrator aisha.alshamsi@uaeu.ac.ae 6580
Ms Aziza Ataishi Medical Research Specialist azizaalataishi@uaeu.ac.ae 6172
Fatima Theyab Al Meqbaali Laboratory Specialist fatmadiab@uaeu.ac.ae 6571
Dr. Jaleel Kizhakkayil Medical Research Specialist jaleelk@uaeu.ac.ae 4586
Usama Diaa Eldin Mohamed Mohamed Souka Medical Research Specialist usamasouka@uaeu.ac.ae 4562
Ms. Wafa A. Al Shamisi Administrator I w_alshamisi@uaeu.ac.ae 7502

General Enquiries

Thank you for your interest in the Department of Nutrition and Health. We welcome your query and encourage you to contact us using the information below:

United Arab Emirates University,
College of Medicine and Health Sciences
P.O. Box: 17666, Al Ain, UAE

Phone: +971 3 713 6556
Fax: +971 3 713 6902 

United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) - Best University in Abu Dhabi, UAE

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Mar 14, 2024