Overview:

The Genetic Newborn Screening Program (gNBS) is an 8-week intensive course, developed in collaboration with the Department of Health. This course is designed to equip healthcare personnel with the knowledge and skills needed to support the integration of newborn genetic screening into existing newborn screening pathways.

Programme aim:

To empower healthcare professionals in the UAE to identify treatable genetic conditions early, enabling timely intervention and improving outcomes for newborns and their families.

Programme objectives

By the end of this programme, healthcare professionals will be able to:

Understand the principles, purpose, and clinical value of newborn genetic screening.

Recognize the ethical, legal, and data privacy considerations associated with newborn genetic screening.

Apply practical knowledge of genomic testing workflows, result interpretation, and referral pathways.

Communicate effectively with families about newborn genetic screening, including informed consent, results, counselling, and follow-up care.