Burjeel Medical City and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center announced a clinical and academic collaboration on July 17, 2026, to create a dedicated thoracic surgery program at the Abu Dhabi facility, according to a joint statement from the institutions. The agreement was signed in New York by Dr. Candace S. Johnson, president and chief executive of Roswell Park, and Dr. Mujtaba Ali Khan, chief executive of Burjeel Medical City. Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil, chairman and chief executive of Burjeel Holdings, and Dr. Sai Yendamuri, senior vice president, chief strategy officer and chair of thoracic surgery at Roswell Park, attended the signing.
The program will deliver robot-assisted, video-assisted thoracoscopic and open thoracic procedures for cancers affecting the lungs, esophagus, mediastinum and chest wall, the statement said. These services will integrate into the multidisciplinary framework of the Burjeel Cancer Institute, which already offers comprehensive oncology care. Alignment with National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines will guide clinical practice at the new service.
Thoracic tumor board meetings will convene specialists from both organizations to discuss cases and determine treatment pathways, according to the announcement. Patients will gain access to second opinions from Roswell Park experts without leaving the region. The collaboration also includes academic designation for the lead surgeon at Burjeel Medical City, shared clinical protocols, educational initiatives and staff exchange programs.
Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil said in the statement, “This collaboration creates a sustainable pathway for patients in the UAE and across the region to access highly specialized thoracic cancer care closer to home.” He added that the partnership would combine expertise to strengthen outcomes and build local capabilities. “By combining Roswell Park’s expertise with BMC’s capabilities and regional reach, we aim to strengthen outcomes, build local expertise, and reduce the burden of traveling overseas,” Vayalil stated.
Dr. Candace S. Johnson said, “Roswell Park has a long-standing commitment to advancing cancer care through collaboration, research, and education.” Dr. Sai Yendamuri noted, “By working with Burjeel Medical City, we can extend specialized thoracic cancer care expertise, support multidisciplinary decision-making, and help build a world-class program serving patients across the UAE and region.” Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, founded in 1898 as the first dedicated cancer institution in the United States, maintains membership in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, the institutions reported.
A study published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology found that age-standardized lung cancer incidence rates in the MENA region range from 4.2 per 100,000 in Yemen to 23 per 100,000 in Lebanon, with the UAE recording a rate of 6.3 per 100,000 and approximately 190 new cases annually. The disease ranks among the top 10 cancers in nearly every country in the region, according to the same assessment. Burjeel Cancer Institute data show the center serves more than 5,000 oncology patients each year, conducts over 10,000 cancer screenings and delivers more than 10,000 radiotherapy sessions.
