Zayed University announced yesterday (19 October 2009) during a press conference held at it's Abu Dhabi campus, the launch of a new research project about "Vitamin D deficiency" which will be sponsored by Emirates Foundation and held in collaboration with Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) managed by Cleveland Clinic. The research team which consists of experts from both Zayed University and SKMC will explore the symptoms of "Vitamin D deficiency" and the increasing number of patients suffering from it throughout the UAE, in addition to exploring risk factors, associated health problems, and how to overcome "Vitamin D deficiency" through a balanced diet and regular sun exposure. 

Present at the press conference were the research team members Dr. Fatima Al Anouti, the research's primary investigator and Assistant Professor at the College of Arts and Sciences in Zayed University, Balqees Ahmed Assistant Researcher and Student affairs and Cultural Counselor, Dr. Justin Thomas Assistant Researcher, and Dr. Laila O. Abdel-Wareth, Chair of Laboratory Medicine at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC) managed by Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Afrozul Haq, Senior Clinical Scientist and Dr. Ali Khalili, Chair of Family Medicine at SKMC.

Dr. Sulaiman Al Jassim Vice President of Zayed University announced during the press conference that Zayed University's Research Center has provided the funding needed to encourage faculty, staff and students on the Abu Dhabi campus to participate in this research through taking the blood tests necessary in identifying Vitamin D deficiency,  while Emirates Foundation will provide the research grant required to complete the second stage of the research which will be carried out on a representative sample throughout the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, as the research team members will organize and facilitate a number of workshops and seminars within different governmental institutes and organizations in the private sector to encourage their employees to participate in the research.