Abu Dhabi [UAE], February 10: Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Khalid bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination (ZHO), a collaboration agreement was signed between ZHO and Lotus Holistic Group to launch the Arab world's first peer-reviewed specialised scientific journal on autism research.
The agreement was signed by Abdulla Abdulalee Al Humaidan, Secretary-General of ZHO, and Amina Al Haidan, CEO of Lotus Holistic Group, in partnership with the Emirates Scholar Research Centre for Studies and Research.
The collaboration to launch the first peer-reviewed journal on autism represented a significant scientific step towards advancing research in this field, within the framework of enhancing academic research in the UAE.
Titled The International Journal of Autism Challenges and Solutions, the journal will be the first Arabic-English periodical in the Arab world, disseminating the latest contributions from specialised researchers globally in the field of autism.
The first issue of the magazine will be launched on the sidelines of its eponymous event, Autism Challenges and Solutions, XII International Research and Practice Conference, to be hosted in Abu Dhabi from 27th-30th April 2024.
The objective of publishing the international, specialised journal on autism research is to provide the best therapeutic means and practices for individuals with autism, aiming to alleviate their challenges, empower them for societal integration, and raise public awareness. The journal sheds light on scientific responsibility, addressing the urgent need for a scholarly platform to tackle current challenges and disseminate research findings to practitioners in specialised centres.
The Secretary-General of ZHO welcomed the collaborative step to issue the scientific journal, considering it a positive development for the autism spectrum community. He said the journal is part of the strategic plan of ZHO focusing on early intervention and enhancing healthcare, aligning with the UAE's leadership in scientific advancements, particularly in sciences, health, space, and other fields.
Amina Al Haidan welcomed the agreement, and hoped the initiative marked the beginning of a new scientific era, contributing to the improvement of autism cases through the application of successful and tested scientific research to enhance their awareness and cognition in life.
Dr Abdulhamid Abdulhay, head of the conference's media committee, and Dr. Afaf Al-Ansari, Editor-in-Chief of the Autism Challenges and Solutions journal, agreed that the issuance of the journal is an international research message aimed at achieving the goals of ZHO and Lotus Group.
Source: Emirates News Agency