ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — October 23, 2026
M42 and Inocras have announced a strategic collaboration to advance blood-based monitoring for cancer recurrence in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), using whole-genome-powered molecular residual disease (MRD) technology. Announced during the Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit, held October 20–22, 2026, the collaboration will combine M42’s clinical and genomic infrastructure with Inocras’ MRDVision™ technology suite, which uses tumor-informed whole-genome profiling and personalized, ultrasensitive blood testing to look for molecular traces of cancer that may remain after treatment. The initiative will begin with a breast cancer pilot at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, focusing on patients with higher-risk disease, including triple-negative and HER2-positive breast cancers. The partners aim to evaluate the technology in the UAE’s clinical setting and generate local evidence on its performance and potential health-economic value. Following the pilot, M42 and Inocras will explore establishing MRD testing capabilities within M42’s laboratories in the UAE. The collaboration is intended to support more individualized follow-up after cancer treatment by investigating whether molecular signals in blood can provide an earlier indication of possible recurrence than conventional imaging. However, MRD testing does not yet replace established follow-up methods, and its clinical utility depends on the cancer type, testing context and evidence supporting decisions based on the results. The partners’ initial focus is to assess how the approach performs locally and how it might be integrated into breast cancer care.
MRDVision Uses Whole-Genome Profiling to Track Tumor DNA
The MRDVision™ technology suite is designed to identify genetic characteristics of an individual patient’s tumor and subsequently monitor blood samples for traces of tumor-derived DNA. This tumor-informed approach seeks to detect molecular residual disease, which refers to cancer-related material that may remain after treatment even when conventional clinical assessments do not show visible disease. By tracking tumor-specific mutations in blood, the technology aims to identify molecular changes that may precede recurrence becoming apparent through imaging. Inocras says MRDVision can track thousands to tens of thousands of mutations across a patient’s whole cancer genome and has a peak limit of detection in the single-digit parts-per-million range, according to the company. It also says the approach does not require the design of a bespoke panel for each patient, a feature intended to support a more standardized testing workflow. The collaboration will evaluate this technology in a real-world clinical environment in Abu Dhabi, with the aim of building evidence relevant to the UAE’s healthcare system. Published studies in early-stage breast cancer, as referenced in the announcement, have shown that tumor-informed MRD approaches can identify molecular signs associated with recurrence months before changes appear on imaging. Such findings provide a rationale for further evaluation, but earlier molecular detection does not automatically mean that an intervention prompted by the test will improve patient outcomes. The pilot will therefore contribute to understanding the technology’s performance and potential role in clinical follow-up, rather than establishing a new standard of care on its own.
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi to Lead Higher-Risk Breast Cancer Pilot
The initial phase will focus on patients with higher-risk breast cancer, including triple-negative and HER2-positive subtypes, which are associated with a greater risk of early recurrence. Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi will serve as the clinical site for the pilot, helping assess how MRDVision performs in the local patient population and care setting. The initiative is expected to generate evidence on test performance and the potential health-economic value of MRD monitoring. This may help inform decisions about whether and how tumor-informed testing could be incorporated into breast cancer follow-up pathways in the UAE. Dr. Stephen Grobmyer, Surgical Oncologist and Institute Chief of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s Cancer Institute, said that identifying whether cancer remains after treatment and detecting possible recurrence as early as possible are important clinical questions. He noted that tumor-informed blood testing offers a way to investigate disease at the molecular level before it becomes visible on imaging, while emphasizing the importance of building robust evidence for its use in practice. The pilot is a first step toward evaluating this approach locally; the announcement did not provide enrollment numbers, study duration or a detailed clinical protocol. The partners will use the pilot’s outcomes to inform potential next steps, including the feasibility of bringing testing into M42’s own laboratory infrastructure. Any expansion will depend on the findings and the partners’ subsequent plans.
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M42 and Inocras Aim to Build Local Precision Oncology Capability
The collaboration supports a broader effort to connect genomic insights with cancer care beyond initial diagnosis and treatment. Dr. David Kavanagh, General Manager of Omics at M42, said the company is building a genomic pathway spanning inherited risk, treatment guidance and post-treatment monitoring. He described Inocras’ technology as an additional capability that could be integrated with M42’s existing clinical and genomic infrastructure. Jehee Suh, CEO of Inocras, said the company’s whole-genome approach is designed to identify molecular traces of tumor DNA through broad mutation tracking and a standardized workflow. The companies aim to use their collaboration with Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi to build regional evidence and explore the possibility of conducting MRD testing in M42 laboratories, potentially supporting access across the UAE. M42 combines healthcare services with AI, technology and genomics, while Inocras focuses on bioinformatics, whole-genome data and analytics. By bringing these capabilities together, the organizations intend to advance precision oncology and evaluate whether advanced molecular monitoring can become a sustainable component of local cancer care. The immediate priority remains evidence generation through the breast cancer pilot. The clinical benefit, cost-effectiveness and appropriate use of MRD testing in the UAE will need to be established through further evaluation before broader implementation can be determined.
Source: M42, press release
