Green Labs and Sustainable Medical Research: University of Sharjah Earns Top International “My Green Lab” Certification

 

The University of Sharjah (UoS) has received the internationally recognized My Green Lab certification at the Green Level, the highest tier of accreditation in the program, marking a new milestone in its push to embed environmental sustainability into scientific research. The achievement was celebrated at a ceremony organized by the University’s Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, attended by Prof. Maamar Bettayeb, Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Studies; Mr. Hussein Al Mahmoudi, Chief Executive Officer of the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park (SPARK); and representatives of Roche Diagnostics Middle East, a global leader in medical diagnostics.

The certification acknowledges the University’s efforts to adopt and reinforce best practices in environmental sustainability across its research laboratories and to reduce the ecological footprint of laboratory activities. It reflects the institution’s strategic vision to institutionalize sustainable development standards and shift toward environmentally responsible research environments that support a circular economy and contribute to national and global environmental goals.

In his remarks, Prof. Bettayeb underscored the University’s firm commitment to integrating sustainability into all its academic and research programs and operations. He said attaining the highest My Green Lab rating demonstrates the University’s leadership in aligning advanced scientific research with environmental responsibility. The accreditation, he added, crowns the work of research teams in conserving resources and elevating laboratory practices to meet the highest international standards, even as the University’s research ecosystem undergoes significant expansion, now encompassing three research institutes, 88 research groups and 12 centers of research excellence.

Mr. Hussein Al Mahmoudi, SPARK’s chief executive, said the achievement highlights the park’s role in building partnerships that bring together academic institutions, the private sector and global expertise to turn innovation and sustainability into tangible, measurable outcomes. “Having two laboratories at the University of Sharjah reach the highest level of the My Green Lab certification is a major milestone for this initiative,” he said. “It confirms what can be achieved when we combine scientific research, industrial expertise and innovation within a single ecosystem. At SPARK, we are building partnerships that do not just set ambitions, but translate them into practical, scalable models. We hope this achievement will be a launching point for expanding sustainable laboratory practices and reinforcing Sharjah’s position as a regional and global hub for innovation and environmentally responsible research.”

Prof. Rifat Hamoudi, Director of the Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, outlined the scientific and operational dimensions of the accreditation. He noted that applying My Green Lab practices within the institute’s advanced research infrastructure marks a qualitative shift in the efficiency, safety and sustainability of biomedical research. He illustrated the enormity of this practice by explaining that the research institute includes three specialized research centers, 30 research groups, 21 specialized laboratories, and 14 central facilities such as a tissue bank and genetic sequencing labs, alongside dozens of researchers, supervisors and graduate students—

Prof. Hamoudi presented data showing that My Green Lab practices can deliver rapid financial returns, cutting operating costs by up to 30 percent and generating a return on investment of nearly five times the cost. The measures also reduce physical waste and environmental hazards, streamline procurement through digital inventory and stock systems, conserve water, and lower health risks in work environments. He added that the institute plans to use Green Lab data to develop precise mathematical algorithms to forecast equipment and chemical reagent consumption, and to apply interactive, agent-based artificial intelligence models to improve operational coordination among research groups and enhance occupational safety and resource efficiency.

Dr. Asma Mahmoud Fikry, Director of Government and Institutional Partnerships at SPARK, who led the program on behalf of the park, said the initiative was designed from the outset to move beyond sustainability awareness toward a practical model that produces clear, measurable results within the research environment. “Reaching the highest level of the My Green Lab certification in two laboratories reflects the commitment of all partners and the sustained work over the course of the program,” she said.

Mohammed Al Omari of Roche said the achievement was a direct outcome of the partnership and cooperation launched through the My Green Lab initiative and demonstrated a shared commitment to building a more sustainable and future-ready healthcare and research ecosystem. “Reaching the highest certification level in two laboratories shows that sustainability can be translated into practical practices and measurable indicators when the efforts of all partners converge,” he said. “We are proud to work with SPARK and the University of Sharjah, and we look forward to building on this success and supporting sustainable solutions and practices that can be scaled to create a wider impact in the healthcare and life sciences sectors.”

The event concluded with the formal presentation of the My Green Lab certificate to University of Sharjah officials and official group photographs, amid wide praise for the university’s pioneering role in leading the green transformation of scientific laboratories across the UAE and the region.