Prof. Humaid Al-Shamsi, MB(IRL), FRCP(Lon), FRCP(Ca), FRCP(Glasgow), FACP(US), has announced that he is starting a new position as Chairman at Nexomic.
The announcement marks a new leadership chapter for Nexomic, an oncology-focused AI biomarker and drug discovery biotechnology company. According to the company, Prof. Al-Shamsi’s appointment strengthens Nexomic’s mission to advance AI-driven precision oncology and transform the future of cancer care.
A New Leadership Role in Precision Oncology
Nexomic’s appointment of Prof. Humaid Al-Shamsi brings one of the region’s most recognized oncology leaders into a central strategic role at the company.
His career spans clinical oncology, cancer research, academic medicine, healthcare leadership, public education, and health-system development across the UAE, the GCC region, and internationally.
As Chairman, Prof. Humaid Al-Shamsi is expected to support Nexomic’s work in AI-driven biomarker discovery, drug discovery, and precision oncology. These areas are increasingly shaping the future of cancer care by helping identify disease biology more precisely and enabling more individualized approaches to treatment.
Leading Cancer Care Across the UAE and GCC
Prof. Humaid Al-Shamsi currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Burjeel Cancer Institute in Abu Dhabi, UAE. He has held this role since July 2024. He also serves as Regional Director of Burjeel Oncology GCC, a position he has held since September 2020.
In these roles, he has played a key part in advancing oncology services across the Gulf Cooperation Council region, including strategic expansions in Saudi Arabia and Oman. His work focuses on leadership, human resources, clinical research, and the development of cancer care delivery across the region.
As CEO of Burjeel Cancer Institute, he leads the largest cancer network in the UAE, comprising more than 30 oncologists and hematologists. Despite his extensive leadership, academic, and administrative responsibilities, he remains in full clinical practice, conducting clinics five days a week and continuing to provide direct patient care.
A Career Built Across Global Cancer Centers
Prof. Humaid Al-Shamsi graduated with honors from University College Cork in Ireland in 2004. He completed his residency in internal medicine at McMaster University in Canada, followed by a fellowship in medical oncology and advanced training in gastrointestinal oncology and palliative care.
He is the first Emirati to complete a fellowship in palliative care in the UAE. During his training at McMaster University, he received multiple awards, including the Outstanding Senior Resident of the Year Award from the Medical Staff Association of McMaster University in 2012 and the Jeff Ginsberg Subspecialty Resident Award in 2012.
From 2014 to 2017, he served as Assistant Professor at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. He was also the first graduate of the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Program for outstanding UAE physicians training in 2016.
Prof. Humaid Al-Shamsi is board-certified in internal medicine and oncology by the UK, USA, and Canada. He is also the only physician in the UAE with subspecialty fellowship certification and training in gastrointestinal oncology, and the first Emirati to complete a clinical post-doctoral fellowship in palliative care.
Academic Roles Across Leading Institutions
Prof. Humaid Al-Shamsi holds several major academic positions in the UAE and internationally. He is Visiting Professor at Harvard Medical School and Visiting Scientist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
He is also Full Professor of Oncology at Ras Al Khaimah Medical and Health Sciences University, Adjunct Professor of Oncology at the College of Medicine at the University of Sharjah, and Honorary Professor at Gulf Medical University in Ajman.
He is the first Emirati to be promoted to the rank of Professor in Oncology in the UAE. In October 2025, he was officially received by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, in recognition of his academic achievements, including his Harvard Visiting Professor and Dana-Farber appointments as the first GCC national to achieve this academic ranking.
Advancing Oncology Research in the Arab World
Prof. Humaid Al-Shamsi has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed articles in leading journals, including CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, Cancer, JAMA Oncology, The Lancet Oncology, Journal of Clinical Oncology, The Oncologist, and BMC Cancer.
In 2016, he co-authored a landmark study with colleagues from MD Anderson Cancer Center in Journal of Clinical Oncology that described a distinct subgroup of colorectal cancer: non-V600 BRAF-mutated colorectal cancer.
His research focuses on precision oncology and multi-omics AI-driven biomarker discovery in cancer. He is also involved in the Global Burden of Disease research network, contributing to large-scale analyses that inform cancer epidemiology and health policy worldwide.
In 2020, he received the Publication of the Year award from The Oncologist journal for an international paper on COVID-19 and cancer management.
Building Cancer Knowledge for the Region
Prof. Humaid Al-Shamsi has also made major contributions through open-access medical publishing. In 2022, he published the first book on cancer research in the UAE and the first book on cancer in the Arab world, both launched at Dubai Expo 2020.
His book Cancer in the Arab World has been downloaded more than 600,000 times in its first two years and remains a major source of cancer data for the Arab region.
He also published Cancer Care in the United Arab Emirates, the first book in UAE history to document cancer care in the country, addressing many topics for the first time. In addition, he authored the open-access book Healthcare in the United Arab Emirates, which achieved more than 100,000 downloads in its first two months.
All of his books have been made open access to ensure free access to scientific knowledge.
Shaping National Cancer Care Standards
Prof. Humaid Al-Shamsi has helped shape several landmark national initiatives in cancer care in the UAE.
These include major contributions to the development of advanced national oncology care standards in collaboration with health authorities, the launch of the UAE’s National Guideline for Lung Cancer Screening and Diagnosis, and the establishment of the National Multidisciplinary Committee for Cancer Case Assessment through Ministerial Decree No. 20 of 2025.
The committee formalizes multidisciplinary decision-making at a national level.
He also holds governmental advisory roles, including Advisor and Member of Governmental Committees for the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, Dubai Health Authority, and Ministry of Health and Prevention. He has served as a Member of the Steering Committee on National Cancer Control Indicators since January 2018.
Training the Next Generation of Oncologists
Prof. Humaid Al-Shamsi has been deeply involved in oncology education and workforce development.
He is Chairman of the Oncology and Hematology Fellowship Training Program for the National Institute for Health Specialties in the UAE. Under his leadership, Burjeel Cancer Institute has established the country’s first hematology and oncology fellowship training pathway, accredited by the UAE National Institute for Health Specialties.
He has also helped bring major international oncology educational initiatives to the UAE and the MENA region, including Best of ESMO, ESMO Breast, and Best of ASCO.
As President of the Emirates Oncology Society and through his leadership role in the Gulf Cancer Society, he has helped build one of the most active oncology education platforms in the MENA region.
Recognition Across Oncology, Leadership, and Public Service
Prof. Humaid Al-Shamsi has received several major awards and recognitions for his contributions to oncology, research, education, public service, and healthcare leadership.
He was named Researcher of the Year in the UAE in both 2020 and 2021 by the Emirates Oncology Society. In 2022, he received the Feigenbaum Leadership Excellence Award from Sheikh Hamdan Smart University for his leadership and research contributions.
He was also awarded the Sharjah Award for Volunteering in recognition of providing thousands of free consultations to cancer patients across the UAE and the MENA region.
In May 2024, His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the UAE, awarded him first place in the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council program for outstanding leadership in the private sector across all business and medical disciplines.
He was recognized as one of The 100 Most Influential CEOs in Oncology in 2025. In February 2025, he received the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Program for Excellence and Community Intelligence Award from the UAE President in recognition of his role as a successful model in UAE society and his work to increase cancer awareness across the UAE and GCC.
Humaid Al Shamsi Recognized Among The 100 Most Influential CEOs in Oncology in 2025
A Regional Voice With Global Reach
Prof. Humaid Al-Shamsi is President of the Emirates Oncology Society and holds a leadership role in the Gulf Cancer Society. He serves as Chairman for Colorectal Cancer in the MENA region, appointed by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network in the USA.
He is the only member of the Lung Cancer Policy Network in the MENA region, supporting work to advance lung cancer research and screening globally. He is also the only member in the GCC of the WIN Consortium, an international organization focused on personalized cancer medicine.
His public education work has made him one of the most visible oncology voices in the region. He has made significant contributions to cancer awareness and early detection through social media and has championed free consultations for cancer patients without insurance.
Nexomic Appointment Adds a New Dimension to His Oncology Mission
The appointment as Chairman of Nexomic connects Prof. Humaid Al-Shamsi’s long-standing focus on precision oncology, biomarker discovery, clinical research, and cancer care transformation with a biotechnology company centered on AI-driven oncology innovation.
His mission remains focused on advancing cancer care in the UAE and the MENA region, while supporting broader access to high-quality cancer care for patients in need around the world.
Written by Nare Hovhannoisyan, MD