Nael Abdelsamad MD, MBA , FACHE

Physician–executive with over a decade of cross-sector leadership in healthcare, academia, and industry. As Head of Research at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, I lead the transformation of the institution’s research enterprise, expanding its portfolio to more complex, interventional, and early-phase trials, including first-in-human studies such as Neuralink's landmark UAE PRIME trial. Under my leadership, the institution has grown into a regional center of excellence for complex, interventional, and early-phase clinical trials.

Previously, I served as the Medical Director at CVS Health’s Clinical Trial Services, where I oversaw national recruitment operations for 40+ multicenter BioPharma trials and implemented data-driven strategies that significantly improved enrollment performance and operational efficiency.

My work focuses on building research ecosystems that advance clinical discovery, integrate AI and data science, and bridge the gap between innovation and patient impact. Through collaborations with leading AI organizations such as G42 and MBZUAI, I’m helping shape the UAE’s role as a global hub for life sciences and tech-enabled healthcare.

Certifications

Certified Principal Investigator (CPI®)
Certified Clinical Research Coordinator (CCRC®)
Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives
Lean Six Sigma Certified

Board Memberships

MBL Health
MBZUAI & CCAD AI in Research Steering Committee
Research Ethics Committee Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi
Association of Clinical Research Professionals CPI Exam Committee

Education

M.D. Weill Cornell Medicine
M.B.A. Healthcare Managment, Western Governors University