Who We Are
Our History
The Global Institute for Disease Elimination (GLIDE) is the result of a long-standing partnership between His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and Bill Gates, dating back to their pledge to fight diseases and put an end to polio in 2011. The concept for an Abu Dhabi-based institute to develop policies to combat infectious diseases materialised in 2017, with an announcement by His Highness at the Reaching the Last Mile Forum. Two years later, during the Reaching the Last Mile Forum in November 2019, GLIDE was formally launched.
As the first and only institute of its kind in the region, GLIDE helps build capability within the region and establishes a new epicentre of global health and development. With unique positioning and a panoramic view, GLIDE will help ensure the legacy of philanthropy in the UAE is continued and expanded upon, and help to achieve a world free from preventable infectious diseases of poverty.
Our Vision
GLIDE envisions a world free from infectious diseases of poverty.
GLIDE aims to accelerate progress towards disease elimination to alleviate human suffering. We do this by elevating awareness and engagement, advancing elimination strategies, and fostering and scaling innovation.
Our Mission
To advance global thinking and accelerate progress towards disease elimination by building on country ownership and local solutions, promoting an integrated approach, engaging catalytically, seeking out sustainable solutions, and working in partnership.
Our Team

Simon Bland

Zahi Albisharat

Hajer Al Hosani

Mohamed Al Sallal

Myrna Ayman

Ruba Bisharat

Elisabeth Conroy

Lara Dahan

Aïssatou Diawara

Johny Eapen

Ngozi Erondu

Lisa Goldman-van Nostrand

Paul Hetherington

Priya Kanayson

Andrea Prerad

Muhammed Shammas

Diana Yousef
Our Board

Waleed Al Mokarrab Al Muhairi

Nassar Al Mubarak

Ellen Agler

Dr Maha Barakat

Joe Cerrell

Sir Richard Feachem

Philippe Douste-Blazy

Bobby Shriver

Prof Margaret Gyapong

Simon Bland
Our Technical Advisory Committee

Dr Maha Barakat

Elhadj As Sy

Sir Richard Feachem

Dr Caroline Harper

Dr Adrian Hopkins

Sir Peter Piot

Dr Philip Welkhoff

Dr Marc-Alain Widdowson

Simon Bland
Our Founders

Crown Prince Court
For over 30 years, The Crown Prince Court (CPC) has been dedicated to the elimination and control of preventable diseases that affect the health and economic prospects of the world’s poorest people.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) has been committed to fighting poverty, disease, and inequity around the world for over 20 years.