Pr. Imad Lahoud was born in Beirut, Lebanon, on October 7, 1967, and comes from a long line of ardent Francophiles. Imad Lahoud holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science and a Professorship in Mathematics and has taught in the French Elite system of “Preparation aux Granges Ecoles” and at the University of Denis Diderot. A rare thing in the Emirates, this French Citizen is the Chief Technology Officer of Medad Technology and serves as the Head of Bu Graphene, the research and development and innovative manufacturing arm of Medad Technology. Under his leadership, the team of scientists and engineers is spearheading diverse and disruptive initiatives in the technology sector through its competencies in the disciplines of HealthTech, BioTech, FinTech and Power Management. Imad Lahoud has dedicated 20 years to the aerospace industry and has co-headed the R&D and Innovations Department for industry giants such as Airbus. Through their expertise in the areas of health technology, financial technology and power management, the group of scientists and engineers he is leading is at the forefront of a variety of innovative and game-changing efforts in the field of technology. Imad and his team are at the forefront of innovation to enhance the quality of life and the general population’s health. The nebulization technology utilized in the administration of medicines was shrunk down to the size of a portable device by their team of researchers four years ago. These systems have both medicinal and recreational uses. They were successful in aerosolizing viscous fluids during this process. That cleared the path for using ultrasound technology in various disciplines, including diagnostics and recreational inhalation.
Smoking or no smoking?
Imad Lahoud was commissioned in 2019 by His Royal Highness Hamed bin Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan (UEA) to develop a device that could provide nicotine to smokers while avoiding the negative consequences of combustion. After waiting another week, he finally accepted the challenge and returned to the palace with a solution. Since that time, he has managed an international team of ninety individuals in the filing of patents, testing and ensuring the on-site design of an innovative anti-tobacco instrument. He has been in charge of this work since.The team effectively repurposed the technology used in medical nebulization to deliver nicotine in a safe and controlled way. The cutting-edge method employs ultrasonic cavitation rather than heat to aerosolise a liquid that already contains pharmaceutical-grade nicotine. As a result, no traces of cancer-causing agents were found. Currently, the technology is going through the process of becoming approved as a medical device to help people quit smoking with the EMA and the MHRA. Along with the design and production of Imad Lahoud and the team’s very own Integrated Chips (IC) and Printed Circuit Boards (PCB), as well as the creation of their very own firmware and software, their operations revolve around the delivery of turnkey systems and solutions. Medad Technology is a group firm specializing in research and development, end-to-end designing integrated chips, pilot production and product commercialization. The company has several affiliates in the UAE and will soon have affiliates in other markets.
In 2005, when electronic cigarettes were first introduced to the European market, a great deal of optimism was placed in their ability to cut cigarette use. Despite this, examinations showed that harmful compounds, although in lower concentrations, were still present, which tarnished the company’s image. Imad Lahoud intends to see this audacious project through to its completion. This ultrasonic nebulizer should appeal to a large number of individuals who are seeking an alternative to vaping that does not pose any threat to their lungs or hearts.
Imad Lahoud’s Life at European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company (EADS)
Imad Lahoud began working at EADS on February 1, 2003 and continued until December 2007. In Charge of the following fields: Applied Mathematics, Cyber security, Civil Avionics and Artificial Intelligence.
He relocated in 2016 to the UAE to manage an Aerospace company. Since 2019, he has served as the technical director of a research firm. He received his Professorship in 2009 and worked as a mathematics professor. Earlier in his career, he served as the scientific head of a research laboratory for the Franco-German conglomerate EADS , now known as Airbus Group.
Major achievements:
- Introduced the concept of formal methods through the use of a proprietary software based on abstract interpretation, in order to audit the source code of Avionics calculators.
- Built and managed the Cyber security Department for Airbus Group. This department contributed to the design of the A380 Secured on Board System architecture. The department also helped Airbus engineers comply with special conditions and certification review items in front of FAA and EASA and acquire A380 and A350 Type Certificates.
- Implemented and supervised the Airbus global Data Mining project. This resulted in gaining lead-time from the design phase to the final assembly line of the A380 Aircraft.
- Supervised the set up and use of new software by Airbus for Antenna positioning on A380. This resulted in gaining lead-time for Airbus and reducing flight tests.