Two of Egypt’s most respected scientists living abroad have come together to announce collaborations on bringing advanced nanotechnology treatments for heart diseases to Egypt.

World renowned heart surgeon Magdi Yacoub will work with Chemistry Nobel Laureate Ahmed Zewail on the new technologies, but refused to give more details about the project until it was actually launched. He made the announced during a press conference held on Saturday, 8 August, 2011, according to the daily Al-Masry Al-Youm.

Heart diseases are widespread in Egypt. Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) claims the lives of thousands of people in the poorer areas, while an increasing amount of children are born with congenital heart diseases.

Yacoub blames the increase in heart diseases in the populous country to widespread pollution, overcrowding, poor lifestyles as well as depression and other psychological reasons. He had earlier set up the Aswan Heart Centre in southern Egypt to promote stem cell and gene therapy, as well as educate and train young doctors to use modern techniques for heart diseases therapy.

Both Yacoub and Zewail have been involved over the years in effort to promote science and science education in Egypt and the Arab world with varying degrees of success.