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Abu Dhabi Scientists Create Electronic Appetite Regulation Pill
The tiny device utilizes electrodes to stabilize and regulate the gut-brain axis, which can help control appetite and treat several diseases.

A research team from NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), overseen by Professor Khalil Ramadi, has created a groundbreaking “ingestible electroceutical device” known as the FLASH system. The pill-shaped device modulates the signaling pathway between the digestive tract and the central nervous system and is administered like a regular ingestible capsule tablet.
Featuring surface electrodes that deliver stimulation to the stomach’s mucosal tissues, the non-invasive device bypasses gastric acids to achieve direct electrode-to-tissue contact. The ingestible pill is powered by tiny batteries, delivering stimulation for around 20 minutes before being excreted by the body — a process that can take up to two weeks, depending on the size of the human or animal test subject.
“FLASH is one of the first ingestible electroceuticals that can regulate precise neurohormonal circuits while avoiding the discomfort patients can experience with invasive treatments,” says Professor Khalil Ramadi, NYU Abu Dhabi.
Researchers on the FLASH project were inspired by the unique skin surface properties of the Australian Thorny Devil Lizard, whose skin can efficiently wick away surface moisture. The pill replicates this process by using grooved surface patterns and hydrophilic properties that enable it to be ingested and excreted without side effects.
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During testing, scientists noted that the capsule modulated the release of the hormone ghrelin, which the body uses to stimulate hunger. Regular hormone medications have poor bioavailability in oral form, requiring an injection to administer. The FLASH system, on the other hand, can target very specific gastric-hormonal pathways through simple oral administration.
The FLASH pill shows promise against a wide range of diseases, including metabolic, gastrointestinal, and neuropsychiatric disorders. Unfortunately, the device requires further preclinical testing before being ready for the public market. However, the development team has set a goal of creating an advanced prototype for human trials within five years.
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Checkout.com Brings Visa Direct Push-To-Card To The UAE
The payment company is the first acquirer in the UAE to launch Visa Direct’s solution, enabling safe, instant money transfers.

Checkout.com has taken the UAE a step closer to its goal of a fully digital economy by becoming the first acquirer in the country to offer Visa Direct’s Push-to-Card solution. The new service will streamline money transfers for both businesses and consumers, enabling near-instant transactions across local and international markets.
Visa Direct connects over 190 markets and supports over 8.5 billion endpoints, including cards, bank accounts, and digital wallets. Push-to-Card transactions enhance efficiency for business users and consumers by allowing money to be sent quickly and easily to eligible Visa cards while leveraging the company’s secure network for reliability.
“Visa Direct is transforming the way money moves globally, and we are excited to see Checkout.com leverage this technology to meet the evolving demands of businesses and individuals alike by offering them a faster, more convenient, and secure way to send and receive funds,” said Shahebaz Khan, Senior Vice President and Head of Commercial and Money Movement Solutions, CEMEA.
The UAE has been at the forefront of digital payment adoption, driven by a national push toward a cashless economy. Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager for MENA at Checkout.com, emphasized this shift: “By providing seamless, secure, and real-time payout capabilities, we’re empowering merchants with the agility to thrive in this fast-evolving landscape, while effectively meeting the growing consumer demand for speed and convenience. The Push-to-Card solution not only reinforces our commitment to powering payment performance but also showcases our agility in bringing yet another innovation to the UAE market.”
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Checkout.com’s latest MENA eCommerce data highlights the region’s increasing engagement with financial technologies, with around 80% of consumers participating in activities beyond basic online payments, such as money transfers and personal wealth management. The growing demand for real-time financial transactions has made fast, seamless payment solutions a priority.
To meet this demand, Account Funding Transactions (AFTs) have gained traction in the UAE. By integrating AFTs with Visa’s Push-to-Card services, Checkout.com is helping merchants offer secure, real-time account top-ups. Currently processing over one million AFTs per month with Visa, Checkout.com is now playing a leading role in modernizing financial transactions in the region.
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