Latest news with #AbuDhabiBiobank
Al Etihad
25-05-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
Abu Dhabi poised to lead in stem cell therapy, research with cutting-edge biobank
25 May 2025 23:17 SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)With a state-of-the-art biobank located in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi is positioning itself as a regional leader in stem cell therapy and biomedical research, eventually eliminating the need for UAE citizens and residents to seek personalised, life-saving treatments Abu Dhabi Biobank is the region's largest multi-modal cord blood collection and storage facility. It offers private cord blood banking services at a fraction of prevailing market rates and also functions as a pan-human biobank, a world-class resource supporting biomedical innovation and personalised healthcare.'The ambition is to do something similar (to the UK Biobank) in Abu Dhabi: Following large numbers of people throughout their lives, understanding their lifestyles, their genetics, their occupation and the other things that influence their health and try to really unpick those details as to what is protective of health and what is deleterious to health,' said Paul Downey, General Manager of Abu Dhabi Biobank, M42, in an interview with collecting umbilical cord blood through its private services, the facility also stores donated samples from families who chose to contribute rather than discard the tissue. To date, more than 1,000 units have been banked — potentially life-saving resources for patients in need of stem cell treatment within the UAE or across the region.'At the moment, people are travelling overseas for stem cell therapy to Europe and the US.' But this could be a compromise, Downey stressed, 'because the stem cell unit you will receive in London or New York will not be as closely genetically matched as if it were a stem cell unit donated in Abu Dhabi'.With the support of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, the biobank uses HLA typing to ensure the best biological match between donors and recipients, maximising success rates and minimising rejection.'People from the same ethnicity, same background, have a closer HLA match than somebody living in the UK, the US or Southeast Asia. So, it is important to collect stem cells locally, which is obviously what we're doing,' Downey cell therapy is still considered an emerging field of medicine. 'It falls under the category of regenerative medicine, and I think it is particularly interesting in the fact that it can treat a wide range of diseases.'Currently, umbilical cord blood is used to treat more than 80 serious conditions, but this number is bound to increase, he added. Expanding Stem Cell TreatmentsAbu Dhabi Biobank's dual approach — encompassing both therapeutic and research functions — is what sets it apart. 'We help facilitate stem cell research into how the stem cells can be used to treat other diseases where it is not currently licensed, so through clinical trials,' Downey biobank's research arm supports studies to expand stem cell treatments beyond the current 80 approved vision aligns closely with the work of the Omics Centre of Excellence, another cornerstone of Abu Dhabi's scientific ecosystem.'The Omics Centre of Excellence focuses on human genetics and, in particular, the Emirati Genome Programme and whole genome sequences in general,' Downey genetics is just one layer of the picture. 'Health and disease are a function of your genetics, but also your lifestyle, your occupation, the decisions that you make, things that you are exposed to, pollution, etc. So to understand health and disease, you need access to genetic information and exposure information.' Successful Transplant Eyed This YearFor Downey, Abu Dhabi's biobank is not just about research, it is about health transformation. 'By catalysing biomedical research through the development of this research resource, we will encourage investment in health innovation within the region.'There is, in fact, a growing interest from major pharmaceutical companies, he said.'We are helping facilitate that by developing the resources they need to do their research and biomedical innovation development,' Downey said, pointing to the bank's tumour samples, electronic medical records, and exposure data as major year, Abu Dhabi Biobank is hoping to 'successfully enable a transplant in Abu Dhabi'. 'If we come together, we can make a difference in the world and help develop the Abu Dhabi Biobank. We will surely see innovations, beneficial to people locally, but globally. Those innovations will arise within Abu Dhabi, which is extremely exciting,' Downey said.
Al Etihad
08-05-2025
- Health
- Al Etihad
Abu Dhabi Biobank offers a life-saving opportunity at half the cost
8 May 2025 23:34 KIRSTIN BERNABE (ABU DHABI)Abu Dhabi resident Felize Flores-Navarro, a mother of three, wishes she had been able to bank her children's cord blood. As a cancer survivor, she was well aware of the life-saving potential that stored stem cells could hold. But, because the service was too expensive for her growing family, she and her husband had to let the opportunity battled cancer twice, the expat wanted to do everything possible to give her kids the best fighting chance if they ever need personalised treatment for a life-threatening disease."I know that not all cancers and conditions can be treated with stem cells from cord blood, but who knows when they may come in handy? Who knows what can be possible through the next scientific discoveries?" Navarro told blood, collected from a newborn's umbilical cord at birth, contains stem cells that can treat diseases such as leukaemia, lymphoma, sickle cell anaemia and certain immune disorders. It has been used in over 60,000 transplants worldwide, with ongoing research exploring its potential in new life-saving the UAE, private cord blood banking can cost anywhere from Dh20,000 to Dh38,000 - prices that are too steep for many expecting Dhabi Biobank, which is operated by global health champion M42, comes in as a game-changer as it offers the service at half the current market rates. Through the facility, families can get their newborns' cord blood stored for as low as Dh7,500."The pricing is offered as bronze (Dh7,500), silver (Dh10,000) and gold (Dh12,500) packages with different benefits, making it accessible and affordable for most families," Paul Downey, General Manager of Abu Dhabi Biobank, told lower rates, he added that the centre offers flexible payment plans, "including minimal upfront payments and customers can convert the payments to easy monthly instalments through participating banks."Since launching the new, affordable pricing in March, Downey said they've seen an encouraging response from the public. Life-Saving Treatments There is growing interest in cord blood banking, said Dr. Mai Mohammed Elsayed, an obstetrics and gynaecology specialist at Medeor Hospital in Abu Dhabi."As more families hear about its potential benefits - whether through discussions or emerging information - they're increasingly inclined to explore this option," she told Elsayed encourages families to consider the blood banking option, especially those "with a history of genetic disorders or medical conditions that could potentially be treated with stem cells" - as was the case with cord blood can be used to treat more than 80 disorders, said Downey of Abu Dhabi Biobank. "The cord blood stem cells can combat life-threatening and highly prevalent diseases like beta thalassaemia, sickle cell anaemia and other blood disorders."UAE-based oncologist Dr. Arwa El Dhuwaib enumerated other conditions that can be cured through stem cell transplants. These include malignancies like leukaemia, lymphoma, myelodysplastic syndrome, and neuroblastoma, some bone marrow failure and other types of hereditary anaemia. They can also be beneficial in treating metabolic diseases like Gaucher's disease, Hurler syndrome, and Niemann Pick syndrome; and immune deficiency diseases like severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). Saving the Life of a Loved One Besides its powerful therapeutic potential, cord blood offers an advantage in genetic matching."The newborn's cord blood can be a perfect genetic match for family members requiring stem cell transplants or therapies. The 25% chance of siblings being a perfect match can help save the life of a loved one in a family," Downey El Dhuwaib, however, noted certain limitations, including "a risk that cord blood stem cells already contain premalignant cells and cannot be used to treat the child; the same is applied when there is a known genetic defect in a family."Nevertheless, the potential of cord blood in regenerative medicine remains significant."The development of stem cell-based therapies has a big potential to revolutionise the field of regenerative medicine and to improve the lives of millions of people worldwide," said Dr. El Dhuwaib, a paediatric haematology oncology specialist at NMC Royal Hospital Sharjah."There are plenty of ongoing research and clinical trials on using cord-blood-derived cells to regenerate or promote the repair of damaged organs, especially in cases when medical needs to prevent or reduce degenerative disease are still unmet with current practice. Examples of these trials are in type 1 diabetes, arthritis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, and spinal cord damage," the specialist added. World-class Facility Abu Dhabi Biobank is the region's largest multi-modal cord blood collection and storage facility. Its centre in the capital's Masdar City can store up to 100,000 cord blood units and more than 5 million pan-human samples."We firmly believe that these capabilities, complemented by our scientific expertise, make us the partner of choice for families, entities and governments," Downey said. Families can register by visiting Abu Dhabi Biobank's website at The centre's hotline 800 213 can also connect families to an adviser, who can explain the banking options.
The National
30-04-2025
- Business
- The National
How Abu Dhabi is looking 50 years into the future to shape health care
Abu Dhabi is primed to be at the forefront of a global healthcare revolution, by embracing technology and innovation to examine the root cause of diseases before they can take hold and help people live longer. The emirate is developing an ambitious strategy in which it will serve as a major hub for next-generation pharmaceutical production and become a driving force for precision medicine to support its growing population from birth. The National spoke to key figures in the health sector to get a glimpse of a bold future rapidly taking shape. The Abu Dhabi Biobank – a state-of-the-art centre housing the largest collection of human biomaterials in the region, due to open next year in Masdar City – is to manufacture regenerative medicine products under a partnership with US-based biotechnology company Human Biologics. 'This is very significant,' said Paul Downey, general manager of Abu Dhabi Biobank. 'The signing will allow us to develop regenerative medicine materials and products to assist patients in the UAE. It moves us beyond simply storing tissues and cells – we will now manufacture and make them available for treatment within the country.' Regenerative medicine works by repairing or replacing damaged tissues and organs, in an effort to help restore the health of patients rather than merely manage symptoms. The Biobank will now collect, process, and grow tissues and cell samples locally, creating advanced therapeutic products including organoids – miniature versions of human organs – and pioneering 3D tissue printing techniques. 'This is a new technology for the UAE,' Mr Downey said. 'Previously, patients would often have to travel abroad for these types of advanced treatments. Now we are building a registry of cells that are well matched to the UAE's diverse population, increasing the success rates of transplants and treatments.' Leading DNA sequencing company Illumina has partnered with Abu Dhabi to push genomic science to new frontiers. Illumina has sought to drive down the cost of sequencing from $100,000 to just a few hundred dollars, making it far more accessible. 'DNA is the fundamental building block of biology,' said Jacob Thaysen, chief executive of Illumina. 'If you want to understand human beings, or life overall, you need to understand DNA. It provides insights into variants that cause diseases, enabling early intervention and preventive care.' The Department of Health and G42 have sequenced most of the Emirati population, creating one of the largest genome cohorts in the world. 'That's incredibly important because the genomic profile here is different from Europe or the US,' said Mr Thaysen. A new agreement with Abu Dhabi Investment Office and the emirate's Department of Health will be focused on building local capabilities in genomics and AI. Abu Dhabi's health system is being redesigned with the goal of helping its public live longer and healthier lives. Dr Asma Al Mannaei, executive director of the health life sciences sector at the Department of Health, said longevity was central to its vision. She said traditional healthcare models, which focus on treating illness after it arises, are no longer enough. 'We understand now that the situation in delivering healthcare does not really fit repeated crises,' Dr Al Mannaei said. 'The healthcare system is witnessing a transformative change – moving from one-size-fits-all to personalised and efficient care.' Abu Dhabi is leveraging data from the Emirati Genome Programme and cutting-edge digital infrastructure to deliver predictive, tailored healthcare solutions. Dr Al Mannaei expects significant changes in how the healthcare industry operates around the world in the decades to come. 'Within the next 50 years, we are going to witness a transformative change, not only in Abu Dhabi but worldwide,' she said. 'Health care is going to be more personalised and more toward a health-driven approach rather than a treatment-driven one.' Dimitris Moulavasilis, chief executive of Abu Dhabi health tech company M42's global patient care platform, said the capital is shifting away from reactive care toward maintaining health through early intervention. 'Today, with the massive availability of the phenotypic data from the Emirati Genome Programme, we can build population health programmes,' he said. 'We are moving from sick care to health care.' Mr Moulavasilis described a future where health care is integrated across all stages of life – from pre-birth genetic screening to predictive monitoring in old age. 'Health care is going to intervene in all stages of life, ensuring longer, healthier lives,' he said. 'It's extremely important to design population and value-based programmes. Preventive care costs a fraction of treating advanced disease." Abu Dhabi's rapid population growth is also driving major investment in healthcare infrastructure. Mediclinic Airport Road Hospital is expanding, with Dh120 million allocated to increasing capacity and services. The expansion will increase the hospital's bed capacity from 220 to 270, add two new operating theatres, a hybrid theatre, a cath lab and expand maternity and neonatal services. Hein van Eck, chief executive of Mediclinic Middle East, said: 'Abu Dhabi has truly become a fantastic example to the rest of the world of how governments can push new technologies further and faster when they truly back the sector. 'It's a big investment. We realised we needed to invest further to keep pace with the needs of our patients. 'In 50 years, the healthcare ecosystem will look completely different. Hospitals will be smaller, mainly focused on theatre complexes and ICUs, while most patients will be treated at home, remotely monitored with the latest technologies.' However, he stressed that accessible insurance options are vital to supporting an ageing population. 'We need a safety net or a more accessible insurance model if we want to attract more elderly residents,' he said. Abu Dhabi's flourishing health sector is also encouraging a rise in start-up businesses. One success story is FemTech company Ovasave, founded by Majd Abu Zant and Torkia Mahloul in 2023, a digital platform fertility platform designed to make early fertility management more accessible and affordable to all. The company offers licensed at-home tests, egg-freezing packages and access to leading fertility clinics in the UAE, and personalised licensed supplements to support reproductive health. 'Just a few years ago, fertility services were limited and awareness was low across the region,' said Mr Abu Zant. 'Women now have more choices, more information, and greater control over their futures. Ovasave is proud to be part of this national movement, helping to make fertility care not only accessible and affordable, but a fundamental part of women's empowerment.' While important strides have been made, Alisha Moopen, managing director and group chief executive of Aster DM Healthcare, said it was essential that patients are not priced out of services. 'I think what the UAE, starting with Abu Dhabi, then Dubai, and now the Northern Emirates, has done over the last 10 years by making insurance mandatory has been the biggest win for healthcare in our communities,' she said. 'Health care needs to be democratised. Everyone should have access – it's a basic human right. The private sector plays a crucial role in creating sustainable models that make healthcare more affordable, scalable, and accessible.' Ms Moopen stressed the need to instil healthy habits early in life. 'We should have PE every day, just like maths, to build a lifelong discipline around health, nutrition and fitness,' she said.
