ABU DHABI: The department of health- Abu Dhabi ( DoH ) and M42 have collaborated to launch the Abu Dhabi Biobank, with its first offering being the region’s largest hybrid cord blood bank.
Reinforcing the Emirate’s status as a leading destination for life sciences, the initiative aims to reduce waiting times for treatment, increase healing access for patients, increase survival rates and lower the financial burden on governments.
The Abu Dhabi Biobank is a founding member of the UAE’s vision to create a special international biobanking hub that can deliver valuable information resources to the highest level of impact on people’s health, as announced at the annual Abu Dhabi Global Healthcare Week 2024, where M42 is participating as the Foundation Partner.
It will be a vital pillar of health transformation and aims to deliver excellence by creating a different, basic, profile- asset that supports medical treatments, life science research for health innovation, novel drug discovery targets and disease prevention to deliver the highest level of personalised, precise, and preventative healthcare for all.
Four leading medical organizations in Abu Dhabi are committed to improving maternal and infant health. Future parents can get themselves of this company at Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women &, Children, part of the M42 party, Corniche Hospital, Kanad Hospital, and facilities as part of NMC Healthcare.
Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of DoH, said that the success of genetic and clinical data amassed by the Biobank will catalyse medical breakthroughs, expediting medication discovery, thus contributing to the Emirate’s ability to find solutions for local and global health challenges. Because it places a premium on cord-derived stem cell therapies and local stem cell therapy delivery, it will have a significant impact on patient outcomes and clinical care.
She added,” The Abu Dhabi Biobank’s ability to link cord blood, tissue, stem cells, and a wide range of normal and pathological human specimens with established large genomic, proteomics and clinical records sets the scene for transformative and cutting- edge initiatives”.
The cord blood bank of Abu Dhabi Biobank, an important development for the country’s health ecosystem, will improve outcomes for patient care, increase self-sufficiency, and strengthen regional capacities for research and innovation.
Stem cells act like a “bio repair kit,” assisting in the healing, restoration, and replenishment of other cells needed to treat various hemoglobin-related and immune system conditions, such as leukaemia, lymphoma, and bone marrow transplants.
The Biobank will have the ability to store 100, 000 cord blood samples and 5 million pan-human samples, making it possible to obtain a rich, diverse dataset that will help distribute hemopoietic stem cells globally that are ready and better-matched. Through preventive measures and access to advanced, high-quality health services, it aims to improve community well-being.
Abu Dhabi Biobank’s cord blood bank facility, situated in M42’s Omics Centre of Excellence, is equipped with state- of- the- art automated technology and the best large- capacity biobanking infrastructure. For the next 30 years, samples will be safe and secure to be preserved, making them viable for research and therapeutic use.
Ashish Koshy, group chief operating officer of M42, said,” The Abu Dhabi Biobank will foster global innovation in therapy development, as it holds huge potential for regenerative medicine, aiding in rare disease treatment, genetic screening, early detection, and scientific research. We are proud to work with DoH on this project, and we look forward to working with them and other healthcare providers to advance the field and strengthen Abu Dhabi’s position as a global hub for life science.
Umbilical cord cells are collected and preserved locally by the cord blood bank, giving donors the option of preserving their newborn’s stem cells at birth for potentially lifesaving treatments without the risk of harming either their child or themselves.
Expectant mothers can preserve their baby’s cord blood by opting for a safe, secure, painless, and non- intrusive process that can save lives and help build a healthier nation. In public or private banking, they will have the option to keep the stem cells.
