Abu Dhabi: Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) and M42 have collaborated to launch Abu Dhabi BiobankIts first offering is the largest in the sector hybrid cord blood bank,

The initiative aims to reduce waiting times for treatment, while strengthening the emirate’s position as a leading destination for life sciences. medical access For patients, improve survival rates and reduce economic burden On governments.

Announced at the inauguration of Abu Dhabi Global Healthcare Week 2024, where M42 Foundation is participating as partner, Abu Dhabi Biobank is part of the emirate’s vision of building a unique Global Biobanking Hub Providing invaluable data assets for maximum impact on people’s health.

It will be a key pillar of health transformation and aims to deliver excellence by building a diverse, foundational, bio-asset that supports life sciences research for therapeutic treatments, medical innovation, novel drug discovery targets and disease prevention So that the highest level of personalized service can be provided. , Accurate and preventive health care for all.

The service will be rolled out across four major healthcare institutions committed to maternal and child health in Abu Dhabi. Expectant parents can avail of this service at hospitals such as Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women and Children, part of the M42 Group, Cornish Hospital, Kanad Hospital and part of NMC Healthcare.

Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Under-Secretary of DoH, said the wealth of biological and medical data collected by the biobank will inspire scientific breakthroughs, accelerate drug discovery, thus contributing to the emirate’s ability to find solutions to local and global health challenges. Will give. This will have a significant impact on clinical care and patient outcomes, emphasizing cord-derived stem cell therapy and enabling local stem cell therapy delivery.

He added, “Abu Dhabi Biobank’s ability to link umbilical cord blood, tissue, stem cells and a wide range of normal and pathological human samples with established large genomic, proteomics and clinical records will enable transformational and cutting-edge initiatives.” “Sets the scene.”

A significant advancement for the country’s health ecosystem, Abu Dhabi Biobank’s cord blood bank will enable better care outcomes, build the country’s self-reliance in meeting the urgent need for cord blood stem cells, and build regional capabilities in research and innovation. Will further increase.

Stem cells act like a ‘bio repair kit’ that helps to heal, restore and replenish other cells, which can be used to treat certain hematological and immunological diseases such as leukemia, lymphoma and bone marrow diseases requiring transplantation. Can be used to treat system disorders.

With the capacity to store up to 100,000 cord blood samples and five million pan-human samples, the biobank will create a rich, diverse dataset that can provide ready-made and better-matched hemopoietic stem cells on a global scale. It aims to enhance community well-being through preventive measures and access to advanced, high-quality health services.

Abu Dhabi Biobank’s cord blood bank facility, located in the Omics Center of Excellence in M42, is equipped with state-of-the-art automated technology and the best large capacity biobanking infrastructure. This infrastructure will safely preserve the samples, making them viable for research and therapeutic use for up to 30 years.

Ashish Koshy, Group Chief Operating Officer of M42, said, “Abu Dhabi Biobank will drive global innovation in medical development, as it holds huge potential for regenerative medicine, aiding rare disease treatment, genetic screening, early detection and scientific research We are proud to partner with DoH on this initiative, and we look forward to collaborating with them and other healthcare providers to drive progress in health and strengthen Abu Dhabi’s position as a global life sciences hub. Are.

The umbilical cord blood bank collects and preserves umbilical cord cells locally, giving donors the option to preserve a newborn’s stem cells at birth, allowing them to receive potentially life-saving treatment without any risk to themselves or their baby. Could.

Expectant mothers can preserve their baby’s cord blood by choosing a safe, secure, painless and non-intrusive procedure that can save lives and help build a healthy nation. They will have the opportunity to preserve stem cells as part of public or private banking.