TII And Burjeel Medical City Partner To Advance Immunotherapy Solutions For Cancer Patients

In line with the UAE’s ongoing efforts to advance cancer care, the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) has announced a collaboration with Burjeel Medical City (BMC). This partnership aims to develop novel immunotherapy solutions for cancer treatment. TII is a leading global scientific research centre and the applied research pillar of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC).

The collaboration focuses on engineering T-cell based therapeutics, including Chimeric Antigen Receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy and Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocyte (TIL) therapy. These treatments enhance the body's immune system to combat cancer. The partnership, set to run for two years with the possibility of extension, was signed by Dr. Thomas Launey, Chief Researcher of TII’s Biotechnology Research Center, and Dr. Khaled Musallam, Chief Research Officer of Burjeel Holdings.

BMC, known for its complex care offerings in key specialties including oncology, will leverage advanced technologies from TII. These include a state-of-the-art computational framework to identify patient-specific antigens relevant to cancer and develop personalised cancer therapies. The collaboration was formalised during Abu Dhabi Global Healthcare Week in the presence of Dr. Ray O. Johnson, CEO of TII, and Safeer Ahamed, Group COO of Burjeel Holdings.

In Phase 1 of the project, TII will construct an in-silico platform to identify tailored cancer-specific antigens from single-cell transcriptomics data. This platform will facilitate the design of CAR-T cells capable of effectively targeting cancer-specific antigens. During Phase 2, the in-silico platform will undergo rigorous testing through in-vitro and in-vivo experiments.

Dr. Thomas Launey stated, "We expect that this collaboration with BMC will yield fast and meaningful impact in cancer therapy. Together, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation to provide hope to those affected by this critical health challenge." Dr. Khaled Musallam added, "We live in times when cancers continue to proliferate with a ruthless and growing frequency, impacting the lives of those affected and their families. This is clearly not a struggle the healthcare sector can overcome alone."

He further emphasised that creating partnerships that help supercharge cancer research and treatment are crucial to enhance the pace of discoveries and improve patient outcomes. "Our partnership with TII will play a pivotal role in the ongoing fight against cancer," he said.

Strategic Initiatives

With the UAE fast becoming a key leader in innovative cancer care through various strategic initiatives, the TII-Burjeel alliance is a clear indication of the country’s commitment to collaborative progress in oncology. This partnership aims to foster breakthrough solutions that will elevate the healthcare industry to new heights.

With inputs from WAM