DoH And M42 Launch Abu Dhabi Biobank Featuring Region's Largest Hybrid Cord Blood Bank

The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) and M42 have launched the Abu Dhabi Biobank, featuring the region's largest hybrid cord blood bank. This initiative aims to enhance therapeutic access, improve survival rates, and reduce economic burdens on governments. The announcement was made during the inaugural Abu Dhabi Global Healthcare Week 2024, where M42 participated as the Foundation Partner.

The Abu Dhabi Biobank is part of the emirate's vision to create a global biobanking hub that offers invaluable data assets for significant health impacts. It aims to support therapeutic treatments, life science research, novel drug discovery, and disease prevention. The service will be available at four leading healthcare entities in Abu Dhabi: Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women & Children, Corniche Hospital, Kanad Hospital, and NMC Healthcare hospitals.

Dr. Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of DoH, highlighted that the Biobank's extensive biological and medical data would expedite drug discovery and contribute to solving local and global health challenges. She emphasised the importance of cord-derived stem cell therapies and local stem cell therapy delivery.

"The Abu Dhabi Biobank's ability to link cord blood, tissue, stem cells, and a wide range of human specimens with large genomic, proteomics, and clinical records sets the scene for advanced initiatives," Dr. Al Ghaithi stated.

The cord blood bank will enhance care outcomes and build self-sufficiency in meeting the urgent need for cord blood stem cells. Stem cells act as a 'bio repair kit', aiding in the treatment of haematological and immune system disorders such as leukaemia, lymphoma, and bone marrow diseases requiring transplants.

With a capacity to store 100,000 cord blood samples and five million pan-human samples, the Biobank aims to provide better-matched hemopoietic stem cells globally. It seeks to improve community well-being through preventive measures and access to high-quality health services.

The facility is located in M42's Omics Centre of Excellence and is equipped with advanced automated technology and large-capacity biobanking infrastructure. This ensures that samples are preserved safely for up to 30 years for research and therapeutic use.

Ashish Koshy, Group Chief Operating Officer of M42, remarked that the Biobank would drive global innovation in therapy development. "It holds significant potential for regenerative medicine, aiding in rare disease treatment, genetic screening, early detection, and scientific research," he said.

The cord blood bank collects and preserves umbilical cord cells locally, offering donors the option to preserve a newborn's stem cells at birth for potentially lifesaving treatments. Expectant mothers can opt for a safe, secure, painless process to preserve their baby's cord blood as part of public or private banking.

With inputs from WAM