DoH and M42 Unveil the Region's Largest Hybrid Cord Blood Bank at Abu Dhabi Biobank

Abu Dhabi, UAE - 14th May 2024 - In a groundbreaking move to enhance the region's healthcare landscape, 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 underscores Abu Dhabi's commitment to becoming a global leader in life sciences and healthcare innovation.

Advancing Healthcare with the Abu Dhabi Biobank
The Abu Dhabi Biobank, announced at the inaugural Abu Dhabi Global Healthcare Week 2024 where M42 participated as the Foundation Partner, aims to revolutionize the healthcare sector by significantly reducing treatment wait times, increasing therapeutic access, improving patient survival rates, and alleviating the economic burden on governments.

This pioneering biobank is envisioned to be a cornerstone of health transformation in the region, offering a comprehensive bio-asset that supports therapeutic treatments, life science research, medical innovation, novel drug discovery, and disease prevention. The ultimate goal is to provide the highest level of personalized, precise, and preventative healthcare.

Key Features and Impact

Diverse Bio-Asset Collection:
The Abu Dhabi Biobank will gather and preserve a wide range of biological samples, including cord blood, tissue, stem cells, and other human specimens. These will be linked with extensive genomic, proteomic, and clinical records to facilitate transformative research and healthcare initiatives.

Large Capacity and Advanced Technology:
With the capacity to store 100,000 cord blood samples and five million pan-human samples, the biobank is equipped with state-of-the-art automated technology and large-capacity biobanking infrastructure. This ensures that samples are preserved safely and securely, maintaining their viability for research and therapeutic use for up to 30 years.

Enhancing Maternal and Child Health:
The service will be accessible through four leading healthcare entities in Abu Dhabi: Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women & Children (part of the M42 group), Corniche Hospital, Kanad Hospital, and hospitals within NMC Healthcare. Expectant parents can opt to preserve their newborn's stem cells through a painless and non-intrusive process, offering potential lifesaving treatments.

Leadership and Vision
Dr. Noura Khamis Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of DoH, emphasized the biobank's potential to drive scientific breakthroughs and expedite drug discovery. "The wealth of biological and medical data amassed by the Biobank will catalyze scientific breakthroughs, expediting drug discovery, thus contributing to the Emirate's ability to find solutions for local and global health challenges," she stated. This initiative is expected to significantly impact clinical care and patient outcomes, particularly in the realm of cord-derived stem cell therapies.

Strategic Importance and Global Impact
Ashish Koshy, Group Chief Operating Officer of M42, highlighted the biobank's role in fostering global innovation in therapy development. "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're 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 reinforce Abu Dhabi's position as a global life science hub," Koshy said.

Conclusion
The launch of the Abu Dhabi Biobank and its hybrid cord blood bank represents a significant advancement for the UAE's healthcare ecosystem. It aims to build national self-sufficiency in meeting the urgent need for cord blood stem cells, enhance regional capabilities in research and innovation, and improve overall community well-being through preventive healthcare measures.

Media Contact:
Name: Samuel Watts
Website: https://nmc.ae/en
Company: NMC Healthcare
Phone: +97126332255
Email: info@nmc.ae

NMC Healthcare Abu Dhabi stands as a beacon of excellence in the realm of healthcare services, catering to the diverse needs of patients across the United Arab Emirates. With a steadfast commitment to quality care and patient-centric practices, NMC Healthcare Abu Dhabi has emerged as a trusted name synonymous with compassion, expertise, and innovation.

This release was published on openPR.