Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Centre Celebrates 100 Successful Bone Marrow Transplants
Dubai [UAE], July 24: The Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Centre (ADSCC) has reached a significant milestone by performing 100 bone marrow transplants since the launch of its Abu Dhabi Bone Marrow Transplant Programme (AD-BMT). This achievement highlights ADSCC’s role in providing life-saving treatments for patients with various blood cancers, genetic diseases, and autoimmune disorders.
Key Milestones
ADSCC has achieved several firsts in the UAE and the Middle East, including:
- The first bone marrow transplant for a patient with multiple myeloma in 2020.
- The first bone marrow transplant for a patient with multiple sclerosis in 2022.
- The first bone marrow transplant for a patient with thalassemia in 2023.
- The first transplant for a three-month-old baby with Krabbe disease in 2023.
Innovative Treatments
In 2023, ADSCC also manufactured the first CAR-T Cell Therapy in the UAE and the Middle East, eliminating the need for patients to travel abroad for complex care. The AD-BMT programme has shown consistent positive outcomes, with successful engraftment rates and survival rates on par with international standards.
Accreditations and Leadership
ADSCC recently received accreditation from the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT), becoming the first cellular therapy product processing laboratory in the UAE to achieve this milestone. Professor Yendry Ventura, CEO of ADSCC, and Dr. Fatima Al Kaabi, Executive Director of the AD-BMT Programme, have both expressed pride in the centre’s achievements and its impact on patient care.
Future Prospects
ADSCC continues to conduct research and clinical studies related to adoptive cell transfer (ACT), an innovative treatment in immunotherapy. This therapy involves modifying immune cells to fight cancer and other diseases, further enhancing the centre’s capabilities in providing advanced medical care.
Doubts Revealed
Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Centre (ADSCC) -: ADSCC is a medical center in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), that focuses on using stem cells to treat various diseases.
Bone Marrow Transplants -: A bone marrow transplant is a medical procedure where damaged or diseased bone marrow is replaced with healthy bone marrow stem cells.
Abu Dhabi Bone Marrow Transplant Programme (AD-BMT) -: AD-BMT is a special program started by ADSCC to perform bone marrow transplants in Abu Dhabi.
Multiple Myeloma -: Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer that affects plasma cells in the bone marrow.
Multiple Sclerosis -: Multiple sclerosis is a disease where the immune system attacks the protective covering of nerves, causing communication problems between the brain and the rest of the body.
Thalassemia -: Thalassemia is a blood disorder passed down through families (inherited) in which the body makes an abnormal form of hemoglobin, leading to anemia.
Krabbe Disease -: Krabbe disease is a rare genetic disorder that affects the nervous system, leading to severe problems with movement and mental development.
CAR-T Cell Therapy -: CAR-T Cell Therapy is a treatment where a patient’s T cells (a type of immune cell) are changed in the lab so they will attack cancer cells.
Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) -: FACT is an organization that sets standards for high-quality medical care in cellular therapies, like bone marrow transplants, and gives accreditation to centers that meet these standards.