The Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Centre (ADSCC) has achieved a significant milestone by performing 100 bone marrow transplants since launching its Abu Dhabi Bone Marrow Transplant Programme (AD-BMT). This procedure, known as hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), involves transplanting multipotent hematopoietic stem cells, usually sourced from bone marrow, peripheral blood, or umbilical cord blood, to produce normal blood cells in patients.
As the first Centre of Excellence in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation accredited by the Department of Health Abu Dhabi, ADSCC plays a crucial role in providing life-saving treatments for various blood cancers, genetic diseases like Thalassemia and Krabbe, and autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
In just 24 months, ADSCC performed over 70 autologous and allogeneic bone marrow transplants for patients with leukaemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. More than 20 transplants were conducted for patients with multiple sclerosis, Krabbe disease, thalassemia, and other genetic conditions. Among these, nearly 20 transplants were performed on children ranging from three months to 18 years old. ADSCC also manufactured the first CAR-T Cell Therapy in the UAE and the Middle East, eliminating the need for patients to seek this complex treatment abroad.
ADSCC is actively involved in research and clinical studies related to adoptive cell transfer (ACT), an innovative immunotherapy treatment. This therapy uses modified immune cells from the patient, which are enhanced in the lab and reintroduced to boost the immune system’s response against cancer, genetic, neurological disorders, and autoimmune diseases.
The AD-BMT programme has achieved successful engraftment rates with no incidence of GVHD and survival rates comparable to international standards. Key success indicators include survival rates within 100 days and one-year post-transplant, all of which ADSCC has met.
Professor Yendry Ventura, CEO of ADSCC, expressed pride in the Centre’s advanced level of care and its ability to treat patients with life-threatening diseases, reducing the need for international travel for treatment. The programme’s positive outcomes set new standards in transplant care and adopt innovations that enhance patient outcomes.
