First-ever bone marrow transplant in UAE conducted successfully

Our Correspondent

The Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Centre (ADSCC) announced that the UAE had successfully conducted its first-ever bone marrow transplant, WAM reported. The centre on July 27 inaugurated the Abu Dhabi Bone Marrow Transplant programme (AD-BMT).
Typically used to treat patients with hematological and oncological illnesses, the bone marrow transplant was performed on a patient with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer. Cancer is the third highest cause of death in the UAE. So far, Emirati citizens and residents have often sought treatment abroad for cell therapy and regenerative medicine.

The successful transplant, which was the result of collaboration between ADSCC and Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, represents a groundbreaking advancement for cancer patients living in the UAE who can now seek treatment closer to home and remain with their families.

Bone marrow transplant, or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, is one of the most established stem cell-based therapies in the treatment of cancer, particularly blood cancer. The unique treatment procedure developed by ADSCC, involved harvesting peripheral blood stem cells from the patient, who then underwent high-dose chemotherapy to eradicate all cancerous cells and most of the bone marrow. The harvested stem cells were then infused back into the bloodstream, where they restore the destroyed cells and over the course of two weeks restart the production of healthy non-malignant blood cells.

“The patient is basically without an immune system while waiting for the transfused cells to take effect and must remain in isolation under the strictest infection control guidelines,” said Dr. Yendry Ventura, General Manager of ADSCC and Programme Director of BMT. “Since we are still in the midst of a global pandemic, we took additional precautions to ensure the best outcome possible for all involved.”
In June 2020, ADSCC announced the results of the trial of its breakthrough treatment for COVID-19 patients, branded UAECell19, demonstrating its remarkable safety and efficacy. UAECell19 went on to secure three levels of intellectual property protection in recognition of its originality and novel medical application. ADSCC aims to make the BMT treatment available to all patients in the UAE who require it.
ADSCC was founded with the primary objective of meeting growing domestic and regional demand for advanced medical services and most innovative treatments in the UAE. It is committed to ensuring the Abu Dhabi BMT programme meets the highest standards of quality and patient satisfaction at all steps of the process, including treatment, aftercare, and follow-up between clinical BMT personnel, patients, and their families.