A cutting-edge Abu Dhabi healthcare hub housing a trove of biological samples and data has been described as the “missing link” in the quest to advance precision medicine and address the root cause of disease.
The Abu Dhabi Biobank – which was inaugurated on Thursday – is central to the emirate's vision to accelerate a shift from reactive care to tailored, preventive treatments to improve the lives of patients.
The facility, based in Masdar City, has a storage capacity of more than 100,000 umbilical cord blood samples and five million human samples.
The project is the result of a joint partnership between Abu Dhabi's Department of Health and M42, the capital's technology-driven health company, and is aimed at improving life science research and enhancing understanding of diseases.
It is home to a wide range of biological materials, including DNA samples, reproductive cells such as eggs and sperm, cord blood and stem cells, as well as tumour and broader human tissue samples. These are also digitised, enabling secure access for research and clinical use.
“The Abu Dhabi Biobank is the missing link,” Dr Fahed Al Marzooqi, chief executive of Integrated Health Solutions at M42, told The National.
“It brings together healthcare providers, academia, industry and researchers within one integrated ecosystem,” he said.
“Our focus is on prediction, prevention and precision medicine. We aim to identify potential health risks before they occur, intervene earlier, and assess whether therapies are effective.”
The Department of Health views the newly-opened biobank as a critical asset in improving the health of the nation for years to come.
“It is an important infrastructure designed to collect, store and analyse biological samples,” said Dr Asma Al Mannaei, executive director of the Health Life Sciences Sector at the health department.
“It brings together critical data and information that allows us not only to detect disease, but to predict the health of our population.
“This is how we create the future of health – a system that is predictive and preventive, built on data and driven by real-world impact,” Dr Al Mannaei said.
She stressed that the work is already under way.
“This is not aspirational – it is a reality we are already living in Abu Dhabi. The collection of samples and the generation of data are already happening, and we are inviting partners locally and globally to unlock its full potential.”
How biobank is advancing healthcare
One example is the tumour biobank, where samples are analysed to better understand cancer patterns within the population.
“We are able to understand why certain tumours occur within our population and translate that into preventive approaches and tailored therapies,” Dr Al Mannaei said.
The facility also supports partnerships with academic institutions such as Khalifa University and international collaborators, as well as global pharmaceutical companies including GSK, aimed at accelerating research and drug development.
“The future of health is very promising,” Dr Al Mannaei said. “We are moving towards a system that is predictive, preventive and powered by intelligent use of data.”
Safeguards in place amid conflict
The Abu Dhabi Biobank has been built with layers of protection in place to safeguard both samples and data, even at a time of heightened regional tensions.
“We have designed the facility with resilience and continuity in mind,” Dr Al Marzooqi said, when asked if unfolding Iran war could pose challenges.
“The biological samples are stored at ultra-low temperatures using liquid nitrogen, with additional systems in place to maintain the required freezing point even in the event of an electrical failure.”
On the data side, safeguards are equally robust.
“There are strict systems in place to secure data, with multiple backups to ensure information can always be recovered if needed,” he said.
Inside the new modern facility, biological samples are stored at ultra-low temperatures using liquid nitrogen, with additional systems in place to maintain the required freezing point of minus 198°C even in the event of an electrical failure.
Harnessing biological data
The biobank is in support of the UAE's broader drive to use precision medicine to tackle diseases before they strike and make for a healthier society.
The Emirati Genome Programme – launched in Abu Dhabi in 2019 before being expanded across the Emirates – is closing in on its goal of cracking the genetic code of the Emirati population of about a million citizens.
Samples can be given voluntarily at dozens of collection centres – primarily in hospitals and clinics – across all seven emirates. The information provided is strictly confidential and cannot be accessed without the consent of the participant.
The latest figures of 815,000 samples, announced at Abu Dhabi Global Health Week last April, marked a significant rise on the 600,000 which had been collected by June 2024.
