Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Centre treats six cancer patients using bone marrow transplant treatment

All patients are recovering well

Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Centre. It is now seeking to expand operations. Victor Besa / The National 

Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Centre has treated six cancer patients using bone marrow transplant techniques since it started the programme last year.

Treatment can take from 19 days to a month, and all six patients are recovering well, state news agency Wam reported.

The programme started in August 2020, and patients with different types of blood malignancies such as plasma cell leukaemia and Hodgkin Lymphoma were treated.

Stem cell therapy promotes the repair of abnormal or injured tissue. Doctors can manipulate the cells into the type the patient needs and inject them where repair is necessary. The cells can be taken from a matching donor or from the patient.

The centre is now admitting more patients and is planning an expansion to also treat patients with autoimmune diseases and primary immune deficiencies.

It has also been involved in the fight against coronavirus and has received international press coverage for its research into a treatment.

Their groundbreaking work has involved taking stem cells from a patient’s blood and returning them, with a nebuliser, as a fine mist to the lungs.

There they help regenerate lung cells and improve the body's immune response by preventing an overreaction to the infection that can damage healthy cells.

The centre was established in 2019 to meet growing domestic and regional demand for highly specialised medical services and treatments.

Areas of expertise include immunology, haematology, clinical stem cell therapy, molecular biology, immunotherapy, orthopedics and urology.