During President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan's visit to the United States, the Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Centre (ADSCC) unveiled its new strategic roadmap aimed at fostering comprehensive partnerships with American companies. This initiative will focus on advancing innovative research, development projects, and enhanced clinical care. Recently, ADSCC formed a partnership with Vertex Pharmaceuticals, a prominent global biotechnology firm in the US recognized for its groundbreaking treatments for complex diseases. Together, ADSCC and Vertex are set to introduce the first CRISPR-Cas9 gene therapy in the UAE, with the first patient expected to begin treatment later this year.
In its second edition, the ADSCC Bone Marrow Transplant & Cellular Therapy Congress, scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi, will feature more than 12 renowned speakers from the United States. These experts, representing healthcare, biotechnology, and academic institutions such as the University of Utah, the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT), Children’s National Hospital, Weill Cornell Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Precigen, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Indiana University Health, will share the latest advancements in cellular therapy and bone marrow transplantation.
One of the key collaborations that ADSCC is currently pursuing with U.S. companies is a partnership with Precigen, a leading biotechnology firm that focuses on gene and cellular therapies for complex diseases. This collaboration aims to introduce Precigen’s innovative UltraCar-T technology to the UAE. Unlike traditional CAR-T therapies, which typically take 2 to 4 weeks to manufacture, UltraCar-T can be produced in just 24 hours. As the only institution in the UAE offering CAR-T Cell Therapy, this partnership seeks to transform treatment options for patients at ADSCC suffering from immuno-oncology, autoimmune disorders, and infectious diseases by leveraging advanced genetic engineering and synthetic biology technologies.
As a Centre of Excellence in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant accredited by the Department of Health Abu Dhabi, ADSCC announced a significant agreement in 2023 with Boston Children's Hospital, a US healthcare provider. This agreement includes educational initiatives and programs for physicians and nurses specializing in bone marrow transplantation, as well as a visiting physician program at its hospital. In 2024, ADSCC reached a major milestone by receiving accreditation from the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT), the leading global accreditor for cellular therapy based in the United States. This achievement makes ADSCC the first organization in the UAE and the second in the Middle East to obtain this prestigious global accreditation.
Prof. Yendry Ventura, CEO of ADSCC, said, “These partnerships with top-ranked US healthcare providers and biotechnology companies mark an important milestone in the global mission of ADSCC and are in line with the UAE’s vision and priorities. We aim to enhance our research capabilities and speed up cellular therapy development in our region. By combining expertise and sharing knowledge, we will achieve major medical innovations to develop treatments for a multitude of critical diseases, cementing Abu Dhabi’s position as a global life sciences hub in alignment with the vision of the UAE’s leadership”.
Dr. Fatima Al Kaabi, Executive Director of Abu Dhabi Bone Marrow Transplant Programme (AD-BMT) at ADSCC, said, “ADSCC remains committed to build on its legacy and chart new territories; and is steadfast in its mission to drive innovation and contribute meaningfully to advancements in research, clinical care, and cellular products manufacturing. With our US partners, ADSCC’s aim is to bring on new therapeutic discoveries to help humankind while continuing to provide quality care for our local and regional communities”.
