Region’s first biobank set to be launched in Abu Dhabi

The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) has partnered with M42 to launch the Abu Dhabi Biobank, introducing the largest hybrid cord blood bank in the region. This collaboration aims to enhance treatment accessibility and drive research efforts, positioning Abu Dhabi as a global life sciences hub.

Unveiled during Abu Dhabi Global Healthcare Week, the initiative offers cord blood preservation services at four healthcare facilities across the emirate. The biobank has the capacity to store 100,000 cord blood samples and five million pan-human samples, supporting research and therapy development for the next 30 years.

Situated in M42’s Omics Centre of Excellence, the Abu Dhabi Biobank is equipped with cutting-edge technology to securely store samples for research and therapeutic purposes over a period of three decades. It is expected to catalyze innovation in therapy development on a global scale, particularly in areas like regenerative medicine, rare disease treatment, genetic screening, early detection, and scientific research.

The cord blood bank collects and preserves umbilical cord cells locally, giving donors the option to store a newborn’s stem cells at birth for potential lifesaving treatments. Expectant mothers can choose to preserve their baby’s cord blood and have the opportunity to store the stem cells either in public or private banking facilities.

This initiative underscores Abu Dhabi’s commitment to advancing healthcare and promoting innovation in regenerative medicine and genetic screening, aligning with the UAE’s strategy to address life-threatening diseases such as thalassemia, sickle cell disease, and various forms of cancer.