Abu Dhabi Biobank has officially launched private cord blood banking services, providing expectant families with a more affordable and accessible option to preserve their newborns’ stem cells. This initiative aims to address the growing demand for life-saving treatments using cord blood, which has seen over 60 000 transplants performed globally.

Historically, many families have been unable to benefit from private cord blood banking due to high costs and a lack of local storage facilities. However, Abu Dhabi Biobank is changing this landscape by offering services at half the cost compared to current market rates. The Biobank has partnered with leading healthcare facilities in Abu Dhabi, including M42’s Danat Al Emarat Women’s and Children Hospital, along with Corniche Hospital and Kanad Hospital.

According to Gulf Today, the preserved cord blood samples will be stored locally at Abu Dhabi Biobank’s facility in Masdar City, which employs state-of-the-art automated technology and a large capacity biobanking infrastructure. This enables safe and secure long-term storage for up to 30 years, ensuring that the stem cells remain viable for therapeutic applications and can be accessed globally.

Cord blood, collected from a newborn’s umbilical cord immediately after birth, contains hematopoietic stem cells that can evolve into various blood and immune system cells. These stem cells are crucial in treating over 80 life-threatening diseases prevalent in the UAE, such as thalassemia, which has a 16.5 percent prevalence, sickle cell anemia at 5.8 percent, and other conditions like leukemia and genetic disorders.

By enhancing the affordability and accessibility of private cord blood banking, Abu Dhabi Biobank is removing financial and logistical obstacles for families. This initiative increases the likelihood of finding a suitable stem cell match within families, as siblings have a 25 percent chance of being a perfect match and a 50 percent chance of being a partial match, which significantly improves treatment outcomes for blood and genetic disorders.

Paul Downey, General Manager of Abu Dhabi Biobank, emphasized the importance of this launch, stating that it serves as a strong statement by M42 and Abu Dhabi Biobank to make personalized care more affordable, accessible, and local. He noted that cord blood stem cells are often discarded as medical waste due to various barriers and highlighted that the new service is designed to break those barriers down. The service includes flexible payment plans, advanced biobanking technology, and additional benefits such as newborn screening and genetic counseling, aiming to significantly enhance personalized and preventive healthcare in the region.