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ABU DHABI / WAM
His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, inaugurated the ADSCC Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy Congress 2023, organised by Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Centre (ADSCC), a subsidiary of PureHealth, in Abu Dhabi.
The conference brought together a global community of experts to discuss the latest advances in bone marrow transplantation and cellular therapies, with a focus on their potential to revolutionise the treatment of a wide range of diseases and conditions.
On the sidelines of the conference, His Highness met with the team from the ADSCC, along with several international speakers. He also met with five recovered individuals from the centre, including the first patient treated with locally manufactured genetically modified immune cells known as CART.
His Highness was briefed on the latest developments and achievements of the stem cell centre, as well as future projects specialising in stem cells and regenerative medicine. Among the prominent projects discussed were pancreatic cell renewal using stem cells, the use of brain stem cells to treat neurological diseases, and a focus on multiple sclerosis.
His Highness commended the centre’s dedicated team and the unwavering support it receives from the wise leadership.
Also present at the opening were Mansour Ibrahim Al Mansouri, Chairman of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), and Farhan Malik, CEO of Pure Health, along with senior government officials, leaders from ADSCC and Pure Health Group, alongside healthcare sector officials.
The conference hosts over 60 speakers, including top doctors, researchers, and scientists from more than 15 countries, including the United States, Japan, Italy, Canada, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, South Korea, and others.
They discussed innovations and collaborations in bone marrow transplantation, cellular therapies, and regenerative medicine through over 64 scientific lectures, with over 1500 healthcare specialists in attendance.
This conference, the first of its kind in the UAE, combines bone marrow transplantation, cellular therapies, and regenerative medicine, supporting the vision of the ADSCC towards a groundbreaking shift in global healthcare through innovation.
Dr. Fatima Al Kaabi, Congress President and Executive Director of the Abu Dhabi Bone Marrow Transplant programme at ADSCC, expressed gratitude to the wise leadership for their interest in advancing the medical sector in the country and supporting healthcare innovation. She also thanked His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan for attending the conference, which witnessed profound and important discussions, presenting experiences gained from the Abu Dhabi Bone Marrow Transplant Programme.
She added that the conference provided an excellent platform to engage with global experts to explore the latest advanced technologies in this field, promising long-term positive outcomes for patients in the UAE and worldwide.
The sessions covered various topics, including challenges in acute leukemia treatment, immune diseases, the latest advancements in stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine, new perspectives on cancer immunotherapy, as well as the latest treatments targeting cancerous diseases like ‘Infiltrating Lymphoma Cells’ and genetically modified immune cell therapy known as CAR-T, among others.
Such scientific conferences contribute significantly to global advancements in patient care and treatment outcomes. As an accredited centre for excellence in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and a leader in stem cell treatment and research, the conference is part of ADSCC’s mission towards the medical community, providing them with a platform for knowledge exchange and continued learning about local and global medical advancements.
Abu Dhabi Stem Cell Centre’s CEO, Dr. Yandri Ventura, stated, “In alignment with the priorities of the wise leadership, the centre actively contributes to advancing medical education and research at the regional level. We commend the state’s support for the centre, which contributes to continuous strides on a global scale.”
He noted that the conference achieved significant success by hosting prominent figures in the field of bone marrow transplantation and cellular therapy in Abu Dhabi. Participants engaged in studying pioneering cases and research, including experiences such as the production of the first genetically modified immune cell therapy known as CAR-T in the UAE. Ongoing clinical research by the Abu Dhabi Stem Cell Centre for treating multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and others, further highlighted the promising future of stem cell treatment.
Ventura further remarked, “We are confident that the conference will help shape the future of bone marrow transplantation and cellular therapy, making a lasting difference in patients’ lives worldwide.”
Highlighting cellular therapy and bone marrow transplantation, the Abu Dhabi Stem Cell Centre shared inspiring stories illustrating patients’ journeys toward recovery. Abdullah Rudel, the first patient treated with UAECell19 aerosol cell therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic, shared his story of renewed hope. Fatima Haboub spoke about her regained ability to walk independently after a successful bone marrow transplant for treating multiple sclerosis at the Abu Dhabi Stem Cell Centre. Abdulrahman Al Jaberi, the first Emirati patient to undergo bone marrow transplantation for blood cancer a few years ago, and the father of three-month-old Fatima shared the challenges before her bone marrow transplant to treat the extremely rare genetic disease Krabbe. Additionally, Murad Al Halabi, diagnosed with blood cancer for the second time, expressed optimism after becoming the first patient to receive CAR-T therapy in the UAE.
The conference also hosted the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, aiming to improve the lives of individuals with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
The Abu Dhabi Stem Cell Centre announced at the conclusion of the Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapies 2023 conference the organisation of the second edition of the event on October 26 and 27, 2024.