UAE Advances in Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Therapies

UAE’s Commitment to Regenerative Medicine

The United Arab Emirates is reinforcing its status as a leader in regenerative medicine and stem cell therapies, aiming to establish itself as a regional and global hub for advanced healthcare solutions. This initiative aligns with a broader vision to create a sustainable healthcare system characterized by innovation, clinical excellence, and integrated institutional frameworks.

Central to this effort is the Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Centre (ADSCC), which has gained accreditation from the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) and the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies (AABB). The ADSCC serves as a national model, merging clinical care, scientific research, and biomanufacturing to facilitate the application of stem cells in treating complex medical conditions.

The centre’s integrated approach enables advancements in bone marrow transplantation, gene therapies, and applications in orthopaedics and aesthetics. Furthermore, ADSCC is at the forefront of research into immunological, genetic, and cancer-related disorders, employing artificial intelligence in diagnostics through collaborations with educational and pharmaceutical institutions such as Khalifa University, New York University Abu Dhabi, and AstraZeneca.

Innovative Treatments and Collaborations

Yas Clinic Hospital, the clinical extension of ADSCC, is actively expanding its offerings in cellular and gene therapies, enhancing specialized services to better integrate research and clinical practice. Under the supervision of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, the hospital has introduced advanced treatments including mononuclear immune cell therapy and umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cell therapy (UC-MSC). Notably, it successfully employed chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR-T) to treat a 38-year-old patient with systemic lupus erythematosus and triple-positive antiphospholipid syndrome.

In a groundbreaking collaboration with Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Yas Clinic executed the UAE’s first gene therapy for hemoglobin disorders, utilizing CASGEVY, a CRISPR-Cas9-based treatment. This innovative therapy targets sickle cell disease patients experiencing recurrent vaso-occlusive crises or transfusion-dependent thalassemia, showcasing the UAE’s commitment to pioneering advanced genetic treatments.

The ADSCC has also made strides in developing neural stem cells from patients’ own cells, marking a significant advancement in regenerative medicine. In the realm of bone marrow transplantation, the centre has achieved notable milestones, including successful transplants from unrelated donors and complex procedures for pediatric patients diagnosed with high-risk cancers.

Milestones in Bone Marrow Transplantation

In 2025, ADSCC, in partnership with Yas Clinic – Khalifa City, completed 113 bone marrow transplants, bringing the total to 240 since 2022. This includes complex cases such as a transplant for a one-year-old child diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, reflecting the centre’s ongoing progress in treating pediatric cancers. The team has also achieved significant success with CAR-T therapies, with survival rates reaching 80% and exceeding over 75% of performance indicators.

Regenerative medicine, a burgeoning field focused on repairing or replacing damaged cells, tissues, and organs, relies on advanced technologies such as bioengineering and gene therapy. Stem cells, capable of self-renewal and differentiation into specialized cell types, are fundamental to these treatments and are sourced from various tissues, including bone marrow and umbilical cord blood.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is regenerative medicine?

Regenerative medicine is a field focused on repairing or replacing damaged cells, tissues, and organs using advanced technologies.

What treatments are offered at ADSCC?

ADSCC offers treatments including bone marrow transplantation, gene therapies, and advanced cellular therapies.

How does CRISPR-Cas9 gene therapy work?

CRISPR-Cas9 enables precise editing of disease-causing genes using guide RNA and the Cas9 enzyme to cut DNA at specific locations.

What are CAR-T therapies?

CAR-T therapies are a form of immunotherapy that modifies a patient’s T-cells to attack cancer cells.

How many bone marrow transplants has ADSCC performed?

As of 2025, ADSCC has performed a total of 240 bone marrow transplants since 2022.