His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, has visited the Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Centre (ADSCC) and commended the remarkable advancement of the healthcare system in Abu Dhabi and the UAE, supported by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE.

His Excellency said the continuous enhancement of our healthcare sector including the integration of cutting-edge medical technologies and the cultivation of highly skilled medical professionals exemplified excellence in the sector. Emirati healthcare institutions serve as a source of immense pride for both Emiratis and residents, reflecting commitment and efforts to deliver world-class healthcare services.

His Excellency met with the executive leadership team, physicians, and researchers of ADSCC to gain insights into the centre’s cutting-edge advancements and accomplishments, including services, research projects, and clinical trials in blood diseases, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, kidney diseases, and cellular therapies.

Dr Yendry Ventura, CEO of ADSCC, and Dr Fatima Al Kaabi, Executive Director of the Abu Dhabi Bone Marrow Transplant Program, welcomed His Excellency and thanked him for his visit and interest in the healthcare sector and modern cellular therapies. They commended the invaluable support of the UAE’s leadership towards the sector’s ongoing advancements aimed at delivering excellence to the Abu Dhabi community and the Middle East.

During the visit, His Excellency toured various departments of the hospital, including the Hematology Department, the Extracorporeal Photopheresis (ECP) unit, and its advanced laboratories. He also visited several patients, including those who recently underwent bone marrow transplantation, and patients with Thalassemia, as well as other diseases. Additionally, His Excellency met with several Palestinian cancer patients currently receiving care at ADSCC after their arrival in the UAE from Gaza following the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, to treat 1,000 Palestinian children at UAE healthcare facilities, as part of the nation’s ongoing humanitarian relief initiative supporting the Palestinian people.

Moreover, His Excellency commended ADSCC’s endeavours since its establishment in 2019, praising its medical services and pioneering advancements in cellular therapies, regenerative medicine, blood diseases, and research, highlighting the global level of healthcare in the UAE. His Excellency also highlighted the importance of ADSCC’s upcoming research projects in stem cells and regenerative medicine, such as regenerating pancreatic cells for Type 1 diabetes treatment, using brain stem cells for neurological conditions, and further explorations into multiple sclerosis treatments, poised to lead to novel discoveries and innovative therapies originating from the UAE.

His Excellency also commended the recent advancements and accomplishments observed at ADSCC, notably the production of the country’s first genetically modified immune cells CAR-T product, which was used to treat a child with leukaemia. Additionally, he acknowledged the successful treatment of a three-month-old baby with Krabbe disease, an exceedingly rare hereditary condition, through a bone marrow transplant procedure and the recently announced initial outcomes of its clinical trial on the use of ECP for Multiple Sclerosis among the trial’s participants.