Abu Dhabi Biobank collaborates with Human Life CORD to advance stem cell therapies in UAE

UAE— Abu Dhabi Biobank has entered a strategic partnership with Japan-based Human Life CORD (HLC) to localise the development and clinical application of umbilical cord-derived stem cell therapies in Abu Dhabi.

This marks a major step in expanding access to regenerative medicine across the UAE and the wider Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

The agreement further strengthens Abu Dhabi’s ambitions to position itself as a global hub for advanced healthcare, precision medicine and life sciences innovation.

The partnership builds on the recent launch of Abu Dhabi Biobank by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi and global health technology company M42.

The newly inaugurated Masdar City facility can store more than 100,000 cord blood samples and up to five million biological specimens, making it one of the region’s most advanced health data and biospecimen repositories.

By combining Abu Dhabi Biobank’s large-scale biobanking infrastructure with Human Life CORD’s proprietary mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) platform and clinical development expertise, the collaboration aims to accelerate the development of regenerative therapies tailored to the region’s specific health challenges.

Building local manufacturing capabilities

A central focus of the partnership is the establishment of one of the UAE’s first localised Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) pathways for Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cell (UC-MSC) therapies.

This will create an end-to-end ecosystem covering biospecimen access, manufacturing, clinical development and eventual therapeutic application.

The initiative also expands the use of Abu Dhabi Biobank’s public cord blood donation services, enabling broader access to life-saving biological materials while supporting translational research.

Dr. Asma AlMannaei, Executive Director of the Health Life Sciences Sector at the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, said the collaboration reflects Abu Dhabi’s continued shift toward preventive and precision-based healthcare.

She noted that the partnership advances efforts to create personalised regenerative therapies while strengthening the emirate’s role as a global centre for medical innovation.

Targeting chronic disease burden

The partners will prioritise therapies aimed at addressing chronic and degenerative conditions, including diabetes-related complications, musculoskeletal disorders and age-related frailty—conditions that continue to place increasing pressure on healthcare systems across the region.

Paul Downey, General Manager of Abu Dhabi Biobank, said the collaboration directly links advanced biological infrastructure with therapeutic innovation.

He added that Abu Dhabi Biobank offers not only high-quality biological materials but also integrated genomic, clinical and real-world health data needed to move regenerative treatments from laboratory research to clinical practice.

Masamitsu Harata, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Human Life CORD, said the company’s clinically advanced UC-MSC pipeline will help accelerate regional manufacturing and therapy development.

Human Life CORD has already advanced several MSC-based therapeutic programmes through mid- to late-stage clinical development in Japan, positioning the company among the leading innovators in umbilical cord-derived regenerative medicine.

The partnership also strengthens scientific collaboration between the UAE and Japan in advanced biotechnology research.