ADSCC partners with Burjeel to expand bone marrow transplants

UAE—The Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center (ADSCC) and Burjeel Holdings PLC, a prominent super-specialty healthcare provider in the MENA region, have unveiled a strategic partnership to expand bone marrow transplant and cellular therapy services at Burjeel Medical City (BMC).

This collaboration seeks to improve access to cutting-edge treatments for both adult and pediatric patients suffering from blood cancers, genetic disorders, autoimmune diseases, and other severe conditions.

The partnership sets the stage for an extensive and integrated ecosystem that will bolster advanced research and cellular therapies, further cementing Abu Dhabi’s reputation as a global healthcare hub.

Under this agreement, ADSCC, which has been accredited by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi as a Center of Excellence in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation will extend its proprietary Abu Dhabi Bone Marrow Transplant Program (AD-BMT©) to BMC.

This collaboration aims to increase access to these life-saving therapies for patients in the UAE and beyond, with both new and existing patients at BMC and ADSCC standing to benefit.

The integration of ADSCC’s AD-BMT© expertise with Burjeel Medical City’s world-class infrastructure aligns with Abu Dhabi’s mission to position itself as a center for medical excellence and innovation.

The partnership will focus on regenerative medicine in addition to bone marrow transplants, with ADSCC leading advancements in treating orthopedic, neurological, rheumatological, autoimmune, and burn-related conditions using stem cells and cellular therapies.

BMC plans to incorporate these innovative treatments across its various specialties to enhance patient care further.

Commenting on the partnership, John Sunil, CEO of Burjeel Holdings, expressed their vision to create a world-class bone marrow transplant program, setting new standards for care and innovation.

For his part, Prof. Yendry Ventura, CEO of ADSCC, highlighted the importance of this collaboration, noting that it reflects the UAE’s commitment to reducing the need for patients to travel abroad for advanced care.

Meanwhile, Dr. Fatima Alkaabi, Executive Director of the AD-BMT© program, described the partnership as a transformative moment that would expand bone marrow transplantation in the UAE.

Prof. Humaid Al Shamsi, CEO of Burjeel Cancer Institute, added that combining the expertise of ADSCC and BMC will create a seamless continuum of care, drive innovative research, and elevate clinical practices in regenerative medicine and haematology.

Since its inception, ADSCC has pioneered bone marrow transplantation in the UAE, performing the first adult transplant in 2020.

The centre is also the first institution in the UAE to receive recognition from the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT), a leading global organisation in cellular therapy accreditation.  This makes ADSCC one of only two centers in the Middle East with this distinction.

In 2022, ADSCC also made headlines when it carried out the region’s first bone marrow transplant for autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis.

 ADSCC also manufactured the first CAR-T Cell Therapy in the region in 2023 and, by 2024, had completed over 120 bone marrow transplants and 15 CAR-T therapies.

The AD-BMT© program has also conducted several clinical trials, including one evaluating the safety and efficacy of Extracorporeal Photopheresis (ECP) for Multiple Sclerosis, with more than 15 participants and over 250 ECP procedures performed.

Burjeel Cancer Institute (BCI), which spearheads BMC’s bone marrow transplant program, has also achieved remarkable milestones.

In 2022, BCI performed the UAE’s first pediatric bone marrow transplant. To date, BCI has completed 142 transplants for both pediatric and adult patients.

As one of the UAE’s largest integrated cancer care networks, BCI operates in several locations, including Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Al Dhafra, Sharjah, and Dubai.