The possibility of gaining access to life-changing stem cell therapy could finally be in reach for many in the region, thanks to a move by Abu Dhabi biobank to make the service more affordable.
With an ability to treat multiple conditions including autism, multiple sclerosis and even some cancers, as well as providing insurance to protect newborns against future disease, stem cells have the natural power to cure multiple life-limiting ailments.
Stem cell therapies are delivered in multiple forms and are the bedrock of emerging regeneration therapies and longevity science. They are either extracted at birth from the umbilical cord and placenta and cryogenically stored, or taken from body fat and then re-injected at other sites to regenerate damaged tissue. With average costs starting from around Dh16,000 and rising to more than Dh130,000 for some treatments, the cost of preserving stem cells for future use has been prohibitive for many.
Now, costs for private cord blood banking services have been halved by Abu Dhabi Biobank by partnering with M42’s Danat Al Emarat Women’s and Children Hospital, and other facilities such as the Corniche Hospital and Kanad Hospital, to store bio material in a purpose-built centre in Masdar City. It aims to offer more expectant families with an affordable, accessible way to preserve their newborns’ stem cells.
“Typically, the market price for stem cell collection and storage, to be stored for several decades, is in the order of Dh15,000 and upwards – the more expensive packages from our competitors are in excess of Dh30,000,” said Paul Downey, general manager of Abu Dhabi Biobank.
“Generally storage is offered for 30 years, because that's the useful life of the stem cells. Through efficiencies we've managed to reduce our costs to Dh7,500 for a base package, which is simply collection and storage. It provides that insurance policy. Should you or somebody in your family need them, they're cryopreserved and available for transplant.”
Postnatal collection
Blood collected from a newborn's umbilical cord immediately after birth is a rich source of hematopoietic stem cells, which can develop into various blood and immune system cells. They are regarded as a powerful defence against disease but are often discarded as medical waste. They are kept at -196°C, with storage one of the biggest costs, and are instrumental in the treatment of more than 80 life-threatening diseases.
Stem cells can be used to treat leukaemia, lymphoma, bone marrow disorders, immune deficiencies and other genetic conditions like thalassemia and sickle cell anaemia.
“People may have heard of stem cells, but they're not clear on what they are and what they can do,” said Mr Downey, who previously established the UK Biobank, which analysed biological samples from 500,000 people. “We have representatives in maternity waiting suites and gynaecology clinics, conveying the message, imparting that education, as this is a one-time opportunity to collect when the baby is born.”
The procedure is a painless process for both the mother and baby. Once the baby has been delivered, a needle is inserted into a vein within the umbilical cord and 100ml of blood is collected, from which rich stem cells are extracted.
Some biobanks around the world obtain and retain human biological samples, which could be used in future scientific research to tackle disease unforeseen at the time of collection. Stem cells have proven effective in multiple therapeutic treatments, like neuroprotection to prevent or reverse damage to neurons and maintain normal brain function.
Stalled ageing process
They can also delay or suppress natural cell death during the ageing process. It is those properties that have contributed to a booming market in regenerative medicine.
Dr Steven Victor is chairman of Victor Longevity, and has treated thousands of people with stem cells in the US. Since receiving Dubai Health Authority approval to administer therapies in the UAE, he hopes to bring his life-changing treatments to many more.
From the seventh floor of the Clemenceau Medical Centre Hospital in Dubai Healthcare City, he treats joint injuries, dementia and diabetes as well as cosmetic problems such as hair loss and beauty treatments. The former cosmetic dermatologist specialised in liposuction and investigated harvesting stem cells from body fat that would usually be discarded.
Dr Victor set up his own clinic in New York where he treated hundreds of patients, from Hollywood stars to sportsmen and women, and those with medical conditions. Now, with DHA approval, he has started offering stem cell treatments from his own Dubai clinic.
“To run a sterile, clean room in a sophisticated FDA DHA approved facility, it costs a lot of money,” said Dr Victor. “But if you're looking at what we do and the results, it's really inexpensive compared with traditional surgery. Right now we have approval for aesthetics, anti-ageing and longevity, next month we'll hopefully get official approval for orthopaedics.
“We’ve changed people's lives. I can make people look 10 or 20 years younger, and feel 20 years younger. Ageing is inflammation and decreased blood supply, so these cells reduce inflammation. They're 1,000 times stronger than cortisone with no side effects, and increase circulation, so you feel younger.”
To date, more than 60,000 transplants have been performed globally using stem cells from umbilical cord blood. Increasing demand for life-saving treatment using cord blood banking, and in other regenerative procedures is growing.
Dr Victor, who is 74, used stem cells to resolve a significant lower back problem. After the usual cortisone injection treatments failed, he turned to stem cell therapies to regenerate his lower back and is still playing tennis more than a decade later.
“I can make you look younger, I can make you feel younger and I can grow your hair back,” he said. “In the future, I see this being used more widely for things like diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. These cells in your blood vessels are locked up, but when we take them out, they become activated so they do their magic.
“We know they can heal, but when they finish doing what they're doing, they stop. That's the miracle in life – they stop working and go to sleep again, waiting for another problem.”
Pioneering therapies
CellSave Arabia is another clinic offering pioneering stem cell therapy services in Dubai, which aims to revolutionise treatments for autoimmune disorders, heart disease, neurological ailments and regenerative medicine.
Alia Abdel-Razeq is chief operating officer at CellSave Arabia, and is at the forefront of the stem cell and regenerative medicine revolution in the Middle East. She said costs are likely to continue to come down over time, but that stem cell therapies are currently still an expensive service to deliver.
“Now this is a regulated field we've seen a lot of stem cell laboratories opening in Dubai where previously people would travel to Thailand, Korea or Taiwan for stem cell treatments,” said Ms Abdel-Razeq.
“It's one of the pillars of regenerative medicine. It doesn't cure all the diseases, but it improves your tissue by slowing down ageing. The mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) boost your regeneration from the inside out.
“We try to educate pregnant women about the importance of storing stem cells or donating stem cells. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity as the cells that come from a baby are pure. What’s very expensive is the reagents, and everything we use in the lab, but If demand goes up, the prices will come down.”
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
More coverage from the Future Forum
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh135,000
Engine 1.6L turbo
Gearbox Six speed automatic with manual and sports mode
Power 165hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 240Nm @ 1,400rpm 0-100kph: 9.2 seconds
Top speed 420 kph (governed)
Fuel economy, combined 35.2L / 100km (est)
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh1,470,000 (est)
Engine 6.9-litre twin-turbo W12
Gearbox eight-speed automatic
Power 626bhp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 900Nm @ 1,350rpm
Fuel economy, combined 14.0L / 100km
Analysis
Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.
The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement.
We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List
James Mustich, Workman
WHAT FANS WILL LOVE ABOUT RUSSIA
FANS WILL LOVE
Uber is ridiculously cheap and, as Diego Saez discovered, mush safer. A 45-minute taxi from Pulova airport to Saint Petersburg’s Nevsky Prospect can cost as little as 500 roubles (Dh30).
FANS WILL LOATHE
Uber policy in Russia is that they can start the fare as soon as they arrive at the pick-up point — and oftentimes they start it even before arriving, or worse never arrive yet charge you anyway.
FANS WILL LOVE
It’s amazing how active Russians are on social media and your accounts will surge should you post while in the country. Throw in a few Cyrillic hashtags and watch your account numbers rocket.
FANS WILL LOATHE
With cold soups, bland dumplings and dried fish, Russian cuisine is not to everybody’s tastebuds. Fortunately, there are plenty Georgian restaurants to choose from, which are both excellent and economical.
FANS WILL LOVE
The World Cup will take place during St Petersburg's White Nights Festival, which means perpetual daylight in a city that genuinely never sleeps. (Think toddlers walking the streets with their grandmothers at 4am.)
FANS WILL LOATHE
The walk from Krestovsky Ostrov metro station to Saint Petersburg Arena on a rainy day makes you wonder why some of the $1.7 billion was not spent on a weather-protected walkway.
About Karol Nawrocki
• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.
• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.
• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.
• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.
More from Neighbourhood Watch
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKinetic%207%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202018%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rick%20Parish%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Clean%20cooking%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Self-funded%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More on Quran memorisation:
More from Neighbourhood Watch
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Young women have more “financial grit”, but fall behind on investing
In an October survey of young adults aged 16 to 25, Charles Schwab found young women are more driven to reach financial independence than young men (67 per cent versus. 58 per cent). They are more likely to take on extra work to make ends meet and see more value than men in creating a plan to achieve their financial goals. Yet, despite all these good ‘first’ measures, they are investing and saving less than young men – falling early into the financial gender gap.
While the women surveyed report spending 36 per cent less than men, they have far less savings than men ($1,267 versus $2,000) – a nearly 60 per cent difference.
In addition, twice as many young men as women say they would invest spare cash, and almost twice as many young men as women report having investment accounts (though most young adults do not invest at all).
“Despite their good intentions, young women start to fall behind their male counterparts in savings and investing early on in life,” said Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz, senior vice president, Charles Schwab. “They start off showing a strong financial planning mindset, but there is still room for further education when it comes to managing their day-to-day finances.”
Ms Schwab-Pomerantz says parents should be conveying the same messages to boys and girls about money, but should tailor those conversations based on the individual and gender.
"Our study shows that while boys are spending more than girls, they also are saving more. Have open and honest conversations with your daughters about the wage and savings gap," she said. "Teach kids about the importance of investing – especially girls, who as we see in this study, aren’t investing as much. Part of being financially prepared is learning to make the most of your money, and that means investing early and consistently."
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Match info
Liverpool 4
Salah (19'), Mane (45 2', 53'), Sturridge (87')
West Ham United 0
More on animal trafficking
How green is the expo nursery?
Some 400,000 shrubs and 13,000 trees in the on-site nursery
An additional 450,000 shrubs and 4,000 trees to be delivered in the months leading up to the expo
Ghaf, date palm, acacia arabica, acacia tortilis, vitex or sage, techoma and the salvadora are just some heat tolerant native plants in the nursery
Approximately 340 species of shrubs and trees selected for diverse landscape
The nursery team works exclusively with organic fertilisers and pesticides
All shrubs and trees supplied by Dubai Municipality
Most sourced from farms, nurseries across the country
Plants and trees are re-potted when they arrive at nursery to give them room to grow
Some mature trees are in open areas or planted within the expo site
Green waste is recycled as compost
Treated sewage effluent supplied by Dubai Municipality is used to meet the majority of the nursery’s irrigation needs
Construction workforce peaked at 40,000 workers
About 65,000 people have signed up to volunteer
Main themes of expo is ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ and three subthemes of opportunity, mobility and sustainability.
Expo 2020 Dubai to open in October 2020 and run for six months
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The years Ramadan fell in May
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Heavily-sugared soft drinks slip through the tax net
Some popular drinks with high levels of sugar and caffeine have slipped through the fizz drink tax loophole, as they are not carbonated or classed as an energy drink.
Arizona Iced Tea with lemon is one of those beverages, with one 240 millilitre serving offering up 23 grams of sugar - about six teaspoons.
A 680ml can of Arizona Iced Tea costs just Dh6.
Most sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, five teaspoons of sugar in a 500ml bottle.
Match info
Liverpool 3
Hoedt (10' og), Matip (21'), Salah (45 3')
Southampton 0
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
More on Palestine-Israeli relations
Most match wins on clay
Guillermo Vilas - 659
Manuel Orantes - 501
Thomas Muster - 422
Rafael Nadal - 399 *
Jose Higueras - 378
Eddie Dibbs - 370
Ilie Nastase - 338
Carlos Moya - 337
Ivan Lendl - 329
Andres Gomez - 322
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
More on animal trafficking
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
The five pillars of Islam
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
The years Ramadan fell in May
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
The years Ramadan fell in May
Zayed Sustainability Prize
