UAE ramps up stem cell trials
Researchers call the treatment national achievement but clarify that it is supportive, not curative
abu dhabi — The Abu Dhabi Stem Cell Centre is conducting clinical trials of the UAE’s breakthrough stem cell treatment for the Covid-19 disease, Dr Fatima Al Kaabi, head of Hematology and Oncology, Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, said on Saturday.
She said the breakthrough is a national achievement. “Up to 28 specialist and researchers formed the team that came up with this treatment,” said Dr Fatima, who is also an assistant researcher at the stem cell project.
Addressing a press conference on Saturday, the official clarified that the breakthrough supported and did not entirely cure a patient during the treatment period.
“We have utilised all our scientific potentials to deal with the Covid-19 crisis. We are proud to have developed this new treatment. It is undergoing clinical trials for first time in the UAE. It’s a national achievement. This treatment is supportive and doesn’t provide entire cure. It helps patients overcome the symptoms caused by the virus but doesn’t kill it.
The treatment involves extracting stem cells from the patient’s own blood and reintroducing them after activating them. It is expected to add to the global efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19 and to ensure the health and safety of the people of the world.
The new treatment was firsttrialled on a patient on April 4. And so far, 73 patients have been treated by stem cells, with 25 per cent in the ICU.
“We are about to conclude the collection of data to conduct further comparative experiment and compare them with patients who have not received the treatment. We will compare both groups of patients who have received the stem cells treatment and those who haven’t. Next step will be more practical and efficient.”
What is stem cell treatment?
Elaborating further on the stem cell research, Dr Fatima said: “Stem cells exist in human body with similar characteristics. One of the characteristics is to transform to different kind of cells, reproduce limitlessly,
producing more similar stem cells.
“We isolated one type of primitive stem cells, called embryonic stem cells, which researchers believed to have renewing potential. We think it can renew the damage cells and adjust its response to reduce the inflammation caused by Covid-19 in lung tissues and contribute to auto-renewing damaged cells. “The advantage of using this cell is that their collection doesn’t necessitate a surgical operation as is the case in other type of stem cells.
“But we only take a blood sample from the patient and inject it into the lungs without a surgical intervention but only with a stem cell nebulisation. After taking the blood sample and extracting cells from it, it undergoes a chemical process where platelets responsible for growth in the patient are used to activate, modulate cells, and reinsert them in the lungs of the patients.”
Children have more resistance
Dr Alawi Al Sheikh, UAE spokesperson for the advanced science sector, underlined the efforts of the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences and Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital and the University of Sharjah in undertaking studies, which revealed that children are more resistant than seniors to Covid-19.