Abu Dhabi: The internationally renowned Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) has accredited the Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center (ADSCC) for its extensive cellular therapy program.
ADSCC, led by Prof. Yendry Ventura, its Chief Executive Officer, is the first healthcare facility in the UAE to receive recognition from FACT, establishing the country as a premier hub for innovative medical breakthroughs in the region.
ADSCC is one of just two centers in the Middle East that achieve FACT’s stringent standards, out of 261 centers globally licensed for cellular treatment. This success confirms ADSCC’s standing as a pioneer in the field of advanced cellular therapy.
To implement the highest standards of medical and laboratory practice in hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation and therapies from any hematopoietic tissue source (marrow, peripheral blood, umbilical cord, and placental blood), the center obtained FACT accreditation for the FACT-JACIE International Standards for Hematopoietic Cellular Therapy Product Processing.
The Abu Dhabi Bone Marrow Transplant Program was introduced by ADSCC in 2020. It is the first extensive program in the UAE to offer autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT) for adult and pediatric patients. A group of highly skilled physicians and hematologists run the program, which provides patients with autoimmune and genetic disorders along with hematological diseases with cutting edge holistic therapy. The center has accomplished several achievements since the ADSCC’s 2018 opening, including producing the first CAR-T cell therapy in the United Arab Emirates. It has also obtained other distinguished accreditations, such as the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi’s designation of it as a Center of Excellence in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in 2023.
Prof. Yendry Ventura, CEO of ADSCC and Adjunct Professor at UAE University, remarked that,“Under the guidance of UAE’s wise leadership and in line with the UAE’s national agenda in healthcare, ADSCC has a clear vision and mandate of pioneering cellular therapy on a global scale and bringing medical breakthroughs closer to bedside, which plays a crucial role in positioning Abu Dhabi and the UAE at the vanguard of healthcare innovation. With this landmark FACT accreditation, we are breaking new ground in addressing complex diseases through cutting-edge treatments such as stem cell transplants and other cellular therapies. The journey towards the accreditation has been both extensive and stimulating, and we take immense pride in being the first institution in UAE to receive it. This achievement reaffirms our commitment to continue investing in providing the highest standards of patient care and offering top-tier cellular therapy services that is on par with the best globally.”
The FACT accreditation program is regarded as the world’s premier accreditation body for cellular therapy programs. It carries out thorough and demanding inspections and grants accreditation unbiasedly based on evidence, international standards, and best practices in cellular therapies.